acrivastine and pseudoephedrine

Generic Name: acrivastine and pseudoephedrine (a KRIV a steen and SOO doe ee FED rin)

Brand Names: Semprex-D

What is acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?

Acrivastine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).

The combination of acrivastine and pseudoephedrine is used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and sinus congestion caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.

Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about acrivastine 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. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, or sleep medicine. Antihistamines and decongestants 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 or decongestant. Do not use this 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.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?

Do not use this 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. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to acrivastine or pseudoephedrine.

To make sure you can safely take acrivastine and pseudoephedrine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease;


• liver disease;


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  heart disease or high blood pressure;

  
  


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  diabetes;

  
  


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  a thyroid disorder;

  
  


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  glaucoma;

  
  


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  an enlarged prostate; or

  
  


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  problems with urination.

  
  

It is not known whether acrivastine and pseudoephedrine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. Pseudoephedrine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take acrivastine 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. 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. Take this medicine with a full glass of water. Do not take acrivastine and pseudoephedrine 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. If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using acrivastine and pseudoephedrine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

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

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

See also: Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since cold or allergy medicine is taken as 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 acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?

This medication may cause blurred vision or impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of acrivastine and pseudoephedrine.

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, allergy, or sleep medicine. Antihistamines and decongestants 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 or decongestant.

Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine side effects

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 medicine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

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  fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;

  
  


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  severe dizziness or anxiety;

  
  


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  confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;

  
  


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  urinating less than usual or not at all;

  
  


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

  
  


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  dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, ringing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, trouble breathing, uneven heart rate, seizure).

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  blurred vision;

  
  


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  dry mouth;

  
  


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  upset stomach, constipation;

  
  


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  loss of appetite;

  
  


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  dizziness, drowsiness;

  
  


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  problems with memory or concentration;

  
  


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  warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin;

  
  


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  feeling restless or excited (especially in children);

  
  


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  sleep problems (insomnia); or

  
  


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  skin rash or itching.

  
  

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.

Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Allergic Rhinitis:

1 capsule (8 mg-60 mg) orally 4 times a day.

Usual Adult Dose for Nasal Congestion:

1 capsule (8 mg-60 mg) orally 4 times a day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Allergic Rhinitis:

12 years and older:
1 capsule (8 mg-60 mg) orally 4 times a day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Nasal Congestion:

12 years and older:
1 capsule (8 mg-60 mg) orally 4 times a day.

What other drugs will affect acrivastine and pseudoephedrine?

Before using acrivastine and pseudoephedrine, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by acrivastine and pseudoephedrine.

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

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  blood pressure medications;

  
  


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  a diuretic (water pill);

  
  


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  methyldopa (Aldomet);

  
  


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  medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome;

  
  


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  bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol) or tolterodine (Detrol);

  
  


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  aspirin or salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others);

  
  


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  a beta blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin, Tenoretic), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Dutoprol, Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others; or

  
  


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  an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others.

  
  

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with acrivastine 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 acrivastine and pseudoephedrine resources

• Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine Side Effects (in more detail)
• Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine Dosage
• Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine Drug Interactions
• Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine Support Group
• 1 Review for Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine - Add your own review/rating

Compare acrivastine and pseudoephedrine with other medications

• Hay Fever
• Nasal Congestion

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about acrivastine and pseudoephedrine.

See also: acrivastine and pseudoephedrine side effects (in more detail)