Precautions:
Before taking phenylephrine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to pseudoephedrine/ephedrine; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: blood vessel problems (e.g., Raynaud’s disease, low blood flow to the brain/legs/hands), high blood pressure, diabetes, glaucoma, heart disease (e.g., angina, fast/irregular heartbeat, heart failure), mental/mood disorders (e.g., anxiety, bipolar disorder, mania), difficulty sleeping, seizure disorder, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), trouble urinating (e.g., due to enlarged prostate).
This drug may make you dizzy or lightheaded. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages.
Liquid products, chewable tablets, or dissolving tablets/strips may contain sugar or aspartame. Liquid products may also contain alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence, liver disease, phenylketonuria (PKU), or any other condition that requires you to limit/avoid these substances in your diet. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product safely.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially fast/irregular heartbeat, dizziness, problems urinating, trouble sleeping, or confusion.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
This medication may pass into breast milk. Though there have been no reports of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Interactions:
If this product has been prescribed, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before treatment with this medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this medication.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: blood pressure medications (especially reserpine, guanethidine, methyldopa, beta blockers such as atenolol, or calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine), other decongestants (taken by mouth or applied in the nose), digoxin, tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, imipramine).
This medication may worsen the serious side effects of some medications used for migraine headaches (e.g., sumatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan, ergotamine). Consult your pharmacist or doctor for more details.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.