Tixylix cough and cold

How does it work?

Tixylix cough and cold solution contains three active ingredients, pholcodine, pseudoephedrine and chlorphenamine.

Pholcodine is a type of medicine called a cough suppressant. It is used to suppress a dry, tickly, unproductive cough.

Coughing is a reflex response to irritation of the airways. It is useful for clearing mucus, dust and other particles from the throat and lungs. It is important because it reduces the amount of mucus, dust and bacteria in the airways that would otherwise make breathing difficult. However, sometimes, coughing can become overstimulated even when there is no mucus to clear from the lungs or throat. In this situation coughing serves no purpose and can become painful and frustrating.

Pholcodine can be used to block the cough reflex in situations where the cough serves no purpose, ie when no plegm is being coughed up. It works by reducing the nerve signals sent from a part of the brain called the coughing centre to the muscles that produce coughing.

Chlorphenamine is a type of medicine called a sedating antihistamine. It enters the brain in sufficient quantities to cause drowsiness, and this sedative effect may also help suppress a cough.

Nasal mucus can often be the cause of cough in a cold, because it drips down the back of the throat, causing irritation. Chlorphenamine also drys nasal secretions, by stopping a natural body chemical called histamine from binding to its receptors. Histamine is a chemical produced naturally by the body that has many effects, including the production of allergic symptoms, such as a runny nose. Blocking histamine receptors prevents the actions of histamine, which reduces the production of mucus in the nose.

Pseudoephedrine is a type of medicine called a decongestant. It works by acting on alpha receptors that are found in the walls of blood vessels in the linings of the nasal passages and sinuses. It causes these blood vessels to contract and narrow, thereby decreasing blood flow into the linings of the nose and sinuses. This reduces the feeling of congestion and also reduces the production of mucus.

The combination of active ingredients in this medicine is useful for relieving dry, irritating coughs associated with a cold. It also helps relieve symptoms such as nasal congestion and a runny nose associated with the cold. The relief from symptoms and the mild sedative effect caused by the medicine can also help restful sleep.

What is it used for?

Dry, tickly, unproductive coughs, runny nose and nasal congestion associated with colds in children.

Warning!

Do not exceed the recommended dose. If symptoms persist consult your doctor.

This medicine may cause drowsiness. If your child is affected they should avoid performing potentially hazardous activities such as riding a bike or climbing trees. Alcohol should be avoided.

If your child has any of the following symptoms you should not give this medicine and consult your doctor so that the cough can be investigated further: coughing up phlegm that is green, rusty brown, yellow, blood-stained or foul smelling; shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; chest pain; pain and swelling in the calf; sudden weight loss; recurrent night-time cough; or a long-term persistent cough.

Use with caution in

Asthma

Disease involving the heart and blood vessels

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Overactive thyroid gland

Diabetes.

Not to be used in

Children under one year of age

Liver disease

Kidney disease

Brain disease or injury

Epilepsy

Closed angle glaucoma

Difficulty passing urine (urinary retention)

Chronic bronchitis

Condition called bronchiectasis, in which there is persistent widening of the airways as a result of lung disease, eg infection, inflammation, tumours or cystic fibrosis

Children who have taken a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor antidepressant (MAOI) in the last 14 days.

This medicine should not be used if your child is allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if your child has previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel your child has experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Drowsiness

Dizziness

Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain

Dry mouth, nose or throat

Blurred vision

Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention)

Awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations)

Increased heart rate

Tremor

Sleep disturbance

Headache

Anxiety

Restlessness

Rash

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

If your child is are already taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines and those bought without a prescription, you should check with your pharmacist before giving this medicine, to ensure that the combination is safe.

The manufacturer states that this medicine should not be used by people who are currently taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressant, eg phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid or moclobemide, or who have taken one of these medicines in the last 14 days.

There may be an increased risk of drowsiness if this medicine is taken in combination with any of the following, which can also cause drowsiness:

alcohol

benzodiazepines, eg temazepam, diazepam

sedating antihistamines, eg diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine, triprolidine, promethazine (these are often found in other non-prescription cough and cold or hayfever remedies)

sleeping tablets, eg zopiclone

strong opioid painkillers, eg codeine, dihydrocodeine, morphine

tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline.

These should be avoided in combination with this medicine.

There may be an increased risk of side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation or difficulty passing urine if this medicine is taken with any of the following medicines:

anticholinergic medicines for urinary incontinence, eg oxybutynin, flavoxate, tolterodine, propiverine, trospium

anticholinergic medicines for Parkinson's disease, eg trihexyphenidyl, orphenadrine, procyclidine

antipsychotic medicines, eg chlorpromazine, clozapine

antispasmodics, eg atropine, hyoscine

certain antisickness medicines, eg promethazine, prochlorperazine, meclozine, cyclizine

muscle relaxants, eg baclofen

tricyclic or related antidepressants, eg amitriptyline, maprotiline.

If pseudoephedrine is taken with any of the following the combination may cause an increase in blood pressure:

other decongestants (often found in non-prescription cough and cold remedies)

tricyclic antidepressants, eg amitriptyline

appetite suppressants

amphetamine-like stimulants, eg methylphenidate, dexamfetamine.

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