Chlorphenamine/Chlorpheniramine

Why has my veterinarian prescribed this medicine?

Chlorphenamine (also called Chlorpheniramine) is an antihistamine. Antihistamines are used to relieve or prevent the symptoms of allergy. Your veterinarian may prescribe this medication to prevent itching in dogs and cats. It may also be beneficial for managing cats that excessively groom themselves.

Chlorphenamine is not available as a veterinary preparation. This is also the case in Australia, however Australian veterinarians can prescribe this agents to dogs and cats with no further paper work. Therefore I suggest you delete the following sentence: Your veterinary surgeon may ask you to sign a consent form so a preparation licensed for humans can be used to treat your pet.

How does this medicine work?

Antihistamines reduce or inhibit the main actions of histamine in the body by competitive reversible blockade of histamine receptor sites.

How do I give this medication?

- Give this medication to your pet as directed by your veterinarian. READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY.

- This medication may be given with food.

- If the medicine is a liquid, measure the dose with reasonable care.

- Try to give this medication at about the same time(s) each day.

- DO NOT give the pet more medicine than directed and DO NOT give the medicine more often than directed.

- Try not to miss giving any doses.

What do I do if I miss giving a dose?

Give the dose as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose, and continue with the regular schedule. Do not give the pet two doses at once.

How do I store this medicine?

Keep this medicine out of reach of children. Store this medicine in a cool, dry place at room temperature. Store away from heat and direct sunlight. Do not store this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink or in damp places. The medicine may break down if exposed to heat or moisture.

Potential side effects

- Potential side effects include stomach upset, such as diarrhoea, vomiting and lack of appetite. If these symptoms persist, contact your veterinarian.

- Your pet may appear drowsy. This effect may decrease with time. Your pet may experience dry mouth and retain its urine for longer than usual. Contact your veterinarian if these effects are troublesome and continue.

- Other side effects may occur. If you notice anything unusual, contact your veterinarian.

Possible drug interactions

- Make sure to tell your veterinarian what other medication you are giving to your pet.

- Quite often your veterinarian may prescribe two different medications, and a drug interaction may be anticipated. In this case, your veterinarian may vary the dose and/or monitor your pet more closely.

- Drugs may interact such that they can cause an increased or decreased effect or side effects. Although drug interactions may occur, it does not mean that there is necessarily a high risk of any of these occurring.

- Contact your veterinarian if your pet experiences any unusual reactions when different medications are given together.