Pseudoephedrine, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: decongestant

Generic and brand names: pseudoephedrine, oral; Afrin Tablets; Allermed; Cenafed; Children's Congestion Relief; Children's Silfedrine; Children's Sudafed Liquid; Congestaclear; Congestion Relief; Decofed; Defed-60; Dimetapp Decongestant Liquigels; Dorcol Pediatric Formula; Drixoral Non-Drowsy; Dyna Fed Pseudo; Genaphed; Halofed; Novafed; PediaCare; Pediatric Nasal Decongestant; Pseudo; Pseudotabs; Sinustop Pro; Sudafed; Sudafed 12 Hour; Sudafed S.A.; Sudex Pseudo; SudoGest; SudoGest Plus; Suphedrine; Triaminic AM Decongestant

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to relieve nasal, sinus, and ear congestion due to infections, colds, sinusitis, or allergies such as hay fever.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• an enlarged prostate or trouble urinating
• diabetes
• glaucoma or other eye problems
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• thyroid problems.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider or according to the directions on the package. Do not take more of it or take it more often than directed. Do not take this medicine for more than 5 days without your healthcare provider's approval. Taking too much of this medicine can cause side effects.

Swallow the extended-release capsules and tablets whole. Do not crush or chew them. The contents of the capsules may be mixed with soft food you can swallow without chewing (such as applesauce).

This medicine can cause restlessness or nervousness. Take the last dose of the day a few hours before bedtime to avoid interrupting your sleep at night. Take extended-release products early in the day.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms do not improve in 7 days, if you develop a high fever, or if your symptoms get worse.

This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat), seizures.

Serious (contact your healthcare provider): Fast breathing, increased blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, severe nausea or vomiting.

Other: Nervousness, trouble sleeping, headache, dizziness, sweating, trembling.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• caffeine or stimulants such as diet pills
• dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45)
• herbal remedies such as ephedra, ephedrine, ginseng, green tea, or yohimbe
• linezolid (Zyvox)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take an MAO inhibitor and this medicine within 14 days of each other.)
• methyldopa (Aldomet)
• midodrine (ProAmatine)
• minoxidil (Loniten)
• oxtriphylline (Choledyl)
• pemoline (Cylert)
• procarbazine (Matulane)
• reserpine
• sibutramine (Meridia)
• theophylline.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.