Adult Dosing

Allergic rhinitis and urticaria

• 2 mg PO q4-6 hrs

Pediatric Dosing

• Note: Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients less than 2 yrs of age has not been established

Allergic rhinitis and urticaria

• 2-5 yrs: 0.5 mg (1/4 teaspoonful) PO q4-6 hrs
• 6-11 yrs: 1 mg (1/2 teaspoonful) PO q4-6 hrs
• >12 yrs: 2 mg (1 teaspoonful) PO q4-6 hrs

• Perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis
• Vasomotor rhinitis
• Allergic conjunctivitis due to inhalant allergens and foods
• Mild, uncomplicated allergic skin manifestations of urticaria and angioedema
• Amelioration of allergic reactions to blood or plasma
• Common Cold

• Hypersensitivity to any ingredients of the product
• Newborn or premature infants
• Nursing mothers
• Asthma
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• Narrow angle glaucoma

• N/A

Renal Dose Adjustment

• Renal impairment: Dose adjustments not defined

Hepatic Dose Adjustment

• Hepatic impairment: Dose adjustments not defined

See Supplemental Patient Information

• Overdosage of antihistamine in pediatric patient may cause hallucinations, convulsions, or death; in young children may produce excitation, while in adult may diminish mental alertness
• It may cause drowsiness and/or sedation, which may be enhanced by alcohol, sedatives, and other CNS depressants
• Do not engage in activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination, such as driving a car or operating machinery

Cautions: Use cautiously in

• Narrow angle glaucoma
• Stenosing peptic ulcer
• Pyloroduodenal obstruction
• Symptomatic prostatic hypertrophy
• Bladder neck obstruction
• History of bronchial asthma
• Hyperthyroidism
• CV disease
• Hypertension

Supplemental Patient Information

• Advise patient to not engage in activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination, such as driving a car or operating machinery

Polaramine interacts with :

	Aricept
	Aricept ODT
	Donepezil
	Exelon
	Galantamine
	Razadyne
	Razadyne ER
	Rivastigmine

Pregnancy Category:B

Breastfeeding: Small occasional doses of dexchlorpheniramine would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. Larger doses or more prolonged use may cause effects in the infant or decrease the milk supply, particularly when used in combination with a sympathomimetic agent. The nonsedating antihistamines should be preferred. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 27 January 2011).

• CNS: Sedation, sleepiness, dizziness, disturbed coordination, fatigue, confusion, restlessness, excitation, nervousness, tremor, irritability, insomnia, euphoria, paresthesias, blurred vision, diplopia, vertigo, tinnitus, acute labyrinthitis, hysteria, neuritis, convulsions
• RESP: Thickening of bronchial secretions, tightness of chest and wheezing, nasal stuffiness
• HEMA: Hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis
• GI: Epigastric distress, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, dryness of mouth, nose and throat
• GU: Urinary frequency, difficult urination, urinary retention, early menses
• DERM: Urticaria, drug rash, photosensitivity, excessive perspiration
• MISC: Anaphylactic shock, chills

• Antihistamine; competitively antagonizes histamine H1 at receptor sites, which subsequently leads to temporary relief of the negative symptoms brought on by histamine
• Metabolized by liver; CYP450: 3A4, 2D6 substrate
• Excretion: 19% (unchanged)
• Half-life: 20-24 hrs

US Trade Name(s)

• Polaramine (Discontinued)

US Availability

dexchlorpheniramine (generic)

• SYRUP: 2 mg/5 mL

Canadian Trade Name(s)

• N/A

Canadian Availability

• N/A

UK Trade Name(s)

• N/A

UK Availability

• N/A

Australian Trade Name(s)

• Polaramine
• Polaramine Repetabs

Australian Availability

Polaramine

• TABS: 2 mg
• SYRUP: 2 mg/5 mL

Polaramine Repetabs

• TABS: 6 mg extended-release

ENT

Antihistamines

Allergy & Immunology

Antihistamines