Dosing & Uses
Dosage Forms & Strengths
chlorpheniramine/hydrocodone
capsule extended release: Schedule II
- 4mg/5mg (TussiCaps Half Strength)
- 8mg/10mg (TussiCaps Full Strength)
oral suspension extended release: Schedule II
- (8mg/10mg)/5mL (Tussionex Pennkinetic)
oral solution: Schedule II
- (4mg/5mg)/5mL (Vituz)
Cough/Rhinorrhea
Capsule ER: 1 capsule PO q12hr; not to exceed 2 capsules/day
Solution: 5 mL PO q4-6hr PRN; not to exceed 20 mL/day
Suspension ER: 5 mL PO q12hr; not to exceed 10mL/day
Dosage Forms & Strengths
chlorpheniramine/hydrocodone
capsule extended release: Schedule II
- 4mg/5mg (TussiCaps Half Strength)
- 8mg/10mg (TuissiCaps Full Strength)
suspension: Schedule II
- (8mg/10mg)/5mL (Tussionex Pennkinetic)
Cough/Rhinorrhea
Capsules ER half strength
- 6-12 years: 1 capsule PO q12hr; not to exceed 2 capsules/24hr
Capsules ER full strength
- >12 years: 1 capsule PO q12hr; not to exceed 2 capsules/24hr
Oral suspension
- 6-12 years: 2.5 mL PO q12hr; not to exceed 5 mL/day
- >12 years: 5 mL PO q12hr; not to exceed 10 mL/day
Oral solution
- <18 years: Safety and efficacy not established
Interactions
Interaction Checker
No Results

Contraindicated
Serious - Use Alternative
Significant - Monitor Closely
Minor

Adverse Effects
Frequency Not Defined
Chest tightness
Syncope
Agitation
Coma
Depression
Dizziness
Dysphoria
Euphoria
Faintness
Mental clouding
Nervousness
Restlessness
Sedation
Seizures
Flushing
Pruritus
Sweating
Urticaria
Warmness of the face/neck/upper thorax
Constipation
Dry mouth
Nausea
Vomiting
Respiratory/circulatory depression
Shock
Urinary retention
Blurred vision
Visual disturbances
Diplopia
Xerostomia
Dysuria
Ureteral spasm
Warnings
Black Box Warnings
Concomitant use of opioids with benzodiazepine or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death; avoid use of opioid cough medications in patients taking benzodiazepines, other CNS depressants, or alcohol
Advise both patients and caregivers about risks of respiratory depression and sedation if therapy is administered with benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other CNS depressants
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to opioids or chlorpheniramine
Use of extended release in children < 6 years
Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in absence of resuscitative equipment
Known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus
Cautions
Ingredients and dosage could change; ALWAYS check label
Use with caution in acute pancreatitis, Addison disease, cardiac arrhythmias, emotional lability, gallbladder disease, pseudomembranous colitis, GI surgery, myxedema, toxic psychosis, urethral stricture, seizures, acute alcoholism, emphysema, narrow-angle glaucoma, asthma, prostatic hypertrophy, hypercapnia, renal/hepatic impairment, elderly debilitated patients
Use with caution extended-release suspension in elderly or debilitated patients and those with severe impairment of hepatic or renal function, hypothyroidism, Addison's disease, prostatic hypertrophy, or urethral stricture for possibility of respiratory depression
The two active ingredients in the drug combination may produce marked drowsiness and impair mental and/or physical abilities required for performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving a car or operating machinery; advise patients to avoid engaging in hazardous tasks requiring mental alertness and motor coordination after ingestion of medication; avoid concurrent use with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants as additional impairment of central nervous system performance may occur
Dosage should not be increased if cough fails to respond; an unresponsive cough should be reevaluated in 5 days or sooner for possible underlying pathology, such as foreign body or lower respiratory tract disease
Dosing errors can result in accidental overdose and death; to reduce risk of overdose and respiratory depression, ensure that the dose is communicated clearly and dispensed accurately; advise patients to always use accurate milliliter measuring device when measuring and administering drug; inform patients that household teaspoon is not accurate measuring device and could lead to overdosage and serious adverse reactions; for prescriptions where a measuring device is not provided, a pharmacist can provide an appropriate calibrated measuring device and provide instructions for measuring correct dose
Hydrocodone and chlorpheniramine in drug combination may increase frequency of seizures in patients with seizure disorders, and may increase risk of seizures occurring in other clinical settings associated with seizures; monitor patients with a history of seizure disorders for worsened seizure control during therapy
Therapy may cause severe hypotension including orthostatic hypotension and syncope in ambulatory patients; there is increased risk in patients whose ability to maintain blood pressure has already been compromised by reduced blood volume or concurrent administration of certain CNS depressant drugs (eg, phenothiazines or general anesthetics); monitor these patients for signs of hypotension after initiating therapy; in patients with circulatory shock, therapy may cause vasodilation that can further reduce cardiac output and blood pressure; avoid use of drug in patients with circulatory shock
Respiratory depression
- Hydrocodone produces dose-related respiratory depression (risk increased in children) by directly acting on brain stem respiratory center that controls respiratory rhythm and may produce irregular and periodic breathing; respiratory depression, if not immediately recognized and treated, may lead to respiratory arrest and death
- Management of respiratory depression includes discontinuation of therapy, close observation, supportive measures, and use of opioid antagonists (eg, naloxone), depending on patient’s clinical status; carbon dioxide (CO2) retention from opioid-induced respiratory depression can exacerbate sedating effects of opioids
- While serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression can occur at any time during therapy, risk is greatest during initiation of therapy, when drug is used concomitantly with other drugs that may cause respiratory depression in patients with chronic pulmonary disease or decreased respiratory reserve, and in patients with altered pharmacokinetics or altered clearance (eg, elderly, cachectic, or debilitated patients)
- To reduce risk of respiratory depression, proper dosing of is essential; monitor patients closely, especially within first 24-72 hr of initiating therapy or when used in patients at higher risk
- Overdose of hydrocodone in adults has been associated with fatal respiratory depression, and use of hydrocodone in children < 6 years of age associated with fatal respiratory depression when used as recommended; accidental ingestion of even one dose of drug combination especially by children, can result in respiratory depression and death
Addiction, abuse, and misuse
- Exposes users to risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death; prescribe for shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals, monitor all patients regularly for development of addiction or abuse, and refill only after reevaluation of need for continued treatment
- Addiction can occur at recommended dosages and if drug is misused or abused; risks are increased in patients with personal or family history of substance abuse (including drug or alcohol abuse or addiction) or mental illness (eg, major depression); strategies to reduce risks include prescribing drug in smallest appropriate quantity and advising patient on proper disposal of unused drug
Asthma and other pulmonary diseases
- Patients with significant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cor pulmonale, and those with substantially decreased respiratory reserve, hypoxia, hypercapnia, or pre-existing respiratory depression are at increased risk of decreased respiratory drive including apnea, even at recommended dosages
- Should not be used in patients with acute febrile illness associated with productive cough or in patients with chronic respiratory disease where interference with ability to clear the tracheobronchial tree of secretions would have a deleterious effect on patient’s respiratory function
- Life-threatening respiratory depression is more likely to occur in elderly, cachectic, or debilitated patients because they may have altered pharmacokinetics or altered clearance compared to younger, healthier patients
- Because of risk of respiratory depression, avoid use of opioid antitussives, in patients with compromised respiratory function, patients at risk of respiratory failure, and in elderly, cachectic, or debilitated patients if prescribed, monitor such patients closely, particularly when initiating therapy and when given concomitantly with other drugs that depress respiration
Concomitant use with other CNS depressants
- Concomitant use of opioids, with benzodiazepines, or other CNS depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death; because of these risks, avoid use of opioid cough medications in patients taking benzodiazepines, other CNS depressants, or alcohol
- Advise both patients and caregivers about risks of respiratory depression and sedation if drug is used with benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other CNS depressants
- Patients must not consume alcoholic beverages, or prescription or non-prescription products containing alcohol, while on therapy; co-ingestion of alcohol with drug combination may result in increased plasma levels and a potentially fatal overdose of hydrocodone
Use in patients with gastrointestinal conditions
- Contraindicated in patients with known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus; hydrocodone may obscure diagnosis or clinical course of patients with acute abdominal conditions; concurrent use of anticholinergics with drug combination may produce paralytic ileus
- Hydrocodone may result in constipation or obstructive bowel disease, especially in patients with underlying intestinal motility disorders; use with caution in patients with underlying intestinal motility disorders
- Hydrocodone may cause spasm of the sphincter of Oddi, resulting in an increase in biliary tract pressure; opioids may also cause increases in serum amylase; monitor patients with biliary tract disease, including acute pancreatitis for worsening symptoms
Adrenal insufficiency
- Cases of adrenal insufficiency reported with opioid use, more often following greater than one month of use; presentation of adrenal insufficiency may include non-specific symptoms and signs including nausea, vomiting, anorexia, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and low blood pressure
- If adrenal insufficiency is suspected, confirm diagnosis with diagnostic testing as soon as possible; if adrenal insufficiency diagnosed, treat with physiologic replacement doses of corticosteroids; wean patient off of opioid to allow adrenal function to recover and continue corticosteroid treatment until adrenal function recovers
- Other opioids may be tried as some cases reported use of a different opioid without recurrence of adrenal insufficiency; information available does not identify any particular opioids as being more likely to be associated with adrenal insufficiency
Intracranial pressure
- Respiratory depressant effects of narcotics and capacity to elevate cerebrospinal fluid pressure may be markedly exaggerated in presence of head injury, other intracranial lesions, or a pre-existing increase in intracranial pressure
- Avoid use in patients with head injury, intracranial lesions, or pre-existing increase in intracranial pressure; in patients who may be susceptible to intracranial effects of CO2 retention (eg, those with evidence of increased intracranial pressure or brain tumors), drug combination may reduce respiratory drive, and resultant CO2 retention can further increase intracranial pressure; furthermore, opioids produce adverse reactions that may obscure clinical course of patients with head injuries
Drug interaction overview
- Avoid use in patients who are taking a CYP3A4 inhibitor (increases plasma concentration of hydrocodone) or inducer (decreases plasma concentration of hydrocodone); if concomitant use of with a CYP3A4 inhibitor or inducer is necessary, monitor
- patients for signs and symptoms that may reflect opioid toxicity and opioid withdrawal
- Effects could be more pronounced with concomitant use of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 inhibitors, particularly when an inhibitor is added after a stable dose of drug combination is achieved
- MAO inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants with hydrocodone preparations may increase the effect of either the antidepressant or hydrocodone
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy
Not recommended for use in pregnant women, including during or immediately prior to labor; prolonged use of opioids during pregnancy may cause neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
There are no available data with use in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk for adverse developmental outcomes
Published studies with hydrocodone have reported inconsistent findings and have important methodological limitations
Reproductive toxicity studies have not been conducted with drug combination; however, studies are available with individual active ingredients or related active ingredients
Chronic use of opioids, such as hydrocodone, may cause reduced fertility in females and males of reproductive potential; it is not known whether these effects on fertility are reversible
Animal data
- In animal reproduction studies, hydrocodone administered by subcutaneous route to pregnant hamsters during period of organogenesis produced a teratogenic effect at dose approximately 70 times maximum recommended human dose (MRHD)
- Chlorpheniramine administered by oral route to mice throughout pregnancy was embryo lethal at a dose approximately 9 times MRHD and decreased postnatal survival when dosing was continued after parturition; chlorpheniramine administered by oral route to male and female rats prior to mating produced embryolethality at dose approximately 9 times MRHD
Lactation
Because of potential for serious adverse reactions, including excess sedation, respiratory depression, and death in a breastfed infant, advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended during therapy
There are no data on presence of drug in human milk, effects on breastfed infant, or on milk production; however, data are available with hydrocodone and chlorpheniramine
Hydrocodone is present in breast milk; published cases report variable concentrations of hydrocodone and hydromorphone (an active metabolite) in breast milk with administration of immediate-release hydrocodone to nursing mothers in early post-partum period with relative infant doses of hydrocodone ranging between 1.4 and 3.7%; there are case reports of excessive sedation and respiratory depression in breastfed infants exposed to hydrocodone; no information is available on effects of hydrocodone on milk production
Chlorpheniramine is present in human milk; chlorpheniramine has not been reported to cause effects on breastfed infant; published literature suggests that chlorpheniramine may decrease milk production based on its anticholinergic effects
Infants exposed to drug combination through breast milk should be monitored for excess sedation and respiratory depression; withdrawal symptoms can occur in breastfed infants when maternal administration of an opioid is stopped, or when breastfeeding is stopped
Pregnancy Categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk. C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done. D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk. X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist. NA: Information not available.Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
Chlorpheniramine: Histamine-1 receptor antagonist on effector cells in blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, and respiratory tract
Hydrocodone: Opioid agonist; elicits antitussive effect; suppresses cough in medullary center; alters perception and response to pain; produces generalized CNS depression
Absorption
Peak plasma time
- Chlorpheniramine: 6.3 hr
- Hydrocodone: 4-8 hr
Peak plasma concentration
- Chlorpheniramine: 58.4 ng/mL
- Hydrocodone: 22.8 ng/mL
Peak plasma time
- Hydrocodone: 1-2 hr (solution); 3 hr (capsules)
- Chlorpheniramine: 2-3 hr
Distribution
- Chlorpheniramine: 4-7 L/kg (children); 6-12 L/kg (adults)
Protein binding
- Chlorpheniramine: 33%
Elimination
Half-life
- Chlorpheniramine: 10-13 hr (children); 14-24 hr (adults)
- Hydrocodone: 4-5 hr
Excretion
- Hydrocodone: Urine
Images
Patient Handout
Formulary
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