Generic Name: aspirin, chlorpheniramine, and phenylephrine (ASP rin, KLOR fen IR a meen, and FEN il EFF rin)
Brand Names: Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Formula
What is Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Formula (aspirin, chlorpheniramine, and phenylephrine)?
Aspirin is in a group of drugs called salicylates (sa-LIS-il-ates). It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain, fever, and inflammation.
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.
Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
The combination of aspirin, chlorpheniramine, and phenylephrine is used to treat runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and sinus congestion caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.
Aspirin, chlorpheniramine, and phenylephrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about this medicine?
Aspirin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children. 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. You should not use this medication if you have severe constipation, a blockage in your stomach or intestines, or if you are unable to urinate. Do not use this medicine if you have untreated or uncontrolled diseases such as glaucoma, asthma or COPD, high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, or overactive thyroid. 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 this medicine?
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. You should not use this medication if you have severe constipation, a blockage in your stomach or intestines, stomach or intestinal bleeding, a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia, or if you are unable to urinate. Do not use this medicine if you have untreated or uncontrolled diseases such as glaucoma, asthma or COPD, high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, or overactive thyroid.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medication if you have:
heartburn, stomach pain, indigestion, ulcer, or other stomach problems;
a blockage in your digestive tract (stomach or intestines), a colostomy or ileostomy;
diabetes;
liver or kidney disease;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
cough with mucus, or cough caused by emphysema, smoking, or chronic bronchitis;
enlarged prostate or urination problems;
pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor);
if you are on a low-salt diet; or
if you take potassium (Cytra, Epiklor, K-Lyte, K-Phos, Kaon, Klor-Con, Polycitra, Urocit-K).
FDA pregnancy category C. Aspirin may be harmful to an unborn baby's heart, and may also reduce birth weight or have other dangerous effects. Do not use this medicine without medical advice if you are pregnant. It is not known whether aspirin, chlorpheniramine, and phenylephrine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Antihistamines and decongestants may also slow breast milk production. Do not use this medicine without medical advice if you are breast-feeding a baby. Aspirin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children.
How should I take this medicine?
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. This medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.
Do not take 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 sore throat that lasts longer than 2 days, or a sore throat with a fever and headache, nausea, vomiting, or skin rash.
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. Drop the effervescent tablets into a glass of water (at least 4 ounces, or one-half cup). Stir this mixture and drink all of it right away. If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the surgeon or doctor ahead of time if you have taken this medicine within the past few days. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since this 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 this medicine?
This medicine 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. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of this medication. Alcohol may also increase your risk of stomach bleeding while you are taking aspirin. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, cough, or sleep medicine. Aspirin (sometimes abbreviated as ASA), 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 aspirin, ASA, an antihistamine, or a decongestant.
This medicine 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:
bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
fast, slow, or uneven heart rate, tremor, seizure (convulsions);
ringing in your ears, severe headache, mood changes, severe dizziness or anxiety, hallucinations, feeling like you might pass out;
redness or swelling, new cold or flu symptoms;
feeling short of breath, urinating less than usual or not at all; or
dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, uneven heartbeats, seizure).
Less serious side effects may include:
mild headache, mild dizziness, drowsiness;
dry mouth, nose, or throat;
heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach;
feeling nervous, restless, or irritable; or
sleep problems (insomnia).
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 Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Formula (aspirin, chlorpheniramine, and phenylephrine)?
Ask your doctor before using an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Rapiflux, Sarafem, Selfemra, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone (Desyrel, Oleptro), or vilazodone (Viibryd). Taking any of these medicines with aspirin may cause you to bruise or bleed easily. Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by chlorpheniramine.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use aspirin, chlorpheniramine, and phenylephrine if you are also using any of the following drugs:
topiramate (Topamax);
zonisamide (Zonegran);
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
gout medication such as probenecid (Benemid);
phenobarbital (Solfoton) or other barbiturates;
an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone (Desyrel, Oleptro), venlafaxine (Effexor), or vilazodone (Viibryd);
anti-nausea medications such as belladonna (Donnatal), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), droperidol (Inapsine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm Scop);
bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), solifenacin (Vesicare), tolterodine (Detrol), or Urogesic Blue;
bronchodilators such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva);
irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Hyomax), or propantheline (Pro Banthine);
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Treximet), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Pennsaid, Solareze), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), and others; or
ulcer medicine such as glycopyrrolate (Robinul) or mepenzolate (Cantil).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with aspirin, chlorpheniramine, and phenylephrine. 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 Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Formula resources
- Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Formula Side Effects (in more detail)
- Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Formula Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Formula Drug Interactions
- 0 Reviews for Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Formula - Add your own review/rating
Compare Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Formula with other medications
- Cold Symptoms
- Nasal Congestion
- Pain/Fever
- Rhinorrhea
- Sinus Symptoms
- Tonsillitis/Pharyngitis
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about aspirin, chlorpheniramine, and phenylephrine.
See also: Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Formula side effects (in more detail)
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