What's in Ninjacof? A Detailed Look at Ingredients and Formulations

October 6, 2025 •

4 min read

Ninjacof is a brand name for several liquid formulations used to treat cold and allergy symptoms, with the specific ingredients varying significantly between products. Understanding what's in Ninjacof is crucial for safe and effective use, especially since some versions contain different active ingredients, such as a decongestant or a pain reliever.

Quick Summary

Ninjacof is a family of combination medicines, with common active ingredients including chlophedianol (a cough suppressant) and pyrilamine (an antihistamine). Specific formulations may also add pseudoephedrine for decongestion or acetaminophen for pain and fever relief.

Key Points

Variable Ingredients: Ninjacof is a brand with multiple formulations, and the active ingredients differ between products like Ninjacof, Ninjacof-D, and Ninjacof-A.
Cough Suppressant: Most Ninjacof products contain chlophedianol, a non-opioid cough suppressant that works on the brain's cough center.
Antihistamine: The standard and most variants of Ninjacof include pyrilamine, an antihistamine that reduces sneezing, a runny nose, and watery eyes.
Decongestant: Ninjacof-D specifically includes pseudoephedrine, which helps relieve nasal congestion and sinus pressure.
Pain and Fever Relief: Ninjacof-A contains acetaminophen to address aches, pains, and fever, in addition to cold symptoms.
Potential for Drowsiness: The antihistamine and cough suppressant can cause significant drowsiness, so caution is advised when driving or operating machinery.
Overdose Risk: Avoid taking multiple cold products simultaneously, as they may contain overlapping active ingredients, leading to accidental overdose.

Deconstructing the Ninjacof Formulations

Ninjacof is not a single product but rather a brand with several different liquid formulations, each containing a specific combination of active ingredients designed to address varying symptoms of the common cold, allergies, and upper respiratory issues. For safe and effective use, it is essential to identify the exact formulation being considered, as the active components and potential side effects will differ. The most common variations are the standard Ninjacof, Ninjacof-D, and Ninjacof-A.

Core Ingredients in Standard Ninjacof

The standard Ninjacof formulation is a combination of a cough suppressant and an antihistamine, making it suitable for relieving cough and allergy-related symptoms.

Chlophedianol Hydrochloride: This ingredient acts as an antitussive, or cough suppressant. It works by affecting the cough control center in the brain to reduce the urge to cough, providing relief from minor throat and bronchial irritation. Unlike some other cough medicines, chlophedianol is a non-opioid suppressant.
Pyrilamine Maleate: As an antihistamine, pyrilamine blocks the action of histamine, a natural chemical in the body that causes sneezing, a runny nose, itchy throat, and watery eyes. It also has a drying effect, which helps to reduce nasal secretions.

What's in Ninjacof-D?

Ninjacof-D is an enhanced formulation that includes a third active ingredient to specifically target nasal congestion.

Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride: This is a nasal decongestant that works by narrowing the blood vessels in the nasal passages and sinuses. This action reduces swelling and inflammation, providing relief from a stuffy nose and sinus pressure. Because it can be misused, pseudoephedrine-containing products are often sold behind the pharmacy counter, and purchase may require photo identification and a signature.
Chlophedianol Hydrochloride: Same as the standard formula, this is the non-opioid cough suppressant.
Pyrilamine Maleate: The antihistamine component remains consistent with the standard formulation.

What's in Ninjacof-A?

Ninjacof-A is another variant that addresses pain and fever in addition to cough and allergy symptoms.

Acetaminophen: This well-known medication is a pain reliever and fever reducer. The addition of acetaminophen helps to relieve minor aches, pains, headaches, and fever that can accompany a cold or respiratory illness.
Chlophedianol Hydrochloride: Provides the cough-suppressing effects.
Pyrilamine Maleate: Acts as the antihistamine to combat sneezing and a runny nose.

Common and Potential Side Effects

Because Ninjacof products contain multiple active ingredients, they can cause various side effects, especially when combined with other medications or alcohol. Common side effects often include:

Drowsiness or sleepiness: Particularly due to the antihistamine (pyrilamine) and cough suppressant (chlophedianol) components.
Dizziness and blurred vision.
Dry mouth: A frequent side effect of antihistamines.
Excitability or restlessness: This can sometimes occur in children, especially with the added pseudoephedrine in Ninjacof-D.
Upset stomach or constipation.

More serious side effects can result from an overdose or interaction with other drugs. Patients should seek immediate medical attention if they experience severe drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, or a rapid/irregular heartbeat.

Important Precautions and Warnings

When taking any Ninjacof product, it is vital to follow the instructions and be aware of potential drug interactions and contraindications. Key precautions include:

Do not mix medications: Taking multiple products containing similar active ingredients (e.g., another antihistamine or cough suppressant) can lead to an accidental overdose.
Avoid alcohol: Alcohol can worsen drowsiness caused by the antihistamine and antitussive.
Avoid certain medications: Ninjacof-D should not be taken with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), often used for depression, due to risk of severe side effects. Consult a doctor or pharmacist about any medications that cause drowsiness, such as sedatives or other pain relievers.
Driving and operating machinery: Because of the risk of drowsiness and dizziness, do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you understand how the medication affects you.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: The safety of Ninjacof for pregnant or breastfeeding women is not well-established. Some ingredients, like pseudoephedrine, may pose risks, and healthcare professionals should be consulted.
Underlying health conditions: Individuals with certain conditions, such as glaucoma, an enlarged prostate, heart disease, or high blood pressure, should consult a doctor before use, especially when taking a decongestant-containing formula.

Comparison of Ninjacof Formulations


Feature	Ninjacof	Ninjacof-D	Ninjacof-A
Active Ingredients	Chlophedianol HCl, Pyrilamine Maleate	Chlophedianol HCl, Pyrilamine Maleate, Pseudoephedrine HCl	Acetaminophen, Chlophedianol HCl, Pyrilamine Maleate
Key Benefit	Relieves cough, sneezing, and runny nose.	Relieves cough, sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion.	Relieves cough, sneezing, runny nose, pain, and fever.
Primary Function	Antitussive (cough suppressant) & Antihistamine	Antitussive, Antihistamine, & Decongestant	Pain Reliever, Antitussive, & Antihistamine
Availability	Over-the-counter (OTC)	Over-the-counter (OTC) but often restricted to behind-the-counter	Over-the-counter (OTC)
Common Side Effects	Sleepiness, dizziness, dry mouth	Sleepiness, dizziness, dry mouth, excitability (especially in children)	Drowsiness, dizziness, liver warning with acetaminophen
Specific Warnings	Avoid with other antihistamines.	Caution with high blood pressure, thyroid disease.	Contains acetaminophen; avoid with other acetaminophen products.

Conclusion

In summary, what's in Ninjacof depends entirely on the specific product. While the standard Ninjacof contains a cough suppressant (chlophedianol) and an antihistamine (pyrilamine), variations like Ninjacof-D and Ninjacof-A add a decongestant (pseudoephedrine) and a pain reliever (acetaminophen), respectively. These different formulations are tailored to address a wider range of symptoms associated with cold and allergies. Patients should always carefully read the label to ensure they are taking the correct product for their symptoms and to be aware of the active ingredients and potential side effects, especially concerning drowsiness and drug interactions. If symptoms persist for more than a week, or if severe side effects occur, it is essential to consult a healthcare provider. For detailed drug label information, you can consult reliable sources like the FDA's DailyMed website.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the standard Ninjacof and its common variations like Ninjacof-D do not contain codeine. Some rare or prescription-only versions, such as Ninjacof-XG, might contain codeine, so it's critical to check the specific product label.

Yes, many Ninjacof products are available over-the-counter (OTC). However, certain formulations like Ninjacof-D, which contain pseudoephedrine, are often sold behind the pharmacy counter due to regulations and may require identification for purchase.

Yes, standard Ninjacof and Ninjacof-D often cause drowsiness due to the antihistamine pyrilamine and cough suppressant chlophedianol. This effect may be worsened by alcohol or other sedative medications.

Use of Ninjacof in children requires caution and is not typically recommended for those under 6 years of age without a doctor's consultation. Certain ingredients, like pseudoephedrine, can cause excitability in children. Always use a calibrated measuring device for proper dosage.

The key difference is that Ninjacof-D contains an additional ingredient, pseudoephedrine, which is a nasal decongestant. The standard Ninjacof does not include a decongestant.

You should not take Ninjacof with other medications that contain similar active ingredients (e.g., other antihistamines, cough suppressants, or decongestants) to prevent an accidental overdose. Always read product labels carefully and consult a pharmacist if you are unsure.

Ninjacof is intended for temporary symptom relief. Do not use it for more than 7 days without consulting a doctor. If symptoms worsen, persist, or are accompanied by a fever or rash, seek medical advice.