Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Canadian Brand Name

  1. Choledyl Expectorant Elixir

Descriptions


Oxtriphylline and guaifenesin combination is used to treat or prevent the symptoms of asthma or to treat chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This medicine relieves cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and troubled breathing. It works by opening up the bronchial tubes (air passages of the lungs) and increasing the flow of air through them.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Use of this medicine is not recommended because of high alcohol content.

Although there is no specific information about the use of guaifenesin in children, it is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Geriatric

Patients older than 60 years of age are likely to require a lower dose than younger adults. If the amount of oxtriphylline is too high, side effects are more likely to occur. Your doctor may want to take blood samples to determine whether a dose change is needed.

Although there is no specific information about the use of guaifenesin in the elderly, it is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Breastfeeding

Guaifenesin

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Theophylline

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Riociguat
  • Viloxazine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Abametapir
  • Adalimumab
  • Adenosine
  • Amifampridine
  • Bupropion
  • Capmatinib
  • Cimetidine
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Clarithromycin
  • Deferasirox
  • Desogestrel
  • Dienogest
  • Dihydroartemisinin
  • Donepezil
  • Drospirenone
  • Enasidenib
  • Enoxacin
  • Erythromycin
  • Estetrol
  • Estradiol
  • Ethinyl Estradiol
  • Ethynodiol
  • Etintidine
  • Etonogestrel
  • Febuxostat
  • Fluconazole
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Gestodene
  • Givosiran
  • Halothane
  • Idrocilamide
  • Imipenem
  • Infliximab
  • Ketamine
  • Leniolisib
  • Levofloxacin
  • Levonorgestrel
  • Medroxyprogesterone
  • Mestranol
  • Methacholine
  • Mexiletine
  • Nomegestrol
  • Norelgestromin
  • Norethindrone
  • Norgestimate
  • Norgestrel
  • Paroxetine
  • Pefloxacin
  • Peginterferon Alfa-2a
  • Peginterferon Alfa-2b
  • Phenytoin
  • Pixantrone
  • Regadenoson
  • Ritlecitinib
  • Rofecoxib
  • Segesterone
  • Taurursodiol
  • Thiabendazole
  • Tocilizumab
  • Troleandomycin
  • Vemurafenib
  • Zileuton

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Adinazolam
  • Alprazolam
  • Aminoglutethimide
  • Amiodarone
  • Azithromycin
  • Bentazepam
  • Bromazepam
  • Brotizolam
  • Carbamazepine
  • Chlordiazepoxide
  • Clobazam
  • Clonazepam
  • Clorazepate
  • Delorazepam
  • Diazepam
  • Disulfiram
  • Estazolam
  • Flunitrazepam
  • Flurazepam
  • Halazepam
  • Interferon Alfa-2a
  • Ipriflavone
  • Isoproterenol
  • Ketazolam
  • Loprazolam
  • Lorazepam
  • Lormetazepam
  • Medazepam
  • Metaclazepam
  • Methotrexate
  • Midazolam
  • Nilutamide
  • Nitrazepam
  • Oxazepam
  • Pancuronium
  • Pentoxifylline
  • Phenobarbital
  • Pinazepam
  • Piperine
  • Prazepam
  • Propafenone
  • Quazepam
  • Remimazolam
  • Rifampin
  • Rifapentine
  • Ritonavir
  • Secobarbital
  • St John's Wort
  • Tacrine
  • Telithromycin
  • Temazepam
  • Tetrazepam
  • Ticlopidine
  • Triazolam
  • Zafirlukast

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Tobacco

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Caffeine
  • food

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Convulsions (seizures)—Oxtriphylline may make this condition worse
  • Heart failure or
  • Liver disease or
  • Underactive thyroid—The effects of oxtriphylline may be increased

Precautions

Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits, especially for the first few weeks after you begin using this medicine. A blood test may be taken to help your doctor decide whether the dose of this medicine should be changed.

The oxtriphylline in this medicine may add to the central nervous system stimulant effects of caffeine-containing foods or beverages such as chocolate, cocoa, tea, coffee, and cola drinks. Avoid eating or drinking large amounts of these foods or beverages while taking this medicine . If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

A change in your usual behavior or physical well-being may affect the way this medicine works in your body. Check with your doctor if you:

  • have a fever of 102 °F or higher for at least 24 hours or higher than 100 °F for longer than 24 hours.
  • start or stop smoking.
  • start or stop taking another medicine.
  • change your diet for a long time.

Before you have myocardial perfusion studies (a medical test that shows how well blood is flowing to your heart), tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of the test may be affected by this medicine.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common or rare

  1. Heartburn and/or vomiting

Symptoms of toxicity

  1. Abdominal pain, continuing or severe
  2. confusion or change in behavior
  3. convulsions (seizures)
  4. dark or bloody vomit
  5. diarrhea
  6. dizziness or lightheadedness
  7. fast and/or irregular heartbeat, continuing
  8. nervousness or restlessness, continuing
  9. trembling, continuing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

  1. Headache
  2. fast heartbeat
  3. increased urination
  4. nausea
  5. nervousness
  6. trembling
  7. trouble in sleeping

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/oxtriphylline-and-guaifenesin-oral-route/before-using/drg-20062536