Dimetapp Products for Cough, Cold, and Flu Symptoms

What do Dimetapp products treat?

Dimetapp products are used to treat cough, cold, and symptoms caused by the flu as well as symptoms caused by allergies.

The main active ingredient in all Dimetapp products is an antihistamine, which can include brompheniramine or diphenhydramine. An antihistamine can help with itchy/watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and itching of the nose or throat. It works by blocking the effects of a substance in your body called histamine. Diphenhydramine can also work as a cough suppressant, which can help reduce the urge to cough. 

Dimetapp products may also contain acetaminophen and dextromethorphan. Acetaminophen can help lower your fever and can help with pain, including headache, bodyache, and sore throat. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. 

There are Dimetapp products for adults and children as young as 6 years old.

What should I know before using Dimetapp products?

Dimetapp products can make you sleepy. You shouldn’t drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how a Dimetapp product affects you. Taking certain medicines (such as sedatives or tranquilizers) or drinking alcohol can increase your risk for drowsiness with Dimetapp products. Talk to your health care provider about any other medicines you take or if you drink alcohol. 

Check the label on the Dimetapp product you are planning on taking to make sure you are not allergic to any of its ingredients. 

Dimetapp products that contain the ingredient dextromethorphan should not be used if you are taking a medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or for 2 weeks after stopping the MAOI. An MAOI is a medicine usually used for depression or Parkinson’s disease. If you do not know if your prescription medicine contains an MAOI, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking a Dimetapp product. Also tell your health care provider if you are taking a blood-thinning medicine called warfarin. 

If you are taking a Dimetapp product for a sore throat and also develop a fever, headache, rash, nausea, or vomiting for more than 2 days, call your health care provider. 

Stop taking Dimetapp and call your health care provider if you have any of the following

• Pain or cough that has lasted for 5 days (children) or 7 days (adults), has come back, or has happened with a fever, rash, or headache
• A fever that lasts for more than 3 days or has gotten worse
• Redness or swelling
• New symptoms