Polaramine (Dexchlorpheniramine) in Spain: Uses
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 29 October 2026
Polaramine is dexchlorpheniramine, a drowsy antihistamine for hives, itch and bites. What it treats, the Piriton link and why it needs a prescription.
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Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 15-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.
Polaramine is the Spanish brand of dexchlorpheniramine, an older antihistamine for itchy allergic skin, hives, insect bites, hay fever and allergic eyes. It works well but often causes drowsiness. In Spain the tablets and syrup need a prescription. A cream with the same antihistamine, Polaracrem, is sold in pharmacies without one.
- Polaramine (dexchlorpheniramine) eases itch, hives, sneezing and watery eyes caused by allergies.
- It is a first-generation antihistamine: it often makes you sleepy. Do not drive if it does, and avoid alcohol.
- Tablets, syrup and injection are prescription-only in Spain. Polaracrem cream is not.
- It does not treat anaphylaxis. A severe reaction needs adrenaline and a call to 112.
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).
For a medical emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest local emergency department. Do not wait for a video consultation or an online reply.
What is Polaramine used for?
- Allergic skin: hives (urticaria), mild swelling, itchy allergic eczema and contact dermatitis.
- Insect bites and stings that itch a lot or swell.
- Hay fever and year-round allergies: sneezing, a runny nose and itchy nose.
- Allergic eyes: red, itchy, watery eyes.
- Reactions to a medicine that show up as an itchy rash.
Doctors also use the injection in hospital and in emergency care. There, it is only an add-on to adrenaline, never a replacement for it.
Polaramine comes as tablets, as a syrup and as an injection. The cream is a separate product, Polaracrem. It mixes dexchlorpheniramine with allantoin, a soothing agent. Its leaflet lists minor skin irritation, itch, mild sunburn and insect bites.
Polaramine, Piriton, Chlor-Trimeton: which name is which?
| Name | What it contains | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Polaramine | Dexchlorpheniramine tablets, syrup, injection | Spain (prescription) |
| Polaracrem | Dexchlorpheniramine + allantoin cream | Spain (no prescription) |
| Piriton | Chlorphenamine tablets and syrup | UK |
| Chlor-Trimeton | Chlorpheniramine | US (over the counter) |
| Cetirizine | A newer, less drowsy antihistamine | Spain, UK, US |
Chlorphenamine (spelled chlorpheniramine in the US) is the closest match. Dexchlorpheniramine is its active half. So if Piriton helped you in the UK, Polaramine is the Spanish relative. If drowsiness is a problem, a newer antihistamine may suit you better. Our cetirizine guide explains one of them.
Do you need a prescription for Polaramine in Spain?
Yes. Polaramine tablets, syrup and injection are medicamentos sujetos a prescripción médica. A pharmacy cannot hand them over without a Spanish prescription, including a private electronic one. You can check each product on the AEMPS CIMA database.
Polaracrem cream is different. It is listed on CIMA as a medicine without prescription, so a pharmacist can advise you on it for a small itchy area.
Hives, an itchy rash, or bites that keep swelling?
You can book a video visit with a GP licensed in Spain, in English or Spanish. He looks at the skin, asks about triggers and tells you which antihistamine fits, if any.
Why does Polaramine make you sleepy?
Older antihistamines reach the brain. Newer ones mostly do not. That is why drowsiness is its most common side effect. The leaflet warns:
- Driving: do not drive or use machines if you feel sleepy or slow.
- Alcohol makes the sleepiness stronger. So do sleeping pills, some antidepressants and other sedating medicines.
- MAOI antidepressants: do not take Polaramine with them, or in the two weeks after stopping them.
- People over 60 may feel dizzy or sleepy, or have low blood pressure. That raises the risk of falls.
- Children may react the other way and become restless or nervous.
Who should check with a doctor first?
- People with narrow-angle glaucoma, prostate trouble or difficulty passing urine.
- People with heart disease, high blood pressure or thyroid disease.
- Anyone taking blood thinners by mouth, or several other medicines.
- Pregnancy: it should not be used in the last three months. Earlier, only if a doctor thinks it is needed. If you are breastfeeding, ask first.
- Children: the syrup is not for under-2s and never for newborns. The tablets have not been studied under age 6.
- Anyone due an allergy skin test: stop at least 48 hours before, as it can hide the result.
With the cream: do not use it on broken, blistered or wet skin, near the eyes or on genitals. Keep treated skin out of the sun and do not cover it. Do not use it with an antihistamine by mouth at the same time. See a doctor if the skin is not better after a week.
What Polaramine does not treat
- Anaphylaxis on its own: that needs adrenaline.
- Infected skin: crusts, pus or spreading redness need a doctor.
- Fungal rashes such as ringworm or athlete's foot.
- Colds and flu: it does not fight the virus.
- Long-term eczema on its own: that needs moisturisers and, if prescribed, other creams.
Our allergies page, insect bites page and rash page describe what a doctor looks for.
Side effects and when to see a doctor
The most common side effect is mild to moderate drowsiness. Others include a dry mouth, nose and throat, sweating, chills and skin that reacts to sunlight. Rarely, it causes an allergic reaction itself. See a doctor if:
- Hives last more than a few days or keep coming back.
- You cannot find the trigger, or the itch stops you sleeping.
- A bite becomes hot, painful and red over a growing area.
- You have trouble passing urine, eye pain or blurred vision.
Call 112 if there is swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, wheezing or trouble breathing, a hoarse voice, feeling faint, or hives spreading fast after a sting, food or medicine. If you carry an adrenaline pen, use it first. Do not rely on an antihistamine for these signs.
Talking it through with a doctor by video
Dr. Yelamo is a GP licensed in Spain. He sees adults, children and pregnant patients by video, every day from 07:30 to 20:30 (Spain time). In the visit he will:
- Look at the rash, hives or bite on camera and ask what set it off.
- Check for warning signs that need emergency or in-person care.
- Explain whether a drowsy antihistamine, a newer one, a cream or no medicine at all is the right step.
- Look at your other medicines and your job, for example if you drive for work.
He does not promise any test or prescription before the visit. Where clinically appropriate, following a genuine evaluation. Treatment and prescriptions are issued solely at the doctor's discretion based on evidence-based clinical guidelines.
A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.
See how the Urgent Care video visit works. It lasts 15 minutes and costs €50.
This guide is general information. It does not replace the package leaflet or the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.
Frequently asked questions
What is dexchlorpheniramine?
An older antihistamine. It blocks histamine, the chemical behind itch, hives, sneezing and a runny nose. It is sold in Spain as Polaramine. It often makes people drowsy.
Is Polaramine the same as Piriton?
Not quite, but they are close. Piriton contains chlorphenamine. Polaramine contains dexchlorpheniramine, the active half of the same molecule. Both are drowsy antihistamines.
Do you need a prescription for Polaramine in Spain?
Yes, for the tablets, syrup and injection. The cream with dexchlorpheniramine, Polaracrem, is sold in pharmacies without a prescription.
Can I drive after taking Polaramine?
Not if it makes you drowsy, and it often does. Do not drive or use machines until you know how it affects you. Alcohol makes the drowsiness worse.
Does Polaramine treat anaphylaxis?
No. A severe allergic reaction needs adrenaline and emergency care. Call 112. Doctors may give an antihistamine later, as an extra, once the danger has passed.
Can children take Polaramine?
The syrup is not for children under 2, and the tablets have not been studied in children under 6. Children can become restless on it. Ask a doctor before giving it to a child.
Sources
- AEMPS CIMA: Polaramine tablets leaflet
- AEMPS CIMA: Polaracrem cream leaflet
- NHS: Antihistamines
- MedlinePlus: Chlorpheniramine
- MedlinePlus: Hives
Related guides
Medical Citations & Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following official health authorities.
