Drug Name
Generic Name : brompheniramine maleate (parabromdylamine maleate)
Brand Name: BroveX, BroveX CT, Bidhist, Lodrane XR, LoHist 12 Hour, VaZol
Classification: Antihistamine (alkylamine type)
Pregnancy Category C
Dosage & Route
Oral
- Allergic conditions (urticaria, rhinitis, conjunctivitis)
- Adult: 4-8 mg 3-4 times daily. Individualise dosage according to patient’s response and tolerance.
- Child: ≤3 yr: 0.4-1 mg/kg/ day, given as 4 divided doses. 3-6 yr: 1-2 mg and 6-12 yr: 2-4 mg, doses to be given 3-4 times daily.
Parenteral
- Allergic conditions (urticaria, rhinitis, conjunctivitis)
- Adult: 10 mg every 8-12 hr. Dose can be given via SC, IM or slow IV inj. Max: 40 mg/24 hr.
Therapeutic actions
- Brompheniramine is an antihistamine with antimuscarinic and moderate sedative actions.
Indications
- Symptomatic relief of symptoms associated with perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis—runny nose, sneezing, itching nose and throat, watery eyes
Adverse effects
- CNS depression including slight drowsiness to deep sleep, lassitude, dizziness, incoordination. Headache, psychomotor impairment and antimuscarinic effects. Rarely, rashes and hypersensitivity reactions; blood disorders, convulsions, sweating, myalgia, paraesthesias, extrapyramidal effects, tremor, confusion, sleep and GI disturbances, tinnitus, hypotension, hair loss.
Contraindications
- Premature infants or neonates.
Nursing considerations
Assessment
- History: Allergy to any antihistamines, tartrazine, narrow-angle glaucoma, stenosing peptic ulcer, symptomatic prostatic hypertrophy, asthmatic attack, bladder neck obstruction, pyloroduodenal obstruction, third trimester of pregnancy, lactation
- Physical: Skin color, lesions, texture; orientation, reflexes, affect; vision examination; P, BP; R, adventitious sounds; bowel sounds; prostate palpation; CBC with differential
Interventions
- Give orally with food if GI upset occurs.
Teaching points
- Take as prescribed; avoid excessive dosage; take with food if GI upset occurs.
- Avoid alcohol while on this drug; serious sedation could occur.
- Oral liquid and oral suspensions differ in strength; do not use interchangeably.
- You may experience these side effects: Dizziness, sedation, drowsiness (use caution if driving or performing tasks that require alertness); epigastric distress, diarrhea or constipation (take with meals); dry mouth (frequent mouth care, sucking sugarless lozenges may help); thickening of bronchial secretions, dryness of nasal mucosa (try a humidifier).
- Report difficulty breathing, hallucinations, tremors, loss of coordination, unusual bleeding or bruising, visual disturbances, irregular heartbeat.