Safetussin PM

Dextromethorphan is a medicine that helps stop coughing. It works on the brain to block the signals that cause a cough reflex.

Doxylamine is a type of antihistamine that lessens the effects of histamine, a natural chemical in the body. Histamine can cause sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and a runny nose.

Safetussin PM is used to relieve cough, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, and watery eyes caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.

Safetussin PM will not help with a cough caused by smoking, asthma, or emphysema.

Safetussin PM may also be used for other reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Cough or cold medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.

Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.

If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the surgeon or doctor ahead of time if you have taken Safetussin PM within the past few days.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not allow the liquid to freeze.

Do not use Safetussin PM if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 4 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.

You should not use antihistamine medication to make a child sleepy.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to dextromethorphan or doxylamine.

Do not use Safetussin PM if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the last 14 days. A serious drug interaction could happen. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 4 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children can lead to death.

You should not use antihistamine medication to make a child sleepy.

To make sure Safetussin PM is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• high blood pressure, heart disease;
• a thyroid disorder;
• a blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines);
• liver or kidney disease;
• diabetes;
• cough with mucus, or cough caused by emphysema or chronic bronchitis;
• bladder obstruction or other urination problems; or
• if you take potassium (Cytra, Epiklor, K-Lyte, K-Phos, Kaon, Klor-Con, Polycitra, Urocit-K).

It is not known whether Safetussin PM will harm an unborn baby. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant.

Dextromethorphan and doxylamine may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Antihistamines may also slow breast milk production. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are breast-feeding.

Artificially sweetened cough or cold medicine may contain phenylalanine. If you have phenylketonuria (PKU), check the medication label to see if the product contains phenylalanine.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; trouble breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Safetussin PM may cause serious side effects. Stop using Safetussin PM and call your doctor right away if you experience:

• severe dizziness or anxiety;
• feeling light-headed, as if you might faint;
• little or no urinating; or
• liver problems--nausea, pain in the upper stomach, itching, feeling tired, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of Safetussin PM may include:

• drowsiness, dizziness;
• nervousness;
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• feeling restless or excited (especially in children).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Since Safetussin PM is taken as needed, you might not have a regular dosing schedule. If you do have a schedule and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it's almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to compensate for the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Drinking alcohol can make some side effects of dextromethorphan and doxylamine worse.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, cough, allergy, or sleep medicine. Many combination medicines contain dextromethorphan or doxylamine. Taking certain products together can lead to getting too much of Safetussin PM.

This medicine may cause blurred vision or affect your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or using machinery until you know how Safetussin PM will affect you.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are also taking any other drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can make these effects worse. Ask your doctor before taking Safetussin PM with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.