Triprolidine Dosing Recommendations
Standard Dosing by Age
For adults and children ≥12 years, administer 2.5 mg (2.67 mL) every 4-6 hours, not exceeding 10 mg in 24 hours; for children 6 to <12 years, give 1.25 mg (1.33 mL) every 4-6 hours, not exceeding 5 mg in 24 hours; and for children <6 years, consult a physician before use. 1
Adult Dosing (≥12 years)
- Dose: 2.5 mg (2.67 mL) every 4-6 hours 1
- Maximum daily dose: 10 mg (10.67 mL) in 24 hours 1
- Use only the enclosed dropper provided with the product 1
Pediatric Dosing (6 to <12 years)
- Dose: 1.25 mg (1.33 mL) every 4-6 hours 1
- Maximum daily dose: 5 mg (5.33 mL) in 24 hours 1
- Use only the enclosed dropper provided with the product 1
Children Under 6 Years
- Physician consultation required before administration 1
- The FDA has documented 9 pediatric fatalities associated with brompheniramine (a related antihistamine) between 1969-2006, primarily from overdose and medication errors 2
- Use only for clear allergic indications (allergic rhinitis, urticaria) diagnosed by a healthcare professional, not for common cold symptoms 2
Clinical Pharmacology Considerations
Onset and Duration
- Peak serum concentration occurs approximately 2 hours after oral administration (mean 15.4 ng/mL) 3
- Serum half-life is approximately 2.1 hours 3
- Antihistaminic effect (flare suppression) is statistically significant at 2,3,6, and 8 hours post-dose 3
- No detectable serum levels after 12 hours 3
Central Nervous System Effects
- Sedation is dose-related and time-dependent: impairment of auditory vigilance occurs 1-2 hours after administration and can last up to 7.25 hours 4
- Subjective drowsiness and mental impairment are reliably detected by patients for up to 4.75 hours 4
- The sedative effects do not correlate with the degree of histamine antagonism, indicating separate mechanisms 5
Critical Safety Warnings
Contraindications in Young Children
- OTC cough and cold medications containing antihistamines are not recommended for children under 6 years due to lack of established efficacy for upper respiratory infections and significant safety concerns 2
- Efficacy has not been established for common cold treatment in this age group 2
Proper Administration
- Never exceed recommended dosages 1
- Use only the dropper provided with the specific product; do not interchange droppers between medications 1
- Only 1.3% of the administered dose is excreted unchanged in urine over 24 hours, indicating extensive hepatic metabolism 3
Combination Products
- When triprolidine is combined with pseudoephedrine (common in commercial preparations), the sedative effects of triprolidine persist and are not meaningfully counteracted by the stimulant properties of pseudoephedrine 4
- Historical dosing in combination products ranged from 3.75-7.5 mg triprolidine daily (with 90-180 mg pseudoephedrine), though these higher doses are associated with more pronounced sedation 6