Endacof DM dosage, forms, and strengths

Endacof DM is an over-the-counter allergy remedy that relieves hay fever symptoms. Its active ingredients are a cough suppressant (dextromethorphan), an antihistamine (brompheniramine), and an oral decongestant (phenylephrine). Doses are taken every four hours. Endacof is safe enough to use without a prescription, but it may cause problems in people with certain medical conditions. 

Endacof DM forms and strengths

• Liquid: 1 mg brompheniramine/5 mg dextromethorphan/2.5 mg phenylephrine per 5 mL

Endacof DM dosage for adults

Endacof DM is an over-the-counter medication that relieves hay fever symptoms. Doses are taken every four hours until symptoms are no longer a problem.

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Endacof DM dosage for hay fever

Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is a common allergic reaction to inhaled allergens. It affects about 1 in 6 people. During a hay fever reaction, people experience symptoms like sneezing, coughing, stuffy nose, runny nose, itchy nose, scratchy throat, sinus congestion, and itchy, watery eyes. 

Some people have hay fever seasonally, but others may experience it chronically. Most people think of allergic rhinitis as a problem involving only the upper airways, but more severe cases could affect the entire respiratory system. 

Over-the-counter drugs like Endacof DM can help people manage symptoms. Endacof DM contains three symptom-relief drugs: brompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine. These are the same drugs found in many brand-name drugs, such as Dimetapp or Rynex DM, often marketed as treatments for both hay fever and the common cold.

Brompheniramine maleate is an antihistamine that blocks histamine, a naturally occurring chemical responsible for common allergy symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes. 

Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant (antitussive) that works by suppressing the part of the brain that makes people coughtemporarily relieving a cough. 

Phenylephrine HCl is a decongestant similar to pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient in brand-name Sudafed. It relieves nasal and sinus swelling by tightening blood vessels. 

Endacof DM doses are taken every four hours, but should be stopped when symptoms are under control and you feel relief from symptoms. Endacof is only available as a liquid.

• Standard dosage for hay fever: 20 mL (4 tsp) taken every four hours as needed

• Maximum dosage for hay fever: No more than six doses (120 mL total) daily

Endacof DM dosage for children

Endacof DM is safe for children to take. There is no over-the-counter children’s version, but it comes as a strawberry-flavored liquid that can be administered to both adults and children. 

Do not give Endacof DM to children younger than 6 years of age without talking to a healthcare provider.

• Standard Endacof DM dosage for children ages 12 and older: 20 mL (4 tsp) taken every four hours as needed

• Standard Endacof DM dosage for children ages 6–12: 10 mL (2 tsp) taken every four hours as needed

• Maximum Endacof DM dosage for children ages 6 and older: No more than six doses daily

Endacof DM dosage restrictions

Endacof DM has no dosage restrictions.

How to take Endacof DM

• Follow all the instructions on the label or those given by a healthcare provider.

• Do not take more than instructed or take doses more frequently than instructed.

• Please read the drug information label before starting this medicine.

• Doses are taken every four hours.

• Endacof DM doses can be taken with or without food.

• Doses should be measured with a medicine measuring cup or oral syringe. Try to avoid measuring doses with kitchen measuring devices or tableware. If you do, measure doses by the teaspoonful.

• Store Endacof DM at room temperature.

Endacof DM dosage FAQs

How long does it take Endacof DM to work?

Taken orally, both dextromethorphan and brompheniramine should begin relieving cough and hay fever symptoms in about 30 minutes. 

Both dextromethorphan and phenylephrine are short-acting drugs. However, brompheniramine is a long-acting drug that typically hits its peak effects about 11 hours after a dose is taken. In some people, brompheniramine can significantly reduce the symptoms of an allergic reaction for as long as 48 hours.

How long does Endacof DM stay in your system?

Both dextromethorphan and phenylephrine are short-acting medications. Each has a short half-life of two to three hours, so it should take the body about 10 hours to completely clear these drugs from the system. 

Brompheniramine is a long-acting medicine with a half-life that can range between 16 and 33 hours, so it’s uncertain how long the drug will persist in the body. It could be days or as long as a week. 

What happens if I miss a dose of Endacof DM?

Take a missed dose when remembered. Do not take the next dose for another four hours. Never take extra medicine to compensate for a missed dose.

How long can you take Endacof DM?

Take Endacof DM only when experiencing hay fever symptoms. If cough or nasal congestion lasts a week or longer, stop taking Endacof DM and talk to a healthcare provider.

How do I stop taking Endacof DM?

Endacof DM can be stopped at any time without causing withdrawal or other problems. If you feel nervous, dizzy, or sleepy, stop taking Endacof DM and talk to a healthcare provider.

If it’s necessary to stop Endacof DM and you’re still having hay fever problems, there are many alternatives. Besides switching to a different combination drug, people with hay fever symptoms can use individual medications like antihistamines, cough suppressants, decongestants, eye drops, and nasal steroids. Nasal spray decongestants may be more effective than oral decongestants, which are typically found in combination drugs. For serious or untreatable hay fever, a healthcare provider may prescribe prescription drugs that affect the immune system, like leukotriene inhibitors or allergy shots.

Other alternatives include air purifiers, nasal irrigation, or steam.

What is the maximum dosage for Endacof DM?

Do not take larger doses than the package directions indicate until consulting with a healthcare provider. Do not take more than six doses in a single day.

Can you overdose on Endacof DM?

If children or others ingest significant amounts of this drug, call a poison control center or go to an emergency room. The most likely side effect of an overdose is sleepiness. Additionally, children who overdose on Endacof DM may get excitable. 

A severe overdose could cause a slow heart rate or serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition with symptoms such as fast heartbeats, sweating, fever, irregular heartbeat, and agitation.

What interacts with Endacof DM?

When taking Endacof DM, avoid drugs that make you sleepy, such as sedatives, benzodiazepines, narcotic pain relievers, and alcohol. The antihistamine in Endacof can cause drowsiness and impairment. These effects are worsened when combined with central nervous system depressants.

All three drugs in Endacof DM may cause problems in people taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). This is a small family of drugs used to treat either depression (isocarboxizid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine), bacterial infections (linezolid), or Parkinson’s disease (safinamide, selegiline, and rasigiline). If any of these medications are being used, talk to a healthcare provider before using allergy medications.

What happens when you mix Endacof DM and alcohol?

Do not consume alcohol when using Endacof DM. The combination can cause marked drowsiness.

Is it safe to take Endacof DM during pregnancy?

Pregnant women should be careful about taking Endacof DM during pregnancy. Dextromethorphan is considered safe, but phenylephrine and brompheniramine can potentially cause problems with blood flow or birth defects. Neither has been studied in pregnant women.

Is it safe to take Endacof DM while breastfeeding?

The drugs in Endacof DM are not considered unsafe for breastfeeding women to take. They should not affect a nursing baby. There is some concern that phenylephrine or brompheniramine may affect lactation, but this has not been studied. Women who are nursing a newborn or preterm infant may want to check with a healthcare provider before starting Endacof DM. 

Women who are nursing should avoid dextromethorphan if they are also drinking alcohol.

Who should not take Endacof DM?

Although it doesn’t require a prescription, Endacof DM is not safe for everyone. Before using Endacof DM, talk to a healthcare provider if you have:

• Heart disease

• High blood pressure

• Diabetes

• Emphysema or chronic bronchitis

• Thyroid problems

• Trouble urinating

• Glaucoma

• Chronic cough

• A cough with excessive mucus

When should I talk to a doctor?

As with all OTC medications, people may need to stop using Endacof DM and get medical help if they experience:

• Cough or nasal congestion that lasts longer than one week

• Dizziness

• Nervousness

• Trouble sleeping

What are the side effects of Endacof DM?

The most common side effect of Endacof DM is drowsiness. Serious side effects are very rare. 

Other possible mild adverse effects include:

• Mild nausea or vomiting

• Stomach or abdominal discomfort

• Nervousness

• Headache

• Dry mouth

Sources

• Allergic rhinitis, StatPearls

• Allergy statistics, American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)

• Brompheniramine, Drugs and Lactation Database

• Brompheniramine, StatPearls

• Dextromethorphan, Drugs and Lactation Database

• Dextromethorphan, StatPearls

• Endacof DM drug information, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)

• Phenylephrine, Drugs and Lactation Database

• Phenylephrine, StatPearls

• The pharmacokinetics and antihistaminic effects of brompheniramine, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology