brompheniramine maleate (parabromdylamine maleate) Nursing Considerations & Management

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.