Tussionex is a prescription agent approved to stop coughs. It is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration as a controlled substance because one of its active ingredients, hydrocodone, is a mild narcotic. Its most common formulation is a liquid suspension of clorpheniramine 8mg and hydrocodone 10mg in each teaspoonful. Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine, or a medicine used to treat allergy symptoms.
Cough
The main use of Tussionex is as an antitussive, or as a cough suppressor. Coughing is blocked by Tussionex because of its antihistamine ingredient, chlorpheniramine, which decreases all allergy-like symptoms and because hydrocodone works in the nervous system to stop the cough reflex.
Pain
Because hydrocodone is a mild codeine derivative, it provides some pain relief in addition to cough relief. This property is useful to decrease sore throat symptoms in people who have colds and coughs. Hydrocodone causes drowsiness as well and can make sleeping with coughing and throat pain symptoms easier and more restful. Chlorpheniramine also dries up secretions, such as postnasal drip, to relieve throat pain.
Allergy
As a basic antihistamine, chlorpheniramine reduces allergy symptoms such as watery eyes and runny noses. The same antihistamine activity reduces chronic allergy symptoms by decreasing swelling in the nasal passage lining as well. The suspension provides 12-hour symptoms relief.
