Patient info

Chlorphenamine 10mg/ml – patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Updated:
Key facts
Status:
Prescription only (POM)
Medicine strength:
10 mg / ml
Contains active substance:

Patient leaflet - Chlorphenamine 10 mg / ml solution for injection

1. What Chlorphenamine is and what it is used for

Chlorphenamine 10mg/ml Solution for Injection contains the active ingredient chlorphenamine maleate which is an antihistamine. These medicines inhibit the release of histamine into the body that occurs during an allergic reaction. This product relieves some of the main symptoms of a severe allergic reaction.

This injection is usually given to you by your doctor or someone else trained to give it to you.

2. Before Chlorphenamine is given

You MUST NOT be given Chlorphenamine if you:

  • are allergic to any of the ingredients in the product

    (see section 6: Further information)

  • are in a pre-coma state.
  • have had monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressive treatment within

    the past 14 days.

Take special care with Chlorphenamine

You should tell your doctor before you are given this product if you:

  • are being treated for an overactive thyroid or enlarged prostate gland • have epilepsy, glaucoma, very high blood pressure, heart, liver, asthma or

    chest diseases.

Taking other medicines

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. The following affect the way Chlorphenamine works:

  • MAOIs - these must not be given with Chlorphenamine.

Chlorphenamine may increase the effects of the following:

  • drugs that treat anxiety or help you to sleep
  • alcohol

  • psychotropic drugs (that change perception or behaviour
  • atropine
  • phenytoin, for epilepsy.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Tell your doctor before using any medicine. Chlorphenamine must not be given during pregnancy or breastfeeding unless your doctor believes it is essential.

Driving and using machines

Chlorphenamine may cause drowsiness and make you sleepy.

Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this product affects you.

Important information about some of the ingredients

This medicinal product contains less than 1mmol sodium (23mg) per dose of up to 4ml, i.e. it is essentially “sodium-free”.

3. How Chlorphenamine is given

This injection is usually given to you by your doctor or someone else trained to give it to you. You will be given the injection beneath your skin, or into a muscle, or directly into a vein.

Adults: the usual dose is 10mg - 20mg (1 or 2 ampoules), up to a maximum of 40mg (4 ampoules) in 24 hours.

Children: the dose will be calculated by the doctor, according to the child’s age or body weight:

Age Dose

1 month to 1 year 0.25mg /kg

1 to 5 years 2.5mg to 5mg or 0.20mg /kg

6 to 12 years 5mg to 10mg or 0.20mg /kg

12 to 18 years 10mg to 20mg or 0.20mg /kg

The doctor may dilute Chlorphenamine with sodium chloride 0.9% to make it easier to measure and inject the small amounts required for children.

When administered into a vein, the injection should be given slowly over a period of one minute to avoid a fall in blood pressure (hypotension) or central nervous system stimulation.

If you are given more Chlorphenamine than you should

This product will be given to you under medical supervision. It is therefore unlikely that you will be given too much. However, if you feel unwell, you should tell your doctor immediately.

Symptoms of overdose include sedation, seizures, stopping of breathing (apnoea), convulsions, abnormal and sustained muscle contractions (dystonic reactions) and heart failure (cardiovascular collapse).

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Chlorphenamine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The most common side effect is sedation, which can range from slight drowsiness to deep sleep.

The following side effects have been reported:

  • a stinging or burning feeling at the site of injection
  • giddiness or drowsiness if the drug is injected too quickly into a vein (this usually passes)
  • nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea
  • feeling dizzy, weak, tired, unable to concentrate
  • rapid or irregular heart beat, chest tightness, fall in blood pressure • dryness of the mouth, headache, anorexia, indigestion, abdominal pain, liver problems including jaundice, difficulty passing urine
  • muscular incoordination, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, irritability, depression, nightmares
  • allergic reactions (skin reactions, itching of raised bumps on the skin, sensitivity to light)
  • blood abnormalities.

Elderly people may become confused and children may become excitable.

If any of these side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Chlorphenamine

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

Store below 25oC and protect from light.

Do not use after the date shown as ʻEXP’ on the carton.

Use immediately after opening. For single use only. Discard any unused contents immediately after use.

Use immediately after dilution.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6. Further information

What Chlorphenamine contains

The active substance is: chlorphenamine maleate.

The other ingredients are: sodium chloride (see also end of section 2), water, hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment) and sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment).

What Chlorphenamine looks like and contents of the pack

Chlorphenamine is supplied in glass ampoules. Each ampoule contains 10mg chlorphenamine maleate (in 1ml of clear, colourless sterile solution for injection). Contents: 5 glass ampoules per box.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Martindale Pharmaceutical Ltd

Bampton Road,

Harold Hill, Romford,

Essex, RM3 8UG,

United Kingdom

Manufacturer

Demo S.A.

21st km National Road

Athens-Lamia

Krioneri Attiki

14568, Greece

This leaflet was last revised: August 2025

PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER D50274

Continued, please turn over D50274

50274-F

Prod: Chlorphenamine 10mg/ml PIL

UK

Paper Size: 160 x 550mm
Version ControlDateBy
Version A:06/12/24
Version B:10/04/25
Version C:12/05/25
Version D:13/05/25
Version E:19/08/25
Version F:22/08/25
Version G:
Version H:
Version I:
Version K:
Version L:
Version M:
Version N:
Version O

About this document

Source: MHRA - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (products.mhra.gov.uk) · Marketing authorisation: PL 01883/0348

Last revision stated in the text: August 2025 · MHRA data as of 13 October 2026

Found a mistake? Tell us on the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Facts about Chlorphenamine 10 mg / ml solution for injection

Prescription needed? Yes, prescription-only medicine (POM)
Active substance Chlorphenamine
Strength 10 mg / ml
Pharmaceutical form Solution for injection
Clear, colourless sterile solution for injection.
The pH of the solution is 4.0 – 5.2 and the osmolality is 260 – 320 mOsm/Kg.
How is it taken Subcutaneous, Intravenous, Intramuscular
Excipients Sodium chloride, Water for injections
Pack sizes 5 ampoule
Is it available? Listed as available (NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices – not a record of current supplies)
Shelf life Unopened: 3 years
The injection should be given immediately after opening the ampoule. Once opened, any unused portion should be discarded.
Storage This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Drug group (ATC) Antihistamines for systemic use, substituted alkylamines
  1. R Respiratory system drugs
    1. R06 Antihistamines for systemic use
      1. R06A Antihistamines for systemic use
        1. R06AB Substituted alkylamines, systemic antihistamines
          1. R06AB04 chlorphenamine
Marketing authorisation PL 01883/0348, PL 39280/0010 (first authorised 11 September 2025)
Marketing authorisation holder Synchrony Pharma Limited
Codes GTIN 5060231320235 · BNF 03040100

Sources: the MHRA product information (products.mhra.gov.uk) and the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d), release 10.2.0 of 19 October 2026, NHS Business Services Authority. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.