Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause?
What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names Brand names of combination products. Swallow the extended-release tablets whole; do not break, crush, or chew them. Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow? Before taking pseudoephedrine, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to pseudoephedrine, any other medications, or any of the inactive ingredients in the pseudoephedrine product you plan to take.
Check the package label for a list of the ingredients. Be sure to mention medications for diet or appetite control, asthma, colds, or high blood pressure. If you plan to take the hour extended-release tablets, tell your doctor if you have had a narrowing or blockage of your digestive system.
If you become pregnant while taking pseudoephedrine, call your doctor. Pseudoephedrine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: restlessness nausea vomiting weakness headache Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: nervousness dizziness difficulty sleeping stomach pain difficulty breathing fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat Pseudoephedrine may cause other side effects.
What other information should I know? Pseudoephedrine is also classified as an alpha-adrenoceptor and beta-adrenoceptor agonist. Alpha and beta refer to the types of nerve receptors that control the constriction of smooth muscles, such as those in blood vessels.
By activating these receptors, pseudoephedrine causes vasoconstriction the narrowing of blood vessels. Because these receptors are not only located in nasal passages, pseudoephedrine can cause the constriction of other smooth muscles, stimulates the heart rate, and slows parts of the digestive tract.
If overused, pseudoephedrine can cause vomiting, arrhythmia irregular heartbeat , dyspnea shortness of breath , tachycardia rapid heartbeat , bradycardia slow heartbeat , seizures, and hallucinations. Call your healthcare provider or seek emergency care if you experience any of these symptoms. Pseudoephedrine is contraindicated for use in certain people in whom treatment may pose health risks.
It should never be used if:. Notify your healthcare provider and pharmacist if you have any of these conditions. On March 9, , President George W. Pseudoephedrine can be chemically altered to make methamphetamine.
These can then be swallowed, inhaled, injected, or smoked to get the stimulant high. Under the law, you do not need a prescription to purchase pseudoephedrine. However, you must present a driver's license or other government-issued ID to register and track the purchase.
You should not worry about providing this information unless you are buying mass quantities of pseudoephedrine, as it takes between and 1, pills to make a half a gram to 1 gram methamphetamine. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.
Updated February 15, National Library of Medicine DailyMed. You can take pseudoephedrine tablets and liquid with or without food. Always take the tablets with a glass of water.
Liquid medicines containing pseudoephedrine come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure out the right dose. If you do not have a syringe or spoon, ask a pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as you will not get the right amount. It can make you restless or your heartbeat fast, and make you feel sick or vomit.
You may also have difficulty peeing. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance. Take the pseudoephedrine packet or leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you.
Like all medicines, pseudoephedrine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor if any of these side effects bother you or will not go away:.
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is not recommended in pregnancy because it can reduce the blood flow in the placenta and to the baby. Pseudoephedrine is not recommended to take while you're breastfeeding. It passes into breast milk, but only in small amounts that are not harmful to the baby. Pseudoephedrine can reduce the amount of milk you make, especially if you have not been breastfeeding for long.
If you're taking pseudoephedrine mixed with other medicines, you must check with a pharmacist or doctor whether it's safe to breastfeed. Some medicines and pseudoephedrine interfere with each other and increase the chances of you having side effects. Pseudoephedrine is sometimes mixed with painkillers, such as cough and cold remedies. Before taking any other medicines, check the label to see if they contain aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen. There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with pseudoephedrine.
Tell a doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements. Pseudoephedrine works by reducing the swelling of blood vessels in your nose.
This helps mucus and air flow more freely in the cavities in your nose sinuses , helping you to breathe more easily. Pseudoephedrine starts to work in 15 to 30 minutes, but you should feel a lot better after 30 to 60 minutes.
Pseudoephedrine can be taken for a few days, usually up to 5 to 7 days, for the short-term relief of a stuffy or blocked nose.
Decongestants should only be used for a short time, usually less than 10 days. Only take pseudoephedrine for longer than 10 days if a doctor has said it's OK. Artificially sweetened liquid medicine may contain phenylalanine. Check the medication label if you have phenylketonuria PKU.
It is not known whether pseudoephedrine will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are pregnant. It is not known whether pseudoephedrine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby.
Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are breast-feeding a baby. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Avoid taking this medication if you also take diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants such as ADHD medications.
Taking a stimulant together with a decongestant can increase your risk of unpleasant side effects. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cough or cold medicine. Many combination medicines contain pseudoephedrine or another decongestant. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of this type of medicine. Use Pseudoephedrine Sudafed exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
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