acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and diphenh... Health Article

What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and diphenhydramine?

This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather.

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine to treat depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by an antihistamine.

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking this medication. Alcohol can add to drowsiness caused by an antihistamine. Alcohol can also increase the risk of liver damage while you are taking acetaminophen.

Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications) without your doctor's advice. Taking a stimulant together with cough or cold medicine can increase your risk of unpleasant side effects.

Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or sleep medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Antihistamines, decongestants, and cough suppressants are contained in many medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of one or more types of medicine. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, or diphenhydramine.

What are the possible side effects of acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and diphenhydramine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;

• severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;

• confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;

• slow, shallow breathing;

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Keep using the medication and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• mild loss of appetite or stomach upset;

• nausea, stomach pain, constipation;

• blurred vision;

• dry mouth;

• dizziness, drowsiness;

• problems with memory or concentration;

• ringing in your ears; or

• restless or excitability (especially in children).

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.