Drixoral
| Combination of | |
|---|---|
| Dexbrompheniramine | Antihistamine |
| Pseudoephedrine | Decongestant |
| Clinical data | |
| Trade names | Drixoral |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Micromedex Detailed Consumer Information |
| Pregnancy category |
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| ATC code | |
| Legal status | |
| Legal status |
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Dexbrompheniramine/pseudoephedrine (trade name Drixoral) is a combination medication that contains the antihistamine dexbrompheniramine maleate and the decongestant pseudoephedrine sulfate. It was manufactured by Schering-Plough and was used to treat symptoms associated with allergies and colds such as itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, nasal and sinus congestion, and sneezing. Because it contains pseudoephedrine, its purchase in the United States was severely restricted by the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 over fears that any product containing pseudoephedrine can be used to make methamphetamine.
As of 2008, Drixoral has been completely removed from the US market by manufacturer Merck (formerly Schering-Plough). The company's updated website attributes "changing [their] manufacturing location" for the supply disruption and currently states "it is unlikely product will be available in 2010". However, the drug still appears to be available in Canada and overseas, and other drugs manufactured at the same location have not become unavailable. This has led some Drixoral users to speculate that there may be other explanations for why Drixoral is no longer available in the US market. One possible reason is that the company is reformulating the product to no longer contain pseudoephedrine. Another possibility is that the 35-year-old drug is being removed in favor of newer, more profitable antihistamines such as Claritin (also manufactured by Schering-Plough).
Some Drixoral users have resorted to ordering the drug from Canadian online pharmacies or from a generic substitute manufactured for the Turkish market. The drug was removed from the Turkish market in 2012. In 2015, Drixoral was also removed from the Canadian market, after Merck sold off their OTC business to Bayer, who is no longer making the original Drixoral tablets. Bayer continues to make a line of nasal sprays under the Drixoral name, but its active ingredients are not what was in the Drixoral tablets.
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