Chlorpheniramine

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.

Usual Adult Dose for Allergic Rhinitis:

Tablets or syrup: 4 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 8 to 16 mg orally every 8 to 12 hours as needed or 16 mg orally once a day as needed.
Maximum dose 32 mg/day.

Usual Adult Dose for Cold Symptoms:

Tablets or syrup: 4 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 8 to 16 mg orally every 8 to 12 hours as needed or 16 mg orally once a day as needed.
Maximum dose 32 mg/day.

Usual Adult Dose for Urticaria:

Tablets or syrup: 4 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 8 to 16 mg orally every 8 to 12 hours as needed or 16 mg orally once a day as needed.
Maximum dose 32 mg/day.

Usual Adult Dose for Allergic Reaction:

Injectable solution:
Allergic reactions to blood or plasma infusions: 10 to 20 mg by intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection as a single dose.

Anaphylaxis: 10 to 20 mg intravenous injection as a single dose.

Uncomplicated Allergic Conditions: 5 to 20 mg by intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection as a single dose.

Maximum dose by injection is 40 mg/day.

Tablets or syrup: 4 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 8 to 16 mg orally every 8 to 12 hours as needed or 16 mg orally once a day as needed.
Maximum dose 32 mg/day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Allergic Rhinitis:

3 months to 5 months:
Sustained-release syrup: 0.5 mg orally every 12 hours.

6 months to 8 months:
Sustained-release syrup: 1 mg orally every 12 hours.

9 months to 18 months:
Sustained-release syrup: 1 to 1.5 mg orally every 12 hours.

18 months to 6 years:
Sustained-release syrup: 2 mg orally every 12 hours.

2 to 5 years:
Tablets or syrup: 1 mg every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 2 mg orally two times a day, not to exceed 8 mg in 24 hours.
Maximum dose 6 mg/day.

6 to 11 years:
Tablets or syrup: 2 mg every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 4 to 8 mg orally two times a day, not to exceed 16 mg in 24 hours or 8 mg orally at bedtime or during the day as indicated.
Maximum dose 16 mg/day.

12 years or older:
Tablets or syrup: 4 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 8 to 16 mg orally every 8 to 12 hours as needed or 16 mg orally once a day as needed
Maximum dose 32 mg/day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Cold Symptoms:

3 months to 5 months:
Sustained-release syrup: 0.5 mg orally every 12 hours.

6 months to 8 months:
Sustained-release syrup: 1 mg orally every 12 hours.

9 months to 18 months:
Sustained-release syrup: 1 to 1.5 mg orally every 12 hours.

18 months to 6 years:
Sustained-release syrup: 2 mg orally every 12 hours.

2 to 5 years:
Tablets or syrup: 1 mg every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 2 mg orally two times a day, not to exceed 8 mg in 24 hours.
Maximum dose 6 mg/day.

6 to 11 years:
Tablets or syrup: 2 mg every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 4 to 8 mg orally two times a day, not to exceed 16 mg in 24 hours or 8 mg orally at bedtime or during the day as indicated.
Maximum dose 16 mg/day.

12 years or older:
Tablets or syrup: 4 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 8 to 16 mg orally every 8 to 12 hours as needed or 16 mg orally once a day as needed
Maximum dose 32 mg/day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Urticaria:

3 months to 5 months:
Sustained-release syrup: 0.5 mg orally every 12 hours.

6 months to 8 months:
Sustained-release syrup: 1 mg orally every 12 hours.

9 months to 18 months:
Sustained-release syrup: 1 to 1.5 mg orally every 12 hours.

18 months to 6 years:
Sustained-release syrup: 2 mg orally every 12 hours.

2 to 5 years:
Tablets or syrup: 1 mg every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 2 mg orally two times a day, not to exceed 8 mg in 24 hours.
Maximum dose 6 mg/day.

6 to 11 years:
Tablets or syrup: 2 mg every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 4 to 8 mg orally two times a day, not to exceed 16 mg in 24 hours or 8 mg orally at bedtime or during the day as indicated.
Maximum dose 16 mg/day.

12 years or older:
Tablets or syrup: 4 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 8 to 16 mg orally every 8 to 12 hours as needed or 16 mg orally once a day as needed
Maximum dose 32 mg/day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Allergic Reaction:

Injectable solution:
2 years to 11 years: 0.35 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
12 years or older:
Allergic reactions to blood or plasma infusions: 10 to 20 mg by intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection as a single dose.
Anaphylaxis: 10 to 20 mg intravenous injection as a single dose.
Uncomplicated Allergic Conditions: 5 to 20 mg by intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection as a single dose.
Maximum dose by injection is 40 mg/day.

Tablets or syrup:
2 to 5 years: 1 mg every 4 to 6 hours.
Maximum dose 6 mg/day.
Sustained-release: 2 mg orally two times a day, not to exceed 8 mg in 24 hours.

6 to 11 years: 2 mg every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 4 to 8 mg orally two times a day, not to exceed 16 mg in 24 hours or 8 mg at bedtime or during the day as indicated.
Maximum dose 16 mg/day.

12 years or older: 4 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours.
Sustained-release: 8 to 16 mg orally every 8 to 12 hours as needed or 16 mg orally once a day as needed
Maximum dose 32 mg/day.

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

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are also using 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.

• Aller-Chlor [OTC]
• Allergy-Time [OTC]
• Chlor-Trimeton Allergy [OTC]
• Chlor-Trimeton [OTC]
• Chlorphen [OTC] [DSC]
• Ed Chlorped Jr [OTC]
• Ed ChlorPed [OTC]
• Ed-Chlortan [OTC]
• Pharbechlor [OTC]

• Alkylamine Derivative
• Histamine H1 Antagonist
• Histamine H1 Antagonist, First Generation

Hypersensitivity to chlorpheniramine maleate or any component of the formulation; narrow-angle glaucoma; bladder neck obstruction; symptomatic prostate hypertrophy; during acute asthmatic attacks; stenosing peptic ulcer; pyloroduodenal obstruction. Avoid use in premature and term newborns due to possible association with SIDS.

OTC labeling: When used for self-medication, do not use to make a child sleep

Allergic symptoms, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, pruritus: Oral: Chlorpheniramine maleate:

Immediate release: 4 mg every 4 to 6 hours; do not exceed 24 mg/24 hours

Extended release: 12 mg every 12 hours; do not exceed 24 mg/24 hours

Motion sickness (off-label use): Immediate release: 4 to 12 mg administered 3 hours prior to initiating stimulus for motion sickness (Buckey 2004). Note: Avoid use if it is unsafe for patient to be sedated.

There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer's labeling; however, chlorpheniramine is metabolised via the liver; therefore, a dose adjustment may be necessary.

Some products may contain phenylalanine.

>10%:

Central nervous system: Drowsiness (slight to moderate)

Respiratory: Thickening of bronchial secretions

1% to 10%:

Central nervous system: Dizziness, excitability, fatigue, headache, nervousness

Endocrine & metabolic: Weight gain

Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, increased appetite, nausea, xerostomia

Genitourinary: Urinary retention

Neuromuscular & skeletal: Arthralgia, weakness

Ophthalmic: Diplopia

Renal: Polyuria

Respiratory: Pharyngitis