NOFLU TABLETS & SYRUP
1. Disclaimer
This information is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the official product leaflet, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Because product formulations, regulatory status, indications, warnings, and availability may change, the current package leaflet and official regulatory or manufacturer information should always be consulted for the specific product and market.
We do not guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of information regarding medications or medical products, and official sources should be verified before making any decisions. Readers are responsible for independently verifying the information before relying on it.
NOFLU is a multi-ingredient symptomatic cold/flu preparation. It should not be used as a basis for self-diagnosis or for determining an individualized treatment regimen. Particular care is required because the product contains paracetamol, an oral sympathomimetic decongestant, and a first-generation antihistamine.
2. Summary
NOFLU is a combination medicine marketed by Kahira Pharmaceutical & Chemical Industries Co. in Egypt as tablets and an oral syrup. The manufacturer's publicly available product portfolio identifies NOFLU as a decongestant–antipyretic preparation containing paracetamol, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, and chlorpheniramine maleate.
The combination is intended for symptomatic relief of common cold and influenza-related upper-respiratory symptoms. The manufacturer's portfolio also lists allergic and vasomotor rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, and Eustachian-tube congestion among its indications.
The tablets contain 400 mg paracetamol, 60 mg pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, and 3 mg chlorpheniramine maleate per tablet. The manufacturer's portfolio states that each 5 mL of syrup contains 160 mg paracetamol, 15 mg pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, and 1 mg chlorpheniramine maleate.
Important formulation verification note: Some current Egyptian commercial drug databases list NOFLU Syrup as containing phenylpropanolamine rather than pseudoephedrine. This conflicts with the manufacturer's publicly available product portfolio and therefore should be resolved by checking the current physical package/leaflet or an authoritative Egyptian regulatory record before the syrup composition is treated as definitive.
3. Brand Name
NOFLU
Available publicly documented presentations include:
- NOFLU 20 Tablets — box containing 20 tablets.
- NOFLU Syrup 100 mL — 100 mL bottle.
Current Egyptian pharmacy/database listings continue to identify NOFLU 20 Tablets and NOFLU Syrup 100 mL as Kahira products.
4. Category
Pharmacological/therapeutic category:
- Decongestant
- Analgesic/antipyretic
- First-generation H1 antihistamine
- Symptomatic cold and influenza preparation
The manufacturer's portfolio specifically describes NOFLU as a Decongestant – Antipyretic preparation.
It is important to distinguish symptomatic treatment from antimicrobial therapy: NOFLU does not constitute an antibacterial, antiviral, or other pathogen-eradicating treatment.
5. Active Ingredient
NOFLU Tablets
Each tablet contains:
| Active ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Paracetamol (micronised) | 400 mg |
| Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride | 60 mg |
| Chlorpheniramine maleate | 3 mg |
NOFLU Syrup
According to the manufacturer's product portfolio, each 5 mL contains:
| Active ingredient | Amount per 5 mL |
|---|---|
| Paracetamol (micronised) | 160 mg |
| Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride | 15 mg |
| Chlorpheniramine maleate | 1 mg |
These quantities are directly supported by the manufacturer's product portfolio.
Formulation discrepancy requiring verification: Several Egyptian commercial databases currently identify NOFLU Syrup as containing phenylpropanolamine instead of pseudoephedrine. Because this conflicts with the manufacturer's published formulation, the syrup's active ingredient should be verified against the current physical pack/leaflet before publication as an unequivocal fact.
6. Pharmaceutical Form & Strength
Tablets
- Pharmaceutical form: Oral tablets
-
Strength per tablet:
-
Paracetamol 400 mg
- Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 60 mg
- Chlorpheniramine maleate 3 mg
- Pack size documented by the manufacturer: 20 tablets (2 strips × 10 tablets).
Syrup
- Pharmaceutical form: Oral syrup
- Bottle size: 100 mL
-
Manufacturer-listed strength per 5 mL:
-
Paracetamol 160 mg
- Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 15 mg
- Chlorpheniramine maleate 1 mg.
7. Manufacturer & Marketing Authorization Holder
Manufacturer:
Kahira Pharmaceutical & Chemical Industries Co. (Kahira Pharmaceuticals), Cairo, Egypt.
The manufacturer's own product portfolio identifies NOFLU within its product range and identifies the company as Kahira Pharmaceuticals.
Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH):
A separate MAH entity could not be independently verified from the publicly accessible sources reviewed. Therefore, the manufacturer should not automatically be described as a separately verified MAH without confirmation from the current Egyptian regulatory record or product packaging.
8. Mechanism of Action
NOFLU combines three pharmacologically distinct symptomatic agents:
Paracetamol
Paracetamol provides analgesic and antipyretic effects. Its clinical action reduces pain and fever but does not provide clinically useful peripheral anti-inflammatory activity comparable with conventional NSAIDs.
Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
Pseudoephedrine is an orally active sympathomimetic decongestant. Its vasoconstrictor action in the nasal mucosa reduces mucosal swelling and helps relieve nasal congestion. Its sympathomimetic activity can also produce systemic effects such as increased blood pressure, palpitations, restlessness, and insomnia.
Chlorpheniramine maleate
Chlorpheniramine is a first-generation H1-antihistamine. It antagonizes histamine H1 receptors and helps reduce histamine-mediated symptoms such as sneezing and rhinorrhea. Because it crosses the blood–brain barrier, it can cause drowsiness and other central nervous system effects.
9. Spectrum of Activity
NOFLU does not have an antimicrobial spectrum of activity.
Its therapeutic activity is symptomatic:
- Paracetamol: pain and fever relief.
- Pseudoephedrine: nasal decongestant effect.
- Chlorpheniramine: antihistaminic relief of symptoms such as rhinorrhea and sneezing.
The manufacturer lists use in common cold and influenza, allergic and vasomotor rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, and Eustachian-tube congestion.
The product therefore should not be described as treating or eliminating the infectious cause of a cold or influenza.
10. Pharmacokinetics
The available public sources do not provide a complete, product-specific pharmacokinetic profile for NOFLU itself.
The pharmacokinetic characteristics can therefore be described at the active-ingredient level rather than presented as a verified NOFLU-specific clinical profile.
Paracetamol is rapidly absorbed following oral administration and undergoes extensive hepatic metabolism, with metabolites predominantly eliminated in urine. Pseudoephedrine is absorbed orally and is substantially eliminated through the kidneys, with urinary excretion affected by urine pH. Chlorpheniramine undergoes hepatic metabolism and its metabolites are excreted largely through the kidneys.
A pharmacokinetic study in healthy Egyptian volunteers involving an oral combination of paracetamol, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, and a structurally related antihistamine reported median/mean parameters including Tmax values of approximately 0.75 h for paracetamol and 1.5 h for pseudoephedrine, with corresponding half-lives of approximately 3.3 h and 4.65 h. However, that study used brompheniramine rather than chlorpheniramine, so its numerical pharmacokinetic results should not be represented as direct NOFLU pharmacokinetic values.
Accordingly, no NOFLU-specific Cmax, Tmax, half-life, bioavailability, or clearance values are stated here unless directly documented for the product.
11. Indications
The manufacturer's product portfolio lists NOFLU for:
- Common cold and influenza
- Allergic rhinitis
- Vasomotor rhinitis
- Rhinosinusitis
- Congestion of the Eustachian tube
The older product information supplied for review additionally describes symptomatic relief of upper-respiratory symptoms including nasal congestion, sneezing, rhinorrhea, cough, fever, headache, and muscular aches and pains.
Because indications and labeling can change, the current package leaflet should be treated as the controlling source for the marketed presentation.
12. Administration
NOFLU is administered orally.
The product information supplied for review states:
Adults, elderly patients, and children aged 12 years and over
For the tablet formulation, the supplied leaflet states:
- One tablet up to four times daily as required.
- Doses should not be taken more frequently than every four hours.
- The stated maximum dose should not be exceeded.
Children aged 6–12 years
The supplied product information states:
- 5 mL of the syrup every 6 hours.
Children under 6 years
The supplied leaflet states that NOFLU tablets are contraindicated below 6 years and separately states that NOFLU should not be used in children below 6 years.
Verification note: Pediatric dosing is a high-risk area for formulation-specific errors. The exact current package leaflet should be checked before publishing dosing instructions, particularly because publicly available databases contain inconsistent information about NOFLU formulations.
13. Method of Preparation
Tablets
NOFLU tablets are supplied as ready-to-use oral tablets. No reconstitution or pharmaceutical preparation is required.
Syrup
NOFLU syrup is supplied as a ready-to-use 100 mL oral liquid. No reconstitution procedure is documented in the reviewed sources.
The reviewed information does not provide sufficient evidence to state a specific shaking, dilution, measuring-device, or preparation procedure. Such instructions should therefore not be invented.
14. Contraindications
The supplied product information identifies hypersensitivity to any ingredient as a contraindication. It also states that:
- Paracetamol should not be used in patients with severe liver disease.
- The product should not be used with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or within two weeks after stopping them.
- Pseudoephedrine is contraindicated according to the supplied leaflet in patients with certain cardiovascular conditions, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, phaeochromocytoma, raised intraocular pressure/closed-angle glaucoma, and diabetes mellitus.
- The supplied leaflet states that NOFLU is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.
Because contraindication lists can differ between historical and current regulatory labeling, the current official leaflet should be consulted before treating every item above as current regulatory wording.
15. Warnings & Precautions
Important precautions include:
- Do not exceed the recommended paracetamol dose because overdose can cause severe hepatic injury.
- Patients with liver or kidney disease should use paracetamol-containing preparations only under appropriate professional guidance.
- Chlorpheniramine can cause drowsiness and impaired concentration.
- Alcohol and other CNS depressants may increase sedation.
- Patients should exercise caution with driving or operating machinery if drowsiness or impaired concentration occurs.
- Chlorpheniramine should be used cautiously in patients with glaucoma, urinary retention, prostatic hypertrophy, pyloroduodenal obstruction, epilepsy, or severe cardiovascular disease.
- Elderly patients may be more susceptible to CNS-depressant and blood-pressure-lowering effects.
- Pseudoephedrine may cause or worsen hypertension, palpitations, tachycardia, tremor, anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia.
- Particular caution is warranted in patients receiving antihypertensive therapy or medicines capable of interacting with sympathomimetic agents.
The supplied information also advises medical review if symptoms do not improve with the recommended dosage and states that the product should not be used continuously for more than 10 days without consultation.
16. Drug Interactions
Clinically relevant interaction categories include:
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
The supplied product information specifically contraindicates use with MAO inhibitors and during the two weeks following discontinuation.
CNS depressants and alcohol
Chlorpheniramine can produce additive CNS depression with alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics, tranquilizers, barbiturates, and other CNS-depressant medicines.
Tricyclic antidepressants and anticholinergic medicines
The supplied information advises caution with tricyclic antidepressants and atropine-containing medicines because of potential additive effects.
Sympatholytic and antihypertensive medicines
The supplied product information states that the effects of pseudoephedrine may be altered by medicines such as guanethidine, reserpine, and methyldopa, and that tricyclic antidepressants may diminish or enhance its effects. It also states that pseudoephedrine may increase the possibility of irregular heart rhythm with digitalis and may increase blood pressure in patients receiving antihypertensive therapy.
Duplicate paracetamol exposure
Because NOFLU contains paracetamol, concurrent use of another paracetamol/acetaminophen-containing product can unintentionally increase total daily exposure and the risk of hepatotoxicity.
17. Side Effects
Potential adverse effects reflect the three active ingredients.
Paracetamol
Adverse reactions can include hypersensitivity reactions and, rarely, serious blood dyscrasias. Hepatotoxicity is the major clinically important toxicity associated with excessive dosing.
Chlorpheniramine
Possible effects include:
- Drowsiness and sedation
- Dizziness
- Impaired coordination
- Dry mouth
- Thickened respiratory secretions
- Blurred vision
- Urinary difficulty or retention
- Constipation
- Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Paradoxical CNS stimulation, particularly in children, including nervousness, irritability, insomnia, tremor, and, rarely, more serious CNS effects
These effects are consistent with the first-generation antihistamine properties of chlorpheniramine and are also reflected in the supplied product information.
Pseudoephedrine
Potential adverse effects include:
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Palpitations
- Tachycardia
- Increased blood pressure
- Tremor
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Difficulty urinating
The supplied product information lists additional cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, and metabolic effects.
Severe or unusual symptoms require appropriate medical assessment.
18. Use in Special Populations
Pregnancy
The supplied NOFLU product information states that the product is contraindicated during pregnancy.
Lactation
The same supplied information states that NOFLU is contraindicated during lactation.
Pediatric use
The supplied product information provides a syrup regimen for children aged 6–12 years and states that the product should not be used below 6 years.
Elderly patients
The supplied information specifically notes increased susceptibility to CNS-depressant and blood-pressure-lowering effects in elderly patients.
Hepatic impairment
Because NOFLU contains paracetamol, significant hepatic disease is clinically important. The supplied information states that paracetamol should not be used in severe liver disease and recommends medical guidance for patients with liver disease.
Renal impairment
The supplied information advises caution/medical guidance in patients with kidney disease but does not provide a product-specific renal dose-adjustment schedule. Therefore, a specific renal dosing regimen should not be inferred.
19. Storage Conditions
The supplied NOFLU product information states:
Store at a temperature not exceeding 30°C, in a dry place and away from light.
The manufacturer's current product portfolio confirms the 100 mL syrup and 20-tablet presentation but does not provide a newer storage specification in the publicly accessible section reviewed.
The current package labeling should therefore be followed if it differs.
20. Additional Sections
Packaging
According to the manufacturer's product portfolio:
- NOFLU Tablets: boxes of 20 tablets (2 strips × 10 tablets); larger institutional packaging of 1000 tablets is also listed.
- NOFLU Syrup: 100 mL bottle.
Inactive ingredients
The supplied historical product information lists the following tablet excipients:
- Magnesium stearate
- Sodium benzoate
- Sorbitol powder
- Maize starch
- Talc
- Propylene glycol
For the syrup, it lists:
- Propylene glycol
- Polyethylene glycol 400
- Glycerin
- Sorbitol powder
- Citric acid
- Sodium citrate
- Sodium benzoate
- Sugar
- Saccharin sodium
- Strawberry essence
- Purified water
Because excipient composition can change between manufacturing versions, these ingredients should be confirmed against the current package leaflet before being presented as the current formulation.
Current Egyptian market verification
Publicly accessible Egyptian medicine databases currently list:
- NOFLU 20 Tablets, Kahira, with paracetamol + pseudoephedrine + chlorpheniramine.
- NOFLU Syrup 100 mL, Kahira, with some current databases listing phenylpropanolamine + paracetamol + chlorpheniramine.
The manufacturer's publicly available portfolio, however, lists pseudoephedrine for both presentations.
Therefore, the syrup composition is the principal unresolved verification point and should be checked against the current physical package/leaflet or an authoritative Egyptian regulatory database before publication.
21. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is NOFLU used for?
NOFLU is a symptomatic combination preparation used for symptoms associated with conditions such as the common cold and influenza. The manufacturer also lists allergic/vasomotor rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, and Eustachian-tube congestion.
Does NOFLU contain paracetamol?
Yes. The manufacturer lists 400 mg of micronised paracetamol per tablet and 160 mg per 5 mL of syrup.
Does NOFLU contain pseudoephedrine?
The manufacturer's current publicly accessible product portfolio lists pseudoephedrine hydrochloride in both tablets and syrup.
However, some Egyptian commercial databases currently list phenylpropanolamine for the syrup. This discrepancy should be resolved using the current package/leaflet before relying on the syrup composition.
Can NOFLU cause drowsiness?
Yes. Chlorpheniramine is a first-generation antihistamine and may cause drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired concentration. Alcohol and other CNS depressants can increase these effects.
Is NOFLU an antibiotic?
No. It is a symptomatic cold/flu combination and does not have an antibacterial spectrum.
Can NOFLU be taken with another paracetamol product?
Concurrent use can increase total paracetamol exposure and may increase the risk of overdose and liver injury. The total paracetamol exposure from all products should therefore be considered.
Is NOFLU suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
The supplied NOFLU product information states that the product is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.
How should NOFLU be stored?
The supplied product information states that it should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 30°C, in a dry place and away from light.
22. References
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Kahira Pharmaceuticals — Products Portfolio. NOFLU entry, including active ingredients, strengths, indications, and packaging. The manufacturer's publicly accessible portfolio identifies pseudoephedrine hydrochloride in both tablets and syrup.
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NOFLU product information supplied for review. Historical product information containing composition, clinical pharmacology, indications, administration, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse effects, packaging, and storage information.
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Egyptian medicine-market listings — NOFLU 20 Tablets. Current listings identify NOFLU 20 Tablets as a Kahira product containing paracetamol, chlorpheniramine, and pseudoephedrine.
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Egyptian medicine-market listings — NOFLU Syrup 100 mL. Current listings identify the syrup as a Kahira product but report phenylpropanolamine rather than pseudoephedrine, creating a formulation discrepancy with the manufacturer's published portfolio.
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Mohamed D, Hassan O, Bahnasawy N, Elnoby AS, Mowaka S. UPLC-MS/MS estimation of paracetamol, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and brompheniramine maleate in plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study on healthy Egyptian volunteers based on ethnic difference. 2019.
Verification status: The major factual content has been cross-checked against the manufacturer's published information and additional sources. The principal unresolved issue is the current active ingredient of NOFLU Syrup, for which publicly available Egyptian listings conflict with the manufacturer's published product portfolio. This point should remain explicitly flagged rather than being silently resolved.