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Chlorpheniramine

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Chlorpheniramine, Chlor-Trimeton, Aller-Chlor, Dexchlorpheniramine, Polaramine, Polmon

  • See Also
  1. Antihistamine
  2. Anticholinergic Toxicity
  • Indications
  1. Allergic Rhinitis
  • Mechanism
  1. See Antihistamine
  2. H1 Receptor Antagonist
  3. Chlorpheniramine is an alkylamine First Generation Antihistamine with moderate Anticholinergic activity
  4. Dexchlorpheniramine is the active dextro-isomer of Chlorpheniramine (with twice its potency)
  • Precautions
  1. Although FDA approved for children, FDA does not recommend routine Antihistamine use age <4 years
    1. Deaths have occurred in younger children related to Anticholinergic Toxicity
  • Medications
  1. Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton, Aller-Chlor)
    1. Regular Release Tablets: 4 mg tablets
    2. Regular Release Syrup: 2 mg/5 ml
    3. Extended Release Tablets: 12 mg
  2. Dexchlorpheniramine (Polaramine, Polmon)
    1. Oral Solution: 2 mg/5 ml
  • Dosing
  • Chlorpheniramine Regular Release Formulation
  1. Adult (age >=12 years): 4 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours
  2. Child (age 6 to 11 years): 2 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours
  3. Child (age 2 to 5 years): 1 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours (NOT fda approved)
  • Dosing
  • Chlorpheniramine Timed Release Formulation
  1. Adult (age >=12 years): 8 mg orally every 8 hours OR 12 mg orally every 12 hours
  2. Child (age 6 to 11 years): 8 mg orally every 12 hours (NOT fda approved)
  • Dosing
  • Dexchlorpheniramine
  1. Adult (and child age>=12 years): 2 mg (or 1 tsp solution) every 4 to 6 hours as needed
  2. Child age 6 to 11 years: 1 mg (or 1/2 tsp solution) every 4 to 6 hours as needed
  3. Child age 2 to 5 years: 0.5 mg (or 1/4 tsp solution) every 4 to 6 hours as needed
  • Adverse Effects
  1. See Antihistamine
  2. See Anticholinergic Toxicity
  3. Sedation
  • Safety
  1. Pregnancy category B
  2. Avoid in Lactation
  • Resources
  1. Chlorpheniramine (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=0aa4ac07-bd02-46b2-9cf0-0643e0e1a2da
  2. Dexchlorpheniramine (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=2e5b9bfc-f58b-49f0-84f2-4efc10061ae3
  • References
  1. Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster Miami, p. 146-7
  2. Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia