Generic Name: chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine (klor feh NEER a meen, dex tro meh THOR fan, and soo doe eh FEH drin)
Brand Names: AccuHist PDX Drops, Atuss DS, Children's NyQuil, Creomulsion Cough/Cold/Allergy, Creomulsion Pediatric, Dicel DM, Dicel DM Chewables, Entre-S, Esocor P, Kidcare Cough and Cold, M-End DM, Mesehist DM, Neutrahist PDX Drops, Nyquil Child Cough and Cold, Pediatric Cough & Cold Medicine, Rescon-DM, Robitussin Pediatric Night Relief, Robitussin PM Cough & Cold, Triaminic Cold and Cough, Triaminic Multi-Sympton, Triaminic Night Time, Triaminic Softchew Cold and Cough, Triaminic-D Multi-Symptom Cold, Vicks 44M Pediatric, Vicks Pediatric Formula 44M
What is Dicel DM (chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine)?
Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. It affects the signals in the brain that trigger cough reflex.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine is used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, cough, and sinus congestion caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.
Dextromethorphan will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, or emphysema.
Chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Dicel DM (chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine)?
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. Do not use a cough or cold medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, glaucoma, a thyroid disorder, emphysema or bronchitis, an enlarged prostate, or urination problems.
Do not use cold or cough medicine without your doctor's advice if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, cough, or allergy medicine. Chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine are contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug. Check the label to see if a medicine contains an antihistamine, cough suppressant, or decongestant. Do not take this medicine for longer than 7 days in a row. 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.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Dicel DM (chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine)?
Do not use a cough or cold medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medicine if you have:
heart disease or high blood pressure;
kidney disease;
diabetes;
glaucoma;
a thyroid disorder;
emphysema or chronic bronchitis;
an enlarged prostate; or
problems with urination.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medication without medical advice if you are pregnant. Chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use cold or cough medicine without medical advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Artificially sweetened liquid cough or cold medicine may contain phenylalanine. If you have phenylketonuria (PKU), check the medication label to see if the product contains phenylalanine.
How should I take Dicel DM (chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine)?
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.
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.
Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-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.
The chewable tablet should be chewed before you swallow it.
Shake the oral suspension well just before you measure a dose. Do not take this medicine for longer than 7 days in a row. 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 unusual results with allergy skin tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are taking an antihistamine.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have taken a cough or cold medicine within the past few days. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since cough or cold medicine is taken when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medication guide.
What should I avoid while taking Dicel DM (chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine)?
This medication may cause blurred vision and may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Chlorpheniramine can decrease sweating and you may be more prone to heat stroke.
Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of this medication.
Avoid taking this medication if you also take diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications). Taking a stimulant together with a decongestant can increase your risk of unpleasant side effects.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, cough, or allergy medicine. Chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine are contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug. Check the label to see if a medicine contains an antihistamine, cough suppressant, or decongestant.
Dicel DM (chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine) side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;
slow, shallow breathing;
confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).
Less serious side effects may include:
dry mouth, nose, or throat;
mild stomach pain, constipation;
blurred vision;
dizziness, drowsiness, mild headache;
sleep problems (insomnia);
feeling restless or excited (especially in children);
problems with memory or concentration; or
flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).
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.
What other drugs will affect Dicel DM (chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine)?
Before using this medicine, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine if you are also using any of the following drugs:
glycopyrrolate (Robinul);
mepenzolate (Cantil);
atropine (Atreza, Sal-Tropine), belladonna (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm Scop);
bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or solifenacin (Vesicare);
bronchodilators such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva);
a diuretic (water pill), or blood pressure medicine;
irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Hyomax), or propantheline (Pro Banthine); or
salicylates such as aspirin, Backache Relief Extra Strength, Novasal, Nuprin Backache Caplet, Doan's Pills Extra Strength, Pepto-Bismol, Tricosal, and others.
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More Dicel DM resources
- Dicel DM Side Effects (in more detail)
- Dicel DM Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Dicel DM Drug Interactions
- Dicel DM Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Dicel DM - Add your own review/rating
- AccuHist PDX Drops MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- AccuHist PDX Drops Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Dicel DM Chewables Chewable Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Entre-S Prescribing Information (FDA)
Compare Dicel DM with other medications
- Cough and Nasal Congestion
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine.
See also: Dicel DM side effects (in more detail)
