Avil 25: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also known as: Avil, Avil 25 mg, Avil 25 tablet, Pheniramine 25 mg, Pheniramine maleate 25 mg
Avil 25 is a prescription-supervised tablet containing 25 mg of pheniramine, an older antihistamine. It is used to relieve itching, hives, allergic rashes and hay fever symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose. It often causes drowsiness, so it can affect driving and work. It is not suitable for children under 5 years.
- Active ingredient
- Pheniramine 25 mg
- Type of medicine
- Antihistamines
- Used for
- Allergic rhinitis, Allergy
- Starts working in
- Follow the label; allergy symptoms usually start to ease within an hour or so
- Effect lasts
- A few hours; follow your doctor's advice on how often it can be taken
- With or without food
- Taking it with or after food can reduce stomach upset
- Alcohol
- Avoid alcohol: it increases drowsiness
- Pregnancy
- Talk to your doctor before taking it
- Habit-forming
- No
- Made by
- VERIFY on pack
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
What is Avil 25 used for?
Avil 25 is used, on a doctor's advice, to relieve the symptoms of some allergic conditions.
- Relieving itching and hives (urticaria)
- Relieving allergic rashes, including some drug or food-related reactions
- Relieving hay fever and allergic rhinitis symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose and itchy or watery eyes
- Other allergic conditions, when a doctor judges it suitable
How does Avil 25 work?
During an allergic reaction the body releases histamine, which causes itching, sneezing, a runny nose and swelling. Pheniramine blocks histamine at H1 receptors, so these symptoms ease. It also acts on the brain, which is why it makes many people sleepy.
What happens in your body after you take it
You swallow the tablet
The tablet dissolves in the gut and pheniramine is absorbed into the blood. Taking it with food can reduce stomach upset.
It travels in the blood
Pheniramine reaches the skin, nose, eyes and also the brain.
It blocks histamine receptors
Pheniramine attaches to H1 receptors, so histamine can no longer switch them on.
Allergy symptoms ease
Itching, sneezing, a runny nose and hives settle. The effect on the brain can cause drowsiness.
The body clears it
The body breaks the medicine down and removes it, and the effect fades after some hours.
How to take Avil 25
Take Avil 25 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides the dose and how long you need it.
- Taking it with or after food can reduce stomach upset.
- Follow the label or your doctor's advice on how often to take it.
- Do not give it to a child unless a doctor has advised it; it is not for children under 5 years.
- Do not drive or use machinery until you know how it affects you.
- If symptoms last or keep coming back, talk to your doctor about the cause.
Side effects of Avil 25
Drowsiness is the most common effect. Other effects are usually mild, but a few need medical help.
Uncommon or mild
- Drowsiness or sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Nausea or stomach upset
- Blurred vision
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing (a severe allergic reaction). Get medical help immediately
- Difficulty passing urine
- Confusion, agitation or seeing things that are not there
- A fast or irregular heartbeat
- Unusual bruising, bleeding or frequent infections
Who should be careful
Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Avil 25, or need extra care while taking it.
When the label says not to use it
- Allergy to pheniramine or any ingredient
- Children under 5 years
- While taking MAO inhibitor antidepressants
- It can cause drowsiness: do not drive, use machinery or do tasks needing alertness until you know how it affects you
- Not for children under 5 years; children and older adults are more sensitive to its effects
- Glaucoma (raised eye pressure), an enlarged prostate or difficulty passing urine
- Epilepsy, asthma or other lung disease, or an overactive thyroid
- Stomach ulcer or blockage, or heart disease
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: talk to your doctor before use
- Allergy to pheniramine or any ingredient
Medicines and things that interact with Avil 25
Avil 25 can add to the effects of other medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take.
- Alcohol: increases drowsiness, so avoid it
- Sedatives, sleeping tablets, anxiety medicines and other medicines that cause sleepiness: the effect adds up
- Antidepressants called MAO inhibitors: should not be used together with it
- Other antihistamines and medicines with a drying effect: side effects such as dry mouth may increase
If someone takes too much
Too much pheniramine can cause severe drowsiness, confusion, dry mouth, a fast heartbeat, fits and, in children, excitement. If someone has taken more than advised, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the pack with you.
Storage
Store as printed on the pack, in a cool, dry place away from light, in the original strip, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India. Pheniramine is covered under the entry for antihistaminic substances in Schedule G of the Drugs Rules 1945, so the pack carries a caution to use it under medical supervision (confirm on the pack). Single-ingredient pheniramine is not on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Avil 25 contains pheniramine only.
Other brands with the same medicine
Pheniramine 25 mg tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Some other products contain pheniramine with additional medicines, so do not switch without asking your doctor.
Other strengths and forms
Pheniramine is sold in other strengths and as an injection, and some products combine it with other medicines. The form and contents are printed on the pack, so check the label of the one you have.
Common questions
What is Avil 25 used for?
It is an antihistamine used to relieve allergy symptoms such as itching, hives, allergic rashes, and hay fever symptoms like sneezing and a runny nose. A doctor decides whether it suits you.
Does Avil 25 make you sleepy?
Yes, drowsiness is common. Do not drive, use machinery or do tasks needing alertness until you know how it affects you, and avoid alcohol, which increases the sleepiness.
Can children take Avil 25?
It is not for children under 5 years. For older children, use it only as their doctor advises, because children can be more sensitive to its side effects.
Should I take Avil 25 with food?
Taking the tablet with or after food may reduce stomach upset. Follow the label or your doctor's advice.
Can I take Avil 25 in pregnancy?
Talk to your doctor before taking it if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding. Do not start it on your own.
What is the difference between Avil 25 and pheniramine?
Avil is a brand name, and pheniramine maleate is the medicine inside it. Check the strength and ingredient list on the pack, and ask your doctor before switching products.
Sources
- Pheniramine Maleate Tablets I.P. (Avil 25, Avil 50): package insert. Sanofi India Limited
- Allergies. NHS (UK)
- The Drugs Rules, 1945 (consolidated, September 2024 edition), Schedule G. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)