What is Pseudoephedrine?
Category: Over the Counter Drugs
Most popular types: Sudafed Sudafed 12-Hour SudoGest Show all
See also: Acetaminophen (paracetamol)-diphenhydramine-pseudoephedrine Acetaminophen (paracetamol)-pseudoephedrine Advil Multi-Symptom Cold Bayer Select Decongestant Bromfed DM Brompheniramine-dihydrocodeine-pseudoephedrine Brompheniramine-pseudoephedrine Chlorpheniramine-pseudoephedrine Guaifenesin-pseudoephedrine Ibuprofen-chlorpheniramine-pseudoephedrine Ibuprofen-Pseudoephedrine Mucinex D Mucinex D Max Strength Poly-vent Tavist Allergy/Sinus/Headache Tylenol Complete Zyrtec-D
Pseudoephedrine is a nasal decongestant. It works by causing narrowing of the blood vessels in the nasal passages. It is used to relieve nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies, and hay fever, and sinus congestion and pressure.
| Purpose | Patients | Evaluations | Perceived Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal congestion | 27 | 10 | |
| Sinus congestion | 11 | 3 | |
| Sinus headaches | 5 | 3 | |
| Fatigue | 3 | 0 | |
| Excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence) | 2 | 1 |
- Major
- Moderate
- Slight
- None
- Can't tell
Side effects
Side effects as an overall problem
| Severity | Evaluations | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 4 | |
| Moderate | 8 | |
| Mild | 10 | |
| None | 16 |
Commonly reported side effects and conditions associated with Pseudoephedrine
| Side effect | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Jittery feeling | 2 | |
| Anxious mood | 1 | |
| Chronic constipation | 1 | |
| Dry mouth | 1 | |
| Dry nasal passages | 1 | |
| Fatigue | 1 |
Why patients stopped taking Pseudoephedrine
Multiple reasons could be selected
| Reason | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Course of treatment ended | 14 | |
| Other | 10 | |
| Doctor's advice | 5 | |
| Side effects too severe | 3 | |
| Change in health plan coverage | 1 | |
| Did not seem to work | 1 | |
| Personal research | 1 |
Duration
Stopped taking Pseudoephedrine
| Duration | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 month | 9 | |
| 1 - 6 months | 3 | |
| 6 months - 1 year | 4 | |
| 1 - 2 years | 4 | |
| 2 - 5 years | 4 | |
| 5 - 10 years | 3 | |
| 10 years or more | 4 |