Patients suffering from chronic cough as occurs with smoking, asthma or patients suffering from an acute asthma attack, or where cough is accompanied by excessive secretions should be advised to consult a Healthcare Professional before use.
Causes of chronic cough should be excluded if symptoms are persistent. Any accompanying symptoms should be actively sought and appropriately investigated/ treated. Stop use and ask your healthcare professional if your cough lasts more than 7 days, comes back or is accompanied by a fever, rash or persistent headache. These could be signs of serious conditions.
Drug dependence, tolerance and potential for abuse
For all patients, prolonged use of this product may lead to drug dependence (addiction), even at therapeutic doses. The risks are increased in individuals with current or past history of substance misuse disorder (including alcohol misuse) or mental health disorder (e.g., major depression). Caution is particularly recommended for adolescents and young adults as well as in patients with a history of drug abuse or psychoactive substances.
Drug withdrawal syndrome
The drug withdrawal syndrome is characterised by some or all of the following: restlessness, lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, yawning, perspiration, chills, myalgia, mydriasis and palpitations. Other symptoms may also develop including irritability, agitation, anxiety, hyperkinesia, tremor, weakness, insomnia, anorexia, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, increased blood pressure, increased respiratory rate or heart rate.
Dextromethorphan is metabolised by hepatic cytochrome P450 2D6. The activity of this enzyme is genetically determined. About 10% of the general population are poor metabolisers of CYP2D6. Poor metabolisers and patients with concomitant use of CYP2D6 inhibitors may experience exaggerated and/or prolonged effects of dextromethorphan. Caution should therefore be exercised in patients who are slow metabolizers of CYP2D6 or use CYP2D6 inhibitors (see also section 4.5).
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not exceed recommended dose.
Excipient warnings:
- Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance should not take this medicine because this product contains Sorbitol and Maltitol.
- This product contains Amaranth (E123), which may cause allergic reactions.
- This medicine contains 219.3 mg of alcohol (ethanol) in each 10 ml dose which is equivalent to 22 mg/ml (2.08% w/v). The amount in 10 ml of this medicine is equivalent to less than 6 ml beer or 3ml wine. Harmful for those suffering from alcoholism. To be taken into account in pregnant or breast-feeding women and high-risk groups such as patients with liver disease, or epilepsy.
- This medicine contains 12.0 mg sodium benzoate in each 10 ml dose which is equivalent to 1.2 mg/ml.
- This medicine contains 2094 mg sorbitol per 10 ml dose which is equivalent to 209.4 mg/ml. Sorbitol may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and mild laxative effect.
- This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 10 ml.
Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonergic effects, including the development of a potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome, have been reported for dextromethorphan with concomitant administration of serotonergic agents, such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), drugs which impair metabolism of serotonin (including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)) and CYP2D6 inhibitors.
Serotonin syndrome may include mental-status changes, autonomic instability, neuromuscular abnormalities, and/or gastrointestinal symptoms. If serotonin syndrome is suspected, treatment with Robitussin Dry Cough should be discontinued.