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Introduction About PIRITON EXPECTORANT

PIRITON EXPECTORANT is a combination of Ammonium chloride, Chlorpheniramine and Sodium Citrate which belongs to the group of medicines called Expectorant, Antihistamine and Mucolytic. It is used for the symptomatic management of cough.

PIRITON EXPECTORANT is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver, kidney disease. Contact your doctor before taking it.

PIRITON EXPECTORANT should be used with caution in patients with lung disease, mild to moderate liver, kidney dysfunction, severe high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and heart disease. Contact your doctor before taking it.

PIRITON EXPECTORANT is not recommended for use in pregnant and breastfeeding women unless it is considered clearly necessary. Contact your doctor before taking it.

PIRITON EXPECTORANT is not recommended for use in children below 6 years of age and in elderly patients with confusion. Contact your doctor before taking it.

The most common side effects of taking PIRITON EXPECTORANT are nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, sedation, sleepiness, abnormal coordination, headache, if any of the symptoms worsen.

Uses Of PIRITON EXPECTORANT

Manage:

Cough

How PIRITON EXPECTORANT Works

PIRITON EXPECTORANT helps to manage cough, where Ammonium chloride is an expectorant works by decreasing the stickiness of airway secretions and helps in their removal from the airways. Chlorpheniramine maleate is an antihistamine blocks the binding of histamine (responsible for allergic reactions such as sneezing, watery and itchy eyes and runny nose) to Histamine H1receptors, thus managing allergic reactions. Sodium Citrate is a mucolytic, thins and loosen phlegm in the nose, trachea and lung helps to make coughing. Together relives cough effectively.

How to use PIRITON EXPECTORANT

Take PIRITON EXPECTORANT as advised by your physician. Shake well before use. Your physician will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.

Side Effects Of PIRITON EXPECTORANT

Common

nausea, dry mouth, fatigue
sedation, sleepiness
change in attention, abnormal coordination, dizziness, headache
blurred vision

How To Manage Side Effects

Dry mouth:

Dry mouth can be managed by chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free hard candies to stimulate the flow of saliva. Sip water at regular intervals of time. Do not use mouthwashes that contain alcohol because they can be drying. Consult your doctor if the dry mouth gets worse.

Dizziness:

Try to rest and relax. Get enough sleep. Avoid driving or operate any machines while you are feeling dizzy. Do not drink alcohol, as it can aggravate your dizziness. Contact your doctor if your dizziness did not improve.

Nausea:

Take PIRITON EXPECTORANT, with or just after a meal. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oily or spicy food. Contact your doctor if your nausea did not improve.

Headache:

Rest and relax. Drink plenty of fluids such as water or ORS (Oral Rehydrating Solution) and apply a pain-relieving balm on the head if necessary. Contact your doctor if your headache did not improve.

Warning & Precautions

Pregnancy

PIRITON EXPECTORANT is not recommended for use in pregnancy unless it is considered clearly necessary. Contact your doctor before taking it.

Breastfeeding

PIRITON EXPECTORANT is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless it is considered clearly necessary as it may pass through the breast milk. Contact your doctor before taking it.

Driving and Using Machines

PIRITON EXPECTORANT may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision and psychomotor impairment. Do not drive or operate machine after taking PIRITON EXPECTORANT.

Alcohol

Avoid alcohol consumption while taking PIRITON EXPECTORANT as it may lead to unwanted effects.

Kidney

PIRITON EXPECTORANT is not recommended for use in patients with severe kidney disease and it should be used with caution in patients with mild to moderate kidney dysfunction. Contact your doctor before taking it.

Liver

PIRITON EXPECTORANT is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver disease (Ex. cirrhosis or hepatitis) and it should be used with caution in patients with mild to moderate liver dysfunction. Contact your doctor before taking it.

Allergy

Do not use PIRITON EXPECTORANT if you are allergic to Ammonium chloride, Chlorpheniramine and Sodium Citrate or to other ingredients of this medicine.

Lungs

PIRITON EXPECTORANT should be used with caution in patients with lung diseases such as pulmonary oedema, bronchitis, bronchiectasis and asthma. Contact your doctor before taking it.

Heart Disease

PIRITON EXPECTORANT should be used with caution in patients with severe high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Contact your doctor before taking it.

Others

PIRITON EXPECTORANT is not recommended for use if you have:

metabolic acidosis (build-up of acid in the body) or respiratory acidosis (failure of lungs to eliminate excess carbon dioxide)
severe metabolic alkalosis (due to vomiting)
low sodium levels in blood
high chloride levels in blood
rare hereditary problems such as fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption and sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency

Before taking PIRITON EXPECTORANT, inform your doctor if you have:

fits
glaucoma (increased eye pressure)
prostate enlargement
diabetes mellitus

Use in Paediatrics:

PIRITON EXPECTORANT is not recommended for use in children below 6 years of age. It should be used with caution in children aged 6 to 12 years and are more likely to experience neurological effects and paradoxical excitation (Ex. increased energy, restlessness, nervousness). Contact your doctor before taking it.

Use in Geriatrics:

PIRITON EXPECTORANT is not recommended for use in elderly patients aged 65 years or above with confusion. Contact your doctor before taking it.

Interactions

A. Drug-Drug interactions:

Before taking PIRITON EXPECTORANT, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicine:

monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors) Ex. moclobemide, selegiline (medicines used for depression and Parkinson’s disease)
hypnotics or anxiolytics (used to manage panic disorders) Ex. diazepam, lorazepam
antihistamines (medicines used to manage allergies) Ex. dimenhydrinate
phenytoin (used to manage fits)

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of PIRITON EXPECTORANT, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital. Symptoms of overdosage are nausea, vomiting, thirst, headache, hyperventilation (rapid breathing) and progressive drowsiness and lead to profound acidosis and hypokalaemia (low potassium levels in blood), toxic psychosis, fits, apnoea (cessation of breathing during sleep), dystonic reactions (involuntary muscle contractions) and cardiovascular collapse including arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms).

Synopsis

Drug	:	Ammonium chloride, Chlorpheniramine and Sodium Citrate
Pharmacological Category	:	Expectorant, Antihistamine and Mucolytic
Therapeutic Indication	:	Cough
Dosage Forms	:	Syrup

More Information

Keep PIRITON EXPECTORANT out of the sight and reach of children.
Store PIRITON EXPECTORANT below 30°C

FAQs About PIRITON EXPECTORANT

Q: How long can I use PIRITON EXPECTORANT?

A: Take PIRITON EXPECTORANT as advised by your physician. Do not use continuously for more than one week; consult your doctor for re-evaluation if your symptoms did not improve. Do not exceed the stated dose or frequency of dosing. Your physician will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.

Q: How often can I take PIRITON EXPECTORANT?

A: Take PIRITON EXPECTORANT as advised by your physician. Generally 8ml is taken for every 6 hours in adults and children over 12 years and 4ml every 6 hours in children aged 6 to 12 years. Contact your doctor before taking it.

Q: Who should not take PIRITON EXPECTORANT?

A: PIRITON EXPECTORANT is not recommended for use in patients with allergic to ammonium chloride, chlorpheniramine and sodium citrate or to sucrose, severe liver or kidney disease, metabolic acidosis or respiratory acidosis, severe metabolic alkalosis, low sodium levels in blood, high chloride levels in blood and rare hereditary problems such as fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption and sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency. Contact your doctor before taking it.

Q: What are the side effects of taking PIRITON EXPECTORANT?

A: The most common side effects of taking PIRITON EXPECTORANT are nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, sedation, sleepiness, abnormal coordination, headache, dizziness, blurred vision and change in attention. Contact your doctor if any of the symptoms worsen.

Q: Can I use PIRITON EXPECTORANT in children?

A: PIRITON EXPECTORANT is not recommended for use in children below 6 years of age. It should be used with caution in children aged 6 to 12 years and are more likely to experience neurological effects and paradoxical excitation (Ex. increased energy, restlessness, nervousness). Contact your doctor before taking it.

References

1. K.D. Tripathi. Drugs for Cough and Bronchial Asthma. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Seventh edition. 2013. Page – 218, 220.

2. Bethesda (MD). Ammonium Chloride. NIH National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary. 2004. [Accessed on 20th July 2022]. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/25517

3. Bethesda (MD). Sodium citrate. NIH National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary. 2004. [Accessed on 20th July 2022]. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6224

4. GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited. Piriton Expectorant (Ammonium chloride, Chlorpheniramine and Sodium Citrate. [Revised in March 2022] [Accessed on 20th July 2022]. https://india-pharma.gsk.com/media/6401/piriton-expectorant.pdf

Author Details

Written By Dr. N. Sai Swaroop - Pharm.D

Reviewed For Accuracy By Dr. Rajnikant - MBBS, MD (Physiology)

Last updated on 23 Jan 2023 | 04:39 PM(IST)