phenylephrine (cont.)

What is phenylephrine (Ah-Chew D, Dimetapp Cold Drops, Lusonal, Nasop, Nasop12, PediaCare Children's Decongestant, Phenyl-T, Sudafed PE, Sudafed PE Children's Nasal Decongestant, Sudafed PE Quick Dissolve, Sudogest PE, Triaminic Thin Strips Cold)?
What are the possible side effects of phenylephrine?
What is the most important information I should know about phenylephrine?
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking phenylephrine?
How should I use phenylephrine?
What happens if I miss a dose?
What happens if I overdose?
What should I avoid while using phenylephrine?
What other drugs will affect phenylephrine?
Where can I get more information?

What happens if I miss a dose?

Cold medicine is usually taken only as needed, so you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include feeling restless or nervous, severe dizziness, sweating, vomiting, hallucinations, fast or uneven heart rate, fainting, seizure (convulsions), and weak or shallow breathing.

What should I avoid while using phenylephrine?

Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or cough medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Phenylephrine is contained in many medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much phenylephrine. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains phenylephrine or another decongestant.

Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications) without your doctor's advice. Taking a stimulant together with a decongestant can increase your risk of unpleasant side effects.

Avoid smoking. It can add to the effects of phenylephrine in decreasing blood flow, which can lead to uncomfortable symptoms.

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking phenylephrine.

What other drugs will affect phenylephrine?

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

other decongestants, including nasal sprays;
digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
medicine to treat diabetes;
medicines to treat high blood pressure such as reserpine, methyldopa (Aldomet), and others;
migraine headache medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar), naratriptan (Amerge), sumatriptan (Imitrex) or zolmitriptan (Zomig);
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), and others;
a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol (Betapace), and others; or
a calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with phenylephrine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about phenylephrine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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