Drug interactions
Clemastine + Pholcodine
Severity: Moderate
Clemastine and Pholcodine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Pholcodine is an opioid antitussive with sedative properties, and combining it with a sedating antihistamine can increase drowsiness and reduce alertness. The effect is typically modest at antitussive doses but matters for driving and in older adults.
What this interaction means in plain words
Clemastine and Pholcodine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression from H1-antihistamine sedation and opioid central effects.
What to do
Monitor for excess sedation and advise against driving or alcohol use. Use the lowest effective doses for the shortest time.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Clemastine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Clemastine with Pholcodine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Clemastine and Pholcodine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Pholcodine is an opioid antitussive with sedative properties, and combining it with a sedating antihistamine can increase drowsiness and reduce alertness. The effect is typically modest at antitussive doses but matters for driving and in older adults.
How serious is the interaction between Clemastine and Pholcodine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor for excess sedation and advise against driving or alcohol use. Use the lowest effective doses for the shortest time.
What other medicines interact with Clemastine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Clemastine with, for example, Alfentanil, Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen, Buprenorphine buccal. The full list is on the Clemastine page.
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