CORYX is an effervescent cold and flu medicine. It is used to treat symptoms linked to colds and flu. You dissolve one tablet in water and drink it once the tablet has fully dissolved.
What it is and what it is used for
CORYX belongs to a group of medicines used for the common cold.
Each effervescent tablet contains:
| Ingredient | Strength per tablet | What it is included for |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorpheniramine maleate | 4 mg | An antihistamine-type ingredient |
| Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride | 50 mg | A decongestant-type ingredient |
| Aspirin | 600 mg | A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, also known as an NSAID |
| Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid | 330 mg | Vitamin C |
CORYX is used in adults and children over 16 years for the treatment of symptoms associated with colds and flu.
Warning: CORYX is not for children under 16 years.
How it works:
CORYX combines several ingredients in one tablet to help with cold and flu symptoms.
Chlorpheniramine is an ingredient often used in cold medicines. It can make some people sleepy. Pseudoephedrine is included in medicines used for blocked-nose-type symptoms. Aspirin is an NSAID, which means it belongs to a group of medicines used for pain or inflammation. Vitamin C is also included in the tablet.
Because CORYX contains more than one active ingredient, it can also have more than one type of side effect or interaction. This is why it is important to check whether CORYX is suitable for you before taking it, especially if you have long-term health conditions or take other medicines.
Who should NOT use this medicine
Do not use CORYX if you fall into any of the situations below.
Do not use if you:
- Are allergic to chlorpheniramine, pseudoephedrine, aspirin, vitamin C, or any of the other ingredients.
- Are allergic to aspirin or another NSAID such as diclofenac or ibuprofen.
- Have heart problems, heart failure, or high blood pressure.
- Have very high blood pressure or blood pressure that is not controlled by your medicine.
- Have an overactive thyroid gland, also called hyperthyroidism.
- Have epilepsy.
- Are pregnant.
- Are breastfeeding.
- Are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, also called an MAOI, or have stopped taking one within the last 14 days.
- Have a history of perforation of the gut.
- Have stomach ulcers or sores in the lining of the gut.
- Have had bleeding linked to previous use of NSAIDs, such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, or aspirin.
- Have haemophilia or another problem with blood clotting.
- Have kidney disease or impaired kidney function.
- Have severe sudden or long-term kidney disease, or kidney failure.
- Are taking oral anticoagulant therapy, which means medicine that helps prevent blood clots.
- Currently have, or previously had, a recurring ulcer, bleeding, or perforation.
- Are under 16 years old.
- Have nasal polyps associated with aspirin use.
- Have phenylketonuria, also called PKU.
Warning: CORYX contains aspartame 53 mg per tablet. Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine and may be harmful if you have PKU.
Warnings and precautions: Read before use
CORYX can cause serious problems in some people. These may include heart problems, stomach problems, kidney problems, bleeding, blood disorders, or serious skin reactions. Some of these reactions may be fatal.
Do not use CORYX for more than 10 days without speaking to your doctor. Longer use may lead to anaemia (low red blood cell count), other blood disorders, bleeding or ulcers in the gut, or kidney problems.
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking CORYX
Take special care and ask for advice first if you:
- Have kidney or liver disease.
- Struggle to pass urine.
- Have asthma or allergic disorders.
- Drink alcohol.
- Take sedatives, tranquillisers, sleeping tablets, or similar medicines.
- Are over 16 years old and have chickenpox or flu.
- Have heart disease, cardiovascular disease, or an irregular or fast heartbeat.
- Have narrowed blood vessels.
- Have hardening or thinning of the arteries, including arteriosclerosis or aneurysms.
- Have chest pain, also called angina pectoris.
- Have diabetes mellitus.
- Have glaucoma, which is increased pressure in the eye.
- Have an enlarged prostate gland.
- Are older than 65 years.
- Have a history of stomach ulcers.
- Have inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
- Have hiatus hernia or acid reflux.
- Have angiodysplasia.
- Have obstruction of the gut.
- Are scheduled for surgery.
- Are going to have spinal or epidural anaesthetic.
- Are scheduled for a thyroid function test.
- Are scheduled for an allergy skin-prick test.
- Have kidney stones.
- Have high levels of oxalate in your urine, called hyperoxaluria.
Skin reactions
Stop taking CORYX and contact your doctor if you notice:
- Blistering skin rash.
- Lesions or sores inside your mouth.
- Any other sign of an allergic reaction.
These may be signs of a serious skin reaction, which may be fatal.
Brain blood vessel warning linked to pseudoephedrine
Medicines containing pseudoephedrine have been linked to rare conditions called posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, known as PRES, and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, known as RCVS. These conditions can involve reduced blood supply to the brain.
Stop using CORYX immediately and seek urgent medical help if you develop symptoms such as:
- A sudden severe headache.
- Feeling sick.
- Vomiting.
- Confusion.
- Seizures.
- Changes in vision.
Driving, machinery, and risky tasks
CORYX may make you feel drowsy or sleepy. It may affect concentration and decision-making.
Do not:
- Drive.
- Operate tools or machines.
- Climb dangerous heights.
- Do tasks where poor concentration could cause an accident.
This is especially important when you first start taking CORYX, because you may not know yet how it affects you.
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while taking CORYX. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and poor concentration. It may also worsen the stomach-related effects of CORYX.
Pregnancy, planning pregnancy, and breastfeeding
Do not take CORYX if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Taking CORYX at around 20 weeks of pregnancy or later may cause kidney problems in the unborn baby. This may lead to low levels of amniotic fluid, which is the fluid around the baby. Low amniotic fluid may cause complications.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider before using CORYX.
Interactions
Always tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any other medicine. This includes prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, complementary medicines, and traditional medicines.
CORYX may interact with several medicines and substances.
Medicines and substances that need caution
Take extra care and speak to a healthcare provider if you are using CORYX with:
- Alcohol.
- Sleeping tablets, including barbiturates.
- Sedatives or hypnotics.
- Opioid pain medicines.
- Tranquillisers.
- Medicines for anxiety.
- Medicines for psychoses, called antipsychotics.
- Antidepressants, including tricyclic antidepressants, MAOIs, and reversible MAOIs.
- Medicines for high blood pressure, including reserpine and methyldopa.
- Atropine.
- Anaesthesia.
- Medicines for heart conditions, such as digoxin or quinidine.
- Medicines for migraines or Parkinson’s disease, such as ergot alkaloids.
- Oxytocin.
- Other NSAIDs, such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, or aspirin.
- Corticosteroids, such as betamethasone, prednisone, or triamcinolone.
- Anticoagulants such as warfarin.
- Oral diabetes tablets.
- Certain antibiotics, including sulphonamides and aminoglycosides.
- Certain antidepressants called SSRIs.
- Medicines for gout, such as probenecid or sulphinpyrazone.
- Dipyridamole.
- Metoclopramide.
- Metoprolol.
- Calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil.
- Spironolactone.
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors used for glaucoma.
- Antacids and adsorbents for heartburn, indigestion, or upset stomach.
- Gold compounds used for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Sulfonylureas used for diabetes.
- Zafirlukast used for asthma.
- Methotrexate.
- Phenytoin.
- Valproate.
- Mifepristone.
Tests and procedures
If you are going for an allergy skin-prick test, CORYX should be stopped several days before the test.
If you are scheduled for a thyroid function test, tell your healthcare provider that you are taking CORYX.
If you are going for surgery, speak to your doctor. You may need to stop CORYX several days before the operation.
If you are going to have a spinal or epidural anaesthetic, tell your anaesthetist. The procedure may need to be delayed.
How to take: Step-by-step
Always take CORYX exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you, or as described here. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.
Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.
Adults and children over 16 years
Take one tablet every 8 hours if necessary.
How to take it:
- Place one tablet in a glass of warm water.
- You may use cold water if you prefer.
- Allow the tablet to dissolve fully.
- Drink all the contents immediately once the whole tablet has dissolved.
- It is preferable to take CORYX after meals.
The tablet produces a light yellow solution with a pineapple flavour once dissolved in about 200 mL of water.
Children under 16 years
Children under 16 years must not take CORYX.
If you take too much
If you take more CORYX than you should, you may have more side effects.
An overdose may also cause severely low blood potassium levels, called hypokalaemia, and a kidney disorder called renal tubular acidosis, or RTA.
If you take too much:
- Contact your doctor or pharmacist.
- If neither is available, contact the nearest hospital or poison centre.
If you forget a dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
If it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Then continue with your usual schedule of one tablet every 8 hours if necessary.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Note: Do not share CORYX with anyone else.
Dosing table
| Age or group | Dose | Frequency | Maximum daily dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults and children over 16 years | 1 effervescent tablet dissolved in water | Every 8 hours if necessary | Not specified in the source |
| Children under 16 years | Do not use | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Possible side effects
CORYX can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Some side effects need urgent medical attention.
If your general health worsens, or you notice any unwanted effect while taking CORYX, speak to your healthcare provider.
Common side effects
Tell your doctor if you notice:
- Anxiety.
- Restlessness.
- Sleeplessness.
- Sleepiness, from mild drowsiness to deep sleep.
- Lack of energy.
- Dizziness.
- Poor coordination.
- Headache.
- Slow thoughts or slow movements.
- Dry mouth.
- Thickened lung secretions, which may cause wheezing.
- Blurred vision.
- Difficulty passing urine.
- Constipation.
- Increased acid reflux.
- Stomach problems.
- Nausea.
- Indigestion.
- Vomiting.
Less common side effects
Tell your doctor if you notice:
- Seeing or hearing things that are not real, especially in children.
- Stimulation or wakefulness, especially with high doses, in children, or in older people.
- Loose stools or diarrhoea.
- Stomach pain or discomfort in the upper stomach area.
Side effects where the frequency is not known
The following have also been reported, but the frequency is not known:
- PRES or RCVS, which are serious conditions affecting blood vessels in the brain.
- Increased or decreased blood sugar levels.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Confusion.
- Fear.
- Irritability.
- Psychotic states.
- Euphoria.
- Nervousness.
- Repetitive involuntary movements of the mouth, face, or body.
- Mental effects, especially in children.
- Convulsions or seizures.
- Pins and needles.
- Shakiness or tremor.
- Depression.
- Tingling, heaviness, or weakness of the hands.
- Blurred vision.
- Double vision.
- Ringing in the ears.
- Hearing loss.
- Impaired sense of smell.
- Dryness of the throat.
- Tightness of the chest.
- Impaired sense of taste.
- Loss of appetite.
- Constipation.
- Dry mouth.
- Too much saliva.
- Passing wind.
- Stomach pain.
- Sores or blisters inside the mouth.
- Worsening of Crohn’s disease.
- Inflammation of the stomach.
- Sweating.
- Hair loss.
- Muscle pain.
- Weakness.
- Fatigue.
Serious side effects: seek urgent help
Stop taking CORYX and get urgent medical help if you notice:
- Swelling of your hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, mouth, or throat.
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing.
- Blistering skin rash.
- Itching, with or without redness.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Unresponsiveness.
These may be signs of a very serious reaction.
Go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital or tell your doctor immediately if you notice:
- Easy bruising.
- Unusual bleeding.
- Pinpoint red spots on the skin.
- Bleeding from the gums.
- Pale skin.
- Unusual tiredness or weakness.
- Fever or chills.
- Fast, slow, or pounding heartbeat.
- Abnormal heart rhythm.
- Chest pain.
- Swelling of the ankles, feet, or legs.
- Signs of heart failure.
- High or low blood pressure with dizziness, fainting, or flushing.
- Signs of bleeding in the brain, such as numbness or weakness of the face, or difficulty speaking or walking.
- Difficulty breathing, with or without excess fluid in the lungs.
- Stomach pain with vomiting blood.
- Black stools.
- Stomach pain, cramping, or diarrhoea with red blood in the stool and an urgent need to pass stool.
- Yellow skin or eyes.
- Dark urine and tiredness.
- Blood in the urine.
- Frequent or urgent urination.
- Pain in the back or flank area.
- Pain while passing urine.
- Reduced urine output.
- Drowsiness, confusion, fatigue, or weakness linked with possible kidney damage or kidney stones.
- Symptoms of very low potassium or renal tubular acidosis, such as weakness, tiredness, muscle cramps, confusion, constipation, irregular heartbeat, tingling, numbness, increased urination, fast breathing, kidney stones, or muscle weakness.
Warning: Stop using CORYX immediately and seek urgent medical help if you develop a sudden severe headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, seizures, or changes in vision. These may be signs of PRES or RCVS.
Reporting side effects in South Africa
If you get side effects, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
You can also report side effects to SAHPRA using the Med Safety App, also referred to as Medsafety X SAHPRA, or through the eReporting platform found on the SAHPRA website.
You can also report side effects to Cipla Medpro by email at drugsafetysa@cipla.com or by telephone on 080 222 6662.
Storage and disposal
Store all medicines out of reach of children.
Store CORYX:
- In the tube, tightly closed.
- At or below 25 °C.
- Protected from light.
- Protected from moisture.
- In the original container until you are ready to use it.
- With the container kept in the outer carton.
Do not use CORYX after the expiry date stated on the container.
Return unused medicine to your pharmacist. Do not throw unused medicine into drains, sewerage systems, or toilets.
What the medicine contains
Each CORYX effervescent tablet contains the following active ingredients:
| Active ingredient | Amount per tablet |
|---|---|
| Chlorpheniramine maleate | 4 mg |
| Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride | 50 mg |
| Aspirin | 600 mg |
| Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid | 330 mg |
Other ingredients are:
- Adipic acid.
- Aspartame.
- Beta-carotene 1 % CWS.
- Citric acid anhydrous.
- Colloidal silicon dioxide.
- Macrogol 6000.
- Pineapple flavour 76136-31.
- Sodium bicarbonate.
- Sodium carbonate anhydrous.
Important: CORYX contains aspartame 53 mg per tablet. Do not use it if you have phenylketonuria.
Pack information and appearance
CORYX comes as effervescent tablets. The tablets are round, biplane, and beige to light yellow in colour.
When dissolved in about 200 mL of water, the tablet makes a light yellow pineapple-flavoured solution.
The tablets are packed in an aluminium tube with a white plastic closure. The tube is packed in a printed carton box.
Each tube contains 12 tablets. Each carton contains one tube, giving a pack size of 12 tablets.
The holder of the certificate of registration is Cipla Medpro (Pty) Ltd, Bellville, South Africa.
The South African registration number is 27/5.8/0435.
Practical FAQs
Can I take CORYX for a cold or flu?
Yes, CORYX is used in adults and children over 16 years for symptoms associated with colds and flu.
Can a 15-year-old take CORYX?
No. CORYX must not be used by children under 16 years.
How do I prepare the tablet?
Place one tablet in a glass of warm water, or cold water if you prefer. Let it dissolve fully, then drink all the contents immediately.
Should I take CORYX with food?
It is preferable to take CORYX after meals.
How often can I take it?
Adults and children over 16 years may take one tablet every 8 hours if necessary.
Can I drink alcohol while taking CORYX?
No. Do not use alcohol and CORYX at the same time. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and poor concentration, and may worsen stomach-related effects.
Can I drive after taking CORYX?
Do not drive, operate machinery, climb dangerous heights, or do risky tasks until you know how CORYX affects you. CORYX may make you drowsy or sleepy.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
Take the missed dose when you remember. If it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue as usual. Do not take a double dose.
What should I do if I take too much?
Contact your doctor or pharmacist. If they are not available, contact the nearest hospital or poison centre.
Can I take CORYX if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. CORYX should not be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Plain-language summary
CORYX is a Schedule 2 effervescent medicine used for cold and flu symptoms in adults and children over 16 years. Dissolve one tablet fully in about 200 mL of water and drink it immediately. It is preferable to take it after meals, and it may be taken every 8 hours if necessary.
Use CORYX for the shortest time needed and do not use it for more than 10 days without speaking to your doctor. Do not use it if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, under 16, allergic to any ingredient, have certain heart, blood pressure, kidney, stomach, bleeding, or clotting problems, or have PKU. Seek urgent help if you have swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, blistering rash, black stools, vomiting blood, chest pain, severe sudden headache, seizures, confusion, or changes in vision.
