Details

Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose). Phenylephrine is used to treat nasal and sinus congestion, or congestion of the tubes that drain fluid from your inner ears, called the eustachian tubes. Do not use phenylephrine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. Ask a doctor if it is safe for you to take phenylephrine if you have heart disease or high blood pressure diabetes or a thyroid disorder. Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are pregnant.

Typical Uses

Phenylephrine is used for the temporary relief of stuffy nose, sinus, and ear symptoms caused by the common cold, flu, allergies, or other breathing illnesses (e.g., sinusitis, bronchitis). This medication works by decreasing swelling in the nose and ears, thereby lessening discomfort and making it easier to breathe.

Side Effects

Stop using phenylephrine and inform your doctor at once if you have fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat severe dizziness or anxiety easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms or dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, ringing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, trouble breathing, uneven heart rate, seizure). Other side effects of phenylephrine may include loss of appetite warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin feeling restless or excited (especially in children) sleep problems (insomnia) or skin rash or itching.

Drug Interactions

• Phenylephrine+amitriptyline- Amitriptyline should not be used with phenylephrine except in cases of emergency. If your doctor wants you to take this combination a dosage adjustment may be necessary. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.
• Phenylephrine+amoxapine- Phenylephrine should not be used with amoxapine except in cases of emergency. If your doctor wants you to take this combination a dosage adjustment may be necessary. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.
• Phenylephrine+clomipramine- Phenylephrine should not be used with clomipramine except in cases of emergency. If your doctor wants you to take this combination a dosage adjustment may be necessary. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.
• Phenylephrine+desipramine- Desipramine should not be used with phenylephrine except in cases of emergency. If your doctor wants you to take this combination a dosage adjustment may be necessary. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.
• Phenylephrine+phenelzine- Using phenelzine together with phenylephrine is not recommended. Combining these medications can cause dangerously high blood pressure and even death. You may use phenylephrine only after you have been off phenelzine for at least 14 days.

Mechanism of action

Phenylephrine stimulates receptors on blood vessels and leads to constriction of blood vessels. This leads to decrease in the flow of blood in the blood vessels of nose, which in turn relieves nasal congestion.

Pregnancy Category : C