Acetaminophen and phenylephrine

Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death. Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of acetaminophen can be fatal.

The first signs of an acetaminophen overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

Acetaminophen 250 mg - phenylephrine 5 mg oral effervescent tablet:
2 tablets fully dissolved in 4 ounces of water every 4 hours.

Acetaminophen 325 mg - phenylephrine 5 mg oral tablet:
2 tablets orally every 4 hours. Do not take more than 12 tablets in 24 hours.

Acetaminophen 500 mg - phenylephrine 15 mg oral tablet:
2 tablets orally every 6 hours. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.

Acetaminophen 500 mg - phenylephrine 5 mg oral tablet:
2 tablets orally every 4 to 6 hours. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.

Acetaminophen 650 mg - phenylephrine 10 mg oral powder:
Dissolve 1 packet in 8 ounces of hot water and drink in 10 to 15 minutes. May repeat every 4 hours. Not to exceed 6 packets daily.

Acetaminophen 250 mg - phenylephrine 5 mg oral effervescent tablet:
2 tablets fully dissolved in 4 ounces of water every 4 hours.

Acetaminophen 325 mg - phenylephrine 5 mg oral tablet:
2 tablets orally every 4 hours. Do not take more than 12 tablets in 24 hours.

Acetaminophen 500 mg - phenylephrine 15 mg oral tablet:
2 tablets orally every 6 hours. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.

Acetaminophen 500 mg - phenylephrine 5 mg oral tablet:
2 tablets orally every 4 to 6 hours. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.

Acetaminophen 650 mg - phenylephrine 10 mg oral powder:
Dissolve 1 packet in 8 ounces of hot water and drink in 10 to 15 minutes. May repeat every 4 hours. Not to exceed 6 packets daily.

Acetaminophen 250 mg - phenylephrine 5 mg oral effervescent tablet:
12 years to 18 years: 2 tablets fully dissolved in 4 ounces of water every 4 hours.

Acetaminophen 325 mg - phenylephrine 5 mg oral tablet:
12 years or older: 2 tablets orally every 4 hours. Do not take more than 12 tablets in 24 hours.

Acetaminophen 500 mg - phenylephrine 15 mg oral tablet:
12 years or older: 2 tablets orally every 6 hours. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.

Acetaminophen 500 mg - phenylephrine 5 mg oral tablet:
12 years: years or older: 2 tablets orally every 4 to 6 hours. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.

Acetaminophen 650 mg - phenylephrine 10 mg oral powder:
12 yrs or older: Dissolve 1 packet in 8 ounces of hot water and drink in 10 to 15 minutes. May repeat every 4 hours. Not to exceed 6 packets daily.

Dose all other formulations based on the acetaminophen component:
2 to 3 years: 160 mg/dose.
4 to 5 years: 240 mg/dose.
6 to 8 years: 320 mg/dose .
9 to 10 years: 400 mg/dose.
11 to 12 years: 480 mg/dose.
13 years or older: 325 to 650 mg/dose.

Maximum: 5 doses/day.

Data not available

Use with caution in patients with liver disease. Chronic use of acetaminophen is not recommended in patients with liver disease.

One small study has reported that following a 1000 mg dose of acetaminophen to nursing mothers, nursing infants receive less than 1.85% of the weight-adjusted maternal oral dose. One case of a rash has been reported in a nursing infant whose mother was receiving acetaminophen.

There are no data on the excretion of the combination product acetaminophen-phenylephrine into human milk. Acetaminophen is excreted into human milk in small concentrations. Acetaminophen is considered compatible with breast-feeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Small amounts of phenylephrine appears to be excreted into breast milk. The manufacturer of the Lusonal brand of phenylephrine recommends that due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.