Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets

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Pronunciation: fehn-ihl-EFF-rihn
Generic Name: Phenylephrine
Brand Name: AH-Chew D and Gilchew IR
Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets are used for:

Relieving congestion due to colds, flu, hay fever, and other allergies. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets are a decongestant. It works by shrinking swollen and congested nasal tissues (mucous membranes) by constricting blood vessels. This results in relief of congestion (stuffy feeling) and improved drainage of mucus and improved breathing through the nose.

Do NOT use Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets if: you are allergic to any ingredient in Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets you are taking furazolidone or have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine) in the last 14 days you have high blood pressure or an abnormally fast heartbeat

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets:

Some medical conditions may interact with Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances if you have heart disease, diabetes, phenylketonuria (PKU), tumors on your adrenal gland, or thyroid disease

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

Rauwolfia derivatives (eg, reserpine) or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because the effectiveness of Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets may be decreased Cocaine, furazolidone, methyldopa, MAO inhibitors (eg, phenelzine), oxytocic medicines (eg, oxytocin), rauwolfia derivatives (eg, reserpine), or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because the actions and side effects of Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets may be increased Bromocriptine, COMT inhibitors (eg, entacapone), cocaine, or droxidopa because the actions and side effects of these medicines may be increased Guanethidine because its effectiveness may be decreased by Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets:

Use Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

Take Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets with food, water, or milk to minimize stomach irritation. Chew thoroughly before swallowing. Tablets may be broken in half to make them easier to take. If you miss a dose of Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets and are taking it regularly, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets.

Important safety information: Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets. Using Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks. Do not take diet or appetite control medicines while you are taking Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets. If your symptoms do not improve within 7 days or if you develop a high fever, check with your doctor. If you have trouble sleeping, ask your pharmacist or doctor about the best time to take Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets Phenylketonuria patients - Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets contains phenylalanine. Diabetes patients - Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine. Use Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects. PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets during pregnancy. It is unknown if Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets are excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

When used for long periods of time or at high doses, some people develop a need to continue taking Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets. This is known as DEPENDENCE or "addiction." If you are addicted and you suddenly stop taking Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets, you may experience WITHDRAWAL symptoms, including depression.

Possible side effects of Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Difficulty urinating; dizziness; headache; nausea; nervousness; restlessness; sleeplessness; stomach irritation.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue).

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Gilchew IR side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include confusion; hallucinations; irregular or unusually slow or rapid heartbeat; rapid breathing; seizures.

Proper storage of Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets:

Store Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information: If you have any questions about Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider. Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets are to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people. If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor. Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012 Database Edition 12.1.1.002 Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. More Gilchew IR resources Gilchew IR Side Effects (in more detail) Gilchew IR Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Gilchew IR Drug Interactions Gilchew IR Support Group 0 Reviews for Gilchew IR - Add your own review/rating Compare Gilchew IR with other medications Hypotension Nasal Congestion Shock Supraventricular Tachycardia

Gilchew IR Chewable Tablets

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