Lohist-D Liquid
Overview
What is this medicine?
How to Use This Medicine
To get the most benefit from your medication, follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Read all the information provided with your medication and follow the instructions closely. You can take this medication with or without food. If it causes stomach upset, take it with food to help minimize this side effect. When taking the liquid form of this medication, measure the dose carefully using the measuring device that comes with it. If no device is provided, ask your pharmacist for a suitable measuring tool.
Storing and Disposing of Your Medication
Store your medication at room temperature in a dry place, avoiding the bathroom. Keep all medications in a safe location, out of the reach of children and pets. Dispose of unused or expired medications properly. Do not flush them down the toilet or pour them down the drain unless instructed to do so by your pharmacist. If you have questions about disposing of your medication, consult your pharmacist, who can also inform you about potential drug take-back programs in your area.
What to Do If You Miss a Dose
If you take this medication on a regular basis and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it's close to the time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take two doses at the same time or take extra doses. If you take this medication as needed, do not take it more frequently than directed by your doctor.
Lifestyle & Tips
- Avoid alcohol and other sedating medications while taking this product, as it can increase drowsiness.
- Use caution when driving or operating machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
- Stay hydrated to help with dry mouth, a common side effect.
- Do not exceed the recommended dose, especially in children, as serious side effects can occur.
Available Forms & Alternatives
Available Strengths:
Dosing & Administration
Adult Dosing
Condition-Specific Dosing:
Pediatric Dosing
Dose Adjustments
Renal Impairment:
Hepatic Impairment:
Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption:
Distribution:
Elimination:
Pharmacodynamics
Safety & Warnings
Side Effects
Although rare, some people may experience severe and potentially life-threatening side effects while taking this medication. If you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor or seek immediate medical attention:
Signs of an allergic reaction, such as:
+ Rash
+ Hives
+ Itching
+ Red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever
+ Wheezing
+ Tightness in the chest or throat
+ Trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking
+ Unusual hoarseness
+ Swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat
Other Possible Side Effects
Like all medications, this drug can cause side effects. While many people may not experience any side effects or only minor ones, it's essential to discuss any concerns with your doctor. If you experience any of the following side effects or any other unusual symptoms that bother you or do not go away, contact your doctor:
Feeling dizzy or sleepy
Feeling nervous and excitable
Trouble sleeping
Reporting Side Effects
This list is not exhaustive, and you may experience other side effects not mentioned here. If you have questions or concerns about side effects, consult your doctor. You can also report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088 or online at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention If You Experience:
- Severe dizziness or persistent drowsiness.
- Rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat.
- Difficulty urinating or painful urination.
- Blurred vision or other vision changes.
- Severe nervousness, anxiety, or restlessness.
- Hallucinations or unusual behavior.
- Signs of an allergic reaction (rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing).
Before Using This Medicine
Any allergies you have, including allergies to this drug, its components, or other substances, such as foods or medications. Be sure to describe the allergic reaction you experienced, including any symptoms that occurred.
If you have taken certain medications for depression or Parkinson's disease within the last 14 days, including isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, or rasagiline, as this may increase the risk of very high blood pressure.
* If you are currently taking linezolid or methylene blue, as these medications can interact with this drug.
It is crucial to provide your doctor and pharmacist with a comprehensive list of all your medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, natural products, and vitamins, as well as any health problems you are experiencing. This will enable them to assess potential interactions and ensure it is safe for you to take this medication. Do not initiate, discontinue, or modify the dose of any medication without first consulting your doctor.
Precautions & Cautions
Until you are aware of how this medication affects you, it is crucial to avoid operating a vehicle or engaging in any activities that require your full attention. It is also advisable to refrain from consuming alcohol while taking this medication. Before using marijuana, other forms of cannabis, or any prescription or over-the-counter drugs that may cause drowsiness, consult with your doctor to discuss potential interactions.
When administering this medication to a child, it is vital to consult with the doctor beforehand, as different brands may have varying dosage recommendations for children. Exercise caution when giving this medication to a child, as they may be at a higher risk of experiencing excitability. This medication should not be used as a means to induce sleep in children; instead, consult with the doctor to discuss appropriate alternatives.
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, inform your doctor, as it is necessary to weigh the benefits and risks of this medication to both you and the baby.
Overdose Information
Overdose Symptoms:
- Severe drowsiness or sedation, leading to coma.
- Confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, psychosis.
- Seizures.
- Rapid heart rate (tachycardia), irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmias).
- High blood pressure (hypertension), potentially leading to hypertensive crisis.
- Dilated pupils (mydriasis).
- Dry mouth, flushed skin, fever.
- Urinary retention.
- Respiratory depression (chlorpheniramine) or stimulation (pseudoephedrine).
What to Do:
Seek immediate medical attention. Call 911 or your local poison control center (e.g., 1-800-222-1222 in the US).
Drug Interactions
Contraindicated Interactions
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) (concurrent use or within 14 days of MAOI discontinuation) - risk of hypertensive crisis and prolonged anticholinergic effects.
Major Interactions
- Other sympathomimetics (e.g., decongestants, appetite suppressants, amphetamines) - additive cardiovascular effects.
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) - enhanced pressor effects of pseudoephedrine.
- Beta-blockers - pseudoephedrine may reduce antihypertensive effect and increase risk of hypertension.
- Methyldopa, Reserpine - pseudoephedrine may reduce antihypertensive effect.
- CNS Depressants (e.g., alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics, opioids, anxiolytics) - additive CNS depression (drowsiness, dizziness).
Moderate Interactions
- Anticholinergic drugs (e.g., atropine, some antipsychotics, tricyclic antidepressants) - additive anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, urinary retention, blurred vision).
- Digoxin - increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias with pseudoephedrine.
- Urinary alkalinizers (e.g., sodium bicarbonate) - may decrease pseudoephedrine excretion, increasing its effects.
- Urinary acidifiers (e.g., ammonium chloride) - may increase pseudoephedrine excretion, decreasing its effects.
Minor Interactions
- Not typically listed for OTC products, but general caution with other medications.
Monitoring
Symptom Monitoring
- Effectiveness of symptom relief (nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes)
- Adverse effects: Drowsiness, dizziness, nervousness, insomnia, dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, palpitations, increased blood pressure, headache.
- Signs of overdose or severe reactions (e.g., severe agitation, hallucinations, seizures, severe hypertension, tachycardia).
Special Patient Groups
Pregnancy
Category C. Use only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Pseudoephedrine use in the first trimester has been inconsistently associated with gastroschisis, though overall risk is low. Chlorpheniramine is generally avoided in the third trimester due to potential for neonatal withdrawal symptoms or irritability.
Trimester-Specific Risks:
Lactation
L3 (Moderately Safe). Both chlorpheniramine and pseudoephedrine are excreted into breast milk. Chlorpheniramine can cause sedation in the infant and may decrease milk supply. Pseudoephedrine can cause irritability in the infant and may decrease milk supply. Use with caution; consider alternative agents or monitor infant closely for adverse effects and milk supply.
Pediatric Use
Contraindicated for children under 2 years of age due to risk of serious and life-threatening side effects (e.g., convulsions, rapid heart rates, death). Use with extreme caution and only as directed by a healthcare professional for children 2-12 years, adhering strictly to age-appropriate dosing.
Geriatric Use
Elderly patients are more susceptible to the adverse effects of both chlorpheniramine (sedation, anticholinergic effects like urinary retention, confusion) and pseudoephedrine (cardiovascular effects like hypertension, tachycardia). Start with lower doses and monitor closely for side effects.
Clinical Information
Clinical Pearls
- This combination product is not recommended for children under 2 years of age due to the risk of serious side effects.
- Advise patients to avoid alcohol and other CNS depressants due to additive sedative effects.
- Caution patients about potential for drowsiness and impaired ability to drive or operate machinery.
- Pseudoephedrine can increase blood pressure and heart rate; use with caution in patients with hypertension, heart disease, or thyroid disorders.
- Chlorpheniramine's anticholinergic effects can cause dry mouth, blurred vision, and urinary retention, especially in elderly men with prostatic hypertrophy.
- Ensure patients understand the correct liquid measurement (e.g., using a dosing spoon or cup provided with the product).
Alternative Therapies
- Single-ingredient oral antihistamines (e.g., loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine for less sedation; diphenhydramine for more sedation)
- Single-ingredient oral decongestants (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine)
- Nasal saline rinses or sprays
- Intranasal corticosteroids (for allergic rhinitis)
- Nasal decongestant sprays (short-term use only to avoid rebound congestion)