Pheniramine is an antihistamine available in both oral and topical forms and is used to treat a number of different conditions. Oral pheniramine is found in multi-symptom over-the-counter (OTC) medicines used to alleviate symptoms due to hay fever, upper respiratory infections, and the common cold. Topically applied via eye drops, pheniramine can relieve redness and itchy eyes caused by pollen, ragweed, grass, animal hair and dander, and other eye allergens.
Symptoms Treated
Symptoms Treated
More specifically:
Hay fever, upper respiratory infection, common cold and redness/itchy eyes
Common Products
Multi-symptom cold medicines:
- Theraflu®
- Store brands (ex. Walmart's "Equate" store brand or CVS Health's store brand)
Eye drop medicines:
- Opcon-A®
- VISINE®
- Store brands (ex. Walmart's "Equate" store brand or CVS Health's store brand)
Dosing Information
Different types of products containing this active ingredient have different strengths. That’s why it is always important to read and follow the Drug Facts label. Most medicines warn against use of an active ingredient for longer than 7-10 days. Stop use and ask a doctor if symptoms persist.
A Note to Families:
1. Scientific and medical authorities around the world recognize acetaminophen as the only analgesic considered safe for use throughout an entire pregnancy when used according to the Drug Facts label.
2. There are no studies showing that acetaminophen use in children or during pregnancy causes autism.
3. Autism has many known risk factors, including genetics, but there is no clear, single cause.
4. Major health authorities like the FDA, CDC, and healthcare organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) do not have warnings against acetaminophen use during pregnancy based on any known risk of autism and all recommend acetaminophen as the safest analgesic to use during pregnancy for short-term pain relief.
Frequently Asked Questions:
In fact, the Autism Science Foundation (ASF), a non-profit organization funding scientific autism research, specifically states that: it is disingenuous and misleading to boil autism's causes down to one simple thing," as there are hundreds of genes linked to autism in addition to other complex environmental factors.
Additionally, the most recent and rigorous research on this topic does not show a causal link to autism. The 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) analyzed nearly 2.5 million children using the gold-standard sibling comparison method, which controls for shared genetics and family environment, and found no association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy or infancy and neurodevelopmental issues such as autism.
- CDC Yellow Book (Current as of April 23, 2025): “Acetaminophen remains the non-opioid analgesic of choice during pregnancy.”
- FDA’s Acetaminophen Page (Current as of August 14, 2025): “To date, FDA has not found clear evidence that appropriate use of acetaminophen during pregnancy causes adverse pregnancy, birth, neurobehavioral, or developmental outcomes.”
Additionally, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Health, a professional organization for obstetricians with subspecialty training in maternal-fetal medicine, stated on September 25, 2025 that it: "...continues to advise physicians and patients that acetaminophen is an appropriate medication to treat pain and fever during pregnancy…the weight of scientific evidence that acetaminophen use during pregnancy causes an increased risk for autism or ADHD is simply inconclusive…”
Safety Guide
Safety Guide
Pheniramine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is safe and effective when used according to the Drug Facts label directions.
Ask a healthcare provider before use if:
For multi-symptom cold medicines:
- You do not know if your prescription drug contains a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).
- You have a breathing problem such as emphysema, asthma, or chronic bronchitis.
- You have trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate gland.
- You have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, glaucoma, or thyroid disease.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Before giving to a child under 6 years old.
For eye drop medicines:
- You have heart disease, high blood pressure, or narrow angle glaucoma.
- You have trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate gland.
- Before giving to a child under 6 years old.
Do not use if:
For multi-symptom cold medicines:
- You are currently taking a prescription monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or if you stopped taking an MAOI less than two weeks ago.
- You are taking a prescription drug for depression, a psychiatric or emotional condition, or Parkinson’s disease.
- Never use pheniramine or any OTC medicine to sedate or make a child sleepy.
For eye drop medicines:
- You are sensitive to pheniramine.
- You are wearing contact lenses. Remove them before use.
- The medicine solution changes color or becomes cloudy.
Stop use and ask a doctor if:
For multi-symptom cold medicines:
- You take too much. Immediately contact a healthcare provider or the poison control national helpline at 800.222.1222.
For eye drop medicines:
- You accidentally swallow the medicine. Immediately contact a healthcare provider or the poison control national helpline at 800.222.1222.
- You experience eye pain or changes in vision.
- You have redness or irritation that gets worse or lasts for more than 72 hours.
What are the side effects of pheniramine?
For multi-symptom cold medicines:
- Drowsiness may occur. Alcohol, sedatives, and tranquilizers may increase drowsiness. You should use care when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery.
For eye drop medicines:
- You may feel a brief tingling after putting the medicine in your eye.