Allergy Drugs: Decongestants
Pseudoephedrine
Actifed Daytime Allergy
Cenafed, Decofed
Dimetapp Decongestant Pediatric
Dimetapp Maximum Strength 12-Hour Non-Drowsy Extentabs
Dimetapp Maximum Strength Non-Drowsy Liqui-Gels
Dorcol Children’s Decongestant
Efidac 24-Hour Relief
Genaphed
Kid Kare
PediaCare Infants Decongestant
Silfedrine Children’s
Simply Stuffy
Sinustop
Sudafed Children’s Non-Drowsy
Triaminic Allergy Congestion
HOW DO THESE DRUGS WORK?
Decongestants work by constricting blood vessels of the nose, which reduces swelling and stuffiness.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
Reduction of nasal and sinus stuffiness and sinus pain.
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea, stomach upset
- Restlessness or nervousness
MAJOR CAUTIONS
- Anxiety
- Fast or irregular heartbeat, palpitations
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased sweating
- Pain or difficulty passing urine
- Sleeplessness (insomnia)
- Tremor
- Vomiting
- Chest pain
- Bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain
- Confusion
- Dizziness or fainting spells
- Hallucinations
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- Rapid or troubled breathing
- Seizures (convulsions)
- Severe, persistent, or worsening headache
KNOWN DRUG INTERACTIONS
- Ammonium chloride
- Amphetamine or other stimulant drugs
- Bicarbonate, citrate, or acetate products (such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, sodium lactate, and potassium citrate)
- Bromocriptine (Parlodel)
- Cocaine
- Furazolidone (Furoxone)
- Linezolid (Zyvox)
- Some cough and cold medicines
- Diabetic medications
- Antidepressants including MAO inhibitors such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), isocarboxazid (Marplan), and selegiline (Carbex, Eldepryl)
- Migraine medications such as amitriptyline (Elavil)
- Procarbazine (Matulane)
- Cardiovascular medications for high blood pressure, chest pain, heart arrhythmias
- Theophylline (Theo-Dur, Respbid, Slo-Bid, Theo-24, Theolair, Uniphyl, Slo-Phyllin)
- Thyroid hormones
FOOD OR SUPPLEMENT INTERACTIONS
- Caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, guarana)
- St. John’s wort
- High-tannin-containing herbs may interfere with absorption. Examples include green tea, black tea, uva ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), black walnut (Juglans nigra), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus), oak (Quercus spp.), and witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana).
NUTRIENT DEPLETION/IMBALANCE
Folic acid – take 400 micrograms as part of a multivitamin or B complex.
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Tags: acetate, allergy, bicarbonate, blood, chest, citrate, decongestant, dimetapp, drowsy, drugs, interactions, medications, sinus, sodium