In this Article

• What is this drug (Deconsal CT)?
• What are the possible side effects of this drug?
• What is the most important information I should know about this drug?
• What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking this drug?
• How should I take this drug?
• What happens if I miss a dose?
• What happens if I overdose?
• What should I avoid while taking this drug?
• What other drugs will affect this drug?
• Where can I get more information?

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking this drug?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to phenylephrine or pyrilamine, or to other antihistamines, decongestants, diet pills, stimulants, or ADHD medications.

Do not use a cough or cold medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

Before taking phenylephrine and pyrilamine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• heart disease or high blood pressure;
• diabetes;
• a thyroid disorder;
• glaucoma;
• kidney disease;
• an enlarged prostate; or
• problems with urination.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

This medication may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Artificially-sweetened liquid forms of cold medicine may contain phenylalanine. This would be important to know if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). Check the ingredients and warnings on the medication label if you are concerned about phenylalanine.

How should I take this drug?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Cold medicine is usually taken for only a short time until your symptoms clear up.

The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Talk with 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.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with allergy skin tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are taking an antihistamine.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have taken a cold medicine within the past few days.

Store this medicine at room temperature, away from heat, light, and moisture.