What is Gripex 500mg/30mg/15mg? Paracetamol, Pseudoephedrine and Dextromethorphan Tablets for Cold and Flu
Gripex 500mg/30mg/15mg is an analgesic, decongestant, cough suppressant, and expectorant combination used for relieving pain, congestion, cough, and throat and airway irritation due to colds, flu, or hay fever. It works by constricting blood vessels and reducing swelling in the nasal passages, loosening mucus and lung secretions in the chest, and making coughs more productive. The analgesic and cough suppressant components act in the brain to decrease pain and to reduce the cough reflex to ease a dry cough.
Active Ingredients
- Paracetamol 500.0 mg
- Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 30.0 mg
- Dextromethorphan hydrobromide 15.0 mg
Gripex Contraindications
Do not use Gripex if you have:
- Hypersensitivity to the active substances or any ingredients of the product
- Concomitant use of other medicines containing acetaminophen (paracetamol)
- Treatment with MAO inhibitors, or within two weeks of discontinuing their use
- Congenital deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
- Severe hepatic or renal insufficiency
- Severe hypertension
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Alcoholism
- Asthma or COPD
- Respiratory failure or respiratory depression
Gripex is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, and must not be used in children under 12 years of age.
Take Special Care With Gripex
Due to the risk of liver damage, people with liver failure, alcohol abusers, and those who are malnourished should use Gripex with particular care. Use with caution in patients with renal insufficiency, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, emphysema, increased intraocular pressure, prostate adenoma, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and in patients treated with anxiolytic agents, tricyclic antidepressants, other sympathomimetics, appetite suppressant drugs, and amphetamine-like psychostimulants. Gripex must not be given to patients with chronic productive cough, respiratory failure, or bronchial asthma. Alcohol is prohibited during treatment with Gripex. Consult your doctor if symptoms worsen or do not improve after three days.
Drug Interactions
Paracetamol: Do not take with other medicines containing acetaminophen due to overdose risk. Drugs that accelerate gastric emptying (e.g. metoclopramide) speed absorption of paracetamol; drugs that slow gastric emptying (e.g. propantheline) may delay absorption. Concomitant use of MAO inhibitors and paracetamol may cause excitement and fever. Co-administration with zidovudine (AZT) may potentiate toxic effects on bone marrow. Paracetamol may increase the effect of antithrombotic agents (coumarin derivatives). Co-administration with drugs enhancing hepatic metabolism (e.g. barbiturates, phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampicin) may lead to liver damage. Alcohol during treatment leads to formation of toxic metabolites causing liver cell necrosis.
Pseudoephedrine: Co-administration of albuterol may enhance vasoconstrictive effects. Do not use together with aminophylline or sympathomimetic agents. Concomitant use with other sympathomimetics or appetite suppressants may increase blood pressure. Ammonium chloride extends the duration of effect of pseudoephedrine. MAO inhibitors slow its elimination. Pseudoephedrine reduces the effects of antihypertensive medications and may affect the action of digitalis glycosides. Do not use with furazolidone.
Dextromethorphan: Do not use concomitantly with MAO inhibitors.
Pregnancy and Lactation
Gripex is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Driving or operating machinery whilst taking Gripex should be performed with caution due to the risk of drowsiness and dizziness.
Gripex Dosage
- Adults: 1–2 tablets 3–4 times daily; maximum 8 tablets per day
- Children over 12 years: 1–2 tablets three times daily; maximum 6 tablets per day
Side Effects
Paracetamol: Acute liver failure (usually from overdose), nausea, vomiting, indigestion, urticaria, erythema, rash, anaphylactic shock, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, granulocytopenia.
Pseudoephedrine: Headache, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, hallucinations, sweating, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, slight increases in blood pressure and heart rate, palpitations, renal colic, dysuria, urinary retention (particularly in patients with prostatic adenoma).
Dextromethorphan: Dyspnoea (difficulty breathing), asthma attacks, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, constipation, allergic skin reactions, flushing, rash.
Storage
Store below 25°C. Keep out of reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date.
Greta –
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