— Product
CETCROSS COLD TAB WHITE
PARACETAMOL 125MG + PHENYLEPHRINE 2.5MG + CETRIZINE 2.5MG
CETCROSS COLD TAB WHITE is a tablet combining paracetamol 125 mg, phenylephrine 2.5 mg and cetirizine 2.5 mg. It is a lower-strength cold preparation for the symptomatic relief of the fever, aches, runny nose and nasal blockage of a common cold. It treats symptoms only and has no effect on the underlying viral infection.
01
Benefits
- Paracetamol reduces the fever and relieves the headache and body ache of a cold.
- Cetirizine dries the runny nose and settles sneezing and watery eyes.
- Phenylephrine constricts the nasal mucosal vessels, relieving blockage and improving sleep.
- The reduced strengths suit smaller adults, older children on prescriber advice, and patients who need a gentler preparation.
- One tablet replaces three separate preparations over a short course.
02
Side effects
Not everyone gets these. Most are mild and settle as the course finishes.
Common
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth, nose and throat
- Nausea
- Restlessness or difficulty sleeping
Less common
- Palpitations or a raised heart rate
- Rise in blood pressure
- Difficulty passing urine
- Blurred vision or headache
Stop and get medical help if any of these occur
- Chest pain, or a markedly irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Severe headache, or a marked rise in blood pressure
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing
- Inability to pass urine
03
Precautions
- Contraindicated in uncontrolled hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, significant arrhythmia and hyperthyroidism because of the phenylephrine.
- Contraindicated in narrow-angle glaucoma, urinary retention and significant prostatic enlargement.
- Do not give with, or within fourteen days of, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor.
- Check total daily paracetamol across all products — cold preparations are the commonest source of accidental overdose.
- For short-term use only. Reassess if symptoms persist beyond five days or fever beyond three.
- May cause drowsiness. Warn before driving, and avoid alcohol.
- Use in children only on paediatric advice, and never alongside another cold or antihistamine preparation.
- Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding only on medical advice.