For other uses see: Corex (disambiguation)

Corex (disambiguation)

Corex may refer to:* Corex, a cough medicine* Corex UK, an independent oil field chemical testing laboratory* Corex, in Greek mythology, one of the sons of Coronus* Corex plant, a steel-making plant, see Mittal Steel South Africa...

Corex is a cough syrup sold by Pfizer Inc., a global pharmaceutical company. It is available in India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

, Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

, Bangladesh

Bangladesh

Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...

 and a few other South Asia

South Asia

South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...

n countries. Corex is a prescribed medicine and can only be bought with a prescription from a general physician.

Its active ingredients are chlorpheniramine maleate and codeine phosphate.

Description

Each 5 ml of Corex Cough Syrup contains:

• Alcohol IP 8 mg
• Chlorpheniramine Maleate IP 4 mg
• Codeine Phosphate IP 10 mg
• Carmoisine and Sunset Yellow FCF as colorants

Actions

Chlorpheniramine maleate, an H1-blocking antihistamine, relieves histamine-induced allergic edema of respiratory mucosa.
Codeine phosphate, by its action on the cough center in the medulla, helps reduce excessive frequency and intensity of cough bouts, which allows the patient to rest or sleep.

Indications

Corex cough syrup is indicated for the treatment of dry, irritating, disturbing cough in allergic or infective conditions of the respiratory passage, e.g., sinusitis, hay fever, pharyngitis, acute bronchitis, tuberculosis, and tropical eosinophilia.

Warnings

Safety of Corex has not been studied in pregnancy and lactation. Therefore, probable benefits should be weighed against possible risks before prescribing Corex Cough Syrup to pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Precautions

While treating cough as a symptom, it is important to make every effort to determine and treat appropriately the underlying cause such as a specific infection.
Sedatives, tranquilizers, alcohol, and other CNS depressants should not be administered concomitantly with Corex Cough Syrup. Patients whose work or occupation involves driving vehicles or handling machinery should be cautioned not to drive a vehicle or handle a machine if they feel drowsy while taking Corex Cough Syrup.
Codeine should not be given to patients with or at risk of developing respiratory failure, to those receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and to those suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.it contains 37.2% of alcohol v/v.

Adverse reactions

These may occur in occasional patients depending on his or her sensitivity to individual ingredients, and include drowsiness, dizziness, dryness of mouth, nausea, and constipation.

Dosage

Corex Cough Syrup is usually given 4 times a day in the following doses:

• Adults: 1 teaspoonful (5 ml)
• Children: 6–12 years: 1/2 teaspoonful (2.5 ml)
• 2–6 years: 1/4 teaspoonful (1.25 ml)

Supply

Bottles of 50 and 100 ml.

Corex is one of the most commonly available over the counter

Over-the-counter drug

Over-the-counter drugs are medicines that may be sold directly to a consumer without a prescription from a healthcare professional, as compared to prescription drugs, which may be sold only to consumers possessing a valid prescription...

 drugs in India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

, and is used as a cheap and readily available substitute for Codeine

Codeine

Codeine or 3-methylmorphine is an opiate used for its analgesic, antitussive, and antidiarrheal properties...

.

Legally, Corex can only be obtained by a physician's prescription

Medical prescription

A prescription is a health-care program implemented by a physician or other medical practitioner in the form of instructions that govern the plan of care for an individual patient. Prescriptions may include orders to be performed by a patient, caretaker, nurse, pharmacist or other therapist....

, but studies show that more than 90% of the product is sold without any prescription.

Corex is not generally a fatal drug substitute, unless taken in extremely high quantities. However, many side effects are common. Corex is known to cause short term memory loss

Memory loss

Memory loss can be partial or total and it is normal when it comes with aging. Sudden memory loss is usually a result of brain trauma and it may be permanent or temporary. When it is caused by medical conditions such as Alzheimers, the memory loss is gradual and tends to be permanent.Brain trauma...

, sleeplessness, tremors and spasms. Muscular pains and dehydration

Dehydration

In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...

 are other common side-effects.

Long term abuse leads to serious kidney

Kidney

The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...

 damage or constipation. Corex has a high sugar content, and may be unsuitable for acute diabetic patients.