Phenylephrine

Phenylephrine Brand Names

4-Way Nasal | Ah-Chew D | AK-Dilate | Anu-Med | Biorphen | Formulation R | Gilchew IR | Hemorrhoidal | Little Remedies for Noses | Lusonal | Mydfrin | Nasop | Nasop 12 | Neofrin | Neo-Synephrine | Neo-Synephrine Extra Strength | Neo-Synephrine Mild | Ocu-Phrin | PediaCare Children’s Decongestant | PediaCare Decongestant | PediaCare Infants’ Decongestant | Sinex Nasal | Sudafed PE | Sudafed PE Children’s Nasal Decongestant | Sudafed PE Congestion | Sudafed PE Sinus Congestion | Sudogest PE | Vazculep

What is Phenylephrine

Phenylephrine is a synthetic sympathomimetic amine with selectivity for the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor. Phenylephrine lacks significant inotropic and chronotropic effects.

Phenylephrine is used orally and intranasally to treat nasal congestion and is a common ingredient in nonprescription cough and cold products.

Generally, nonprescription use of phenylephrine as a decongestant is not recommended in pediatric patients younger than 6 years due to adverse effects and fatalities resulting from unintentional overdose or concomitant use of other over-the-counter (OTC) products containing phenylephrine.

Indications

1. eustachian tube congestion
2. hemorrhoids
3. hypotension
4. mydriasis induction
5. nasal congestion
6. paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)
7. regional anesthesia
8. septic shock
9. spinal anesthesia

For mydriasis induction before ophthalmic procedures or examination

Side Effects

1. abdominal pain
2. angina
3. anxiety
4. AV block
5. blurred vision
6. bowel ischemia
7. bradycardia
8. colitis
9. conjunctivitis
10. contact dermatitis
11. diaphoresis
12. dyspnea
13. excitability
14. headache
15. heart failure
16. hypertension
17. injection site reaction
18. intracranial bleeding
19. mydriasis
20. myocardial infarction
21. nasal congestion
22. nasal irritation
23. nausea
24. ocular pain
25. pallor
26. paresthesias
27. photophobia
28. pruritus
29. pulmonary edema
30. restlessness
31. rhinitis
32. sinus tachycardia
33. skin discoloration
34. syncope
35. tissue necrosis
36. tremor
37. ventricular tachycardia
38. visual impairment
39. vomiting

Monitoring Parameters

• blood pressure
• heart rate

Contraindications

• aneurysm
• angina
• arteriosclerosis
• autonomic neuropathy
• breast-feeding
• cardiac disease
• cerebrovascular disease
• children
• contact lenses
• cyclopropane anesthesia
• diabetes mellitus
• extravasation
• geriatric
• halothane anesthesia
• heart failure
• hepatic disease
• hypertension
• hyperthyroidism
• infants
• intracranial bleeding
• labor
• MAOI therapy
• neonates
• obstetric delivery
• ocular surgery
• organic brain syndrome
• peripheral vascular disease
• phenylketonuria
• pregnancy
• prostatic hypertrophy
• pulmonary hypertension
• renal failure
• requires an experienced clinician
• shock
• stroke
• sulfite hypersensitivity
• thyrotoxicosis
• urinary retention
• ventricular tachycardia

Interactions

• Acarbose
• Acebutolol
• Acetaminophen; Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine
• Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine
• Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
• Acetaminophen; Caffeine
• Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
• Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Magnesium Salicylate; Phenyltoloxamine
• Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Phenyltoloxamine; Salicylamide
• Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Pseudoephedrine
• Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Pseudoephedrine
• Acetaminophen; Pseudoephedrine
• Aclidinium; Formoterol
• Acrivastine; Pseudoephedrine
• Albiglutide
• Albuterol
• Albuterol; Ipratropium
• Aliskiren; Amlodipine
• Aliskiren; Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Aliskiren; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Alogliptin; Metformin
• Alogliptin; Pioglitazone
• Alpha-blockers
• Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors
• Alprazolam
• Ambrisentan
• Amiloride
• Amiloride; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
• Amiodarone
• Amitriptyline; Chlordiazepoxide
• Amlodipine
• Amlodipine; Atorvastatin
• Amlodipine; Benazepril
• Amlodipine; Celecoxib
• Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Olmesartan
• Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Valsartan
• Amlodipine; Olmesartan
• Amlodipine; Telmisartan
• Amlodipine; Valsartan
• Amoxapine
• Angiotensin II receptor antagonists
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• Arformoterol
• Articaine; Epinephrine
• Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine
• Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
• Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
• Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Orphenadrine
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• Bromocriptine
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• Brompheniramine; Pseudoephedrine
• Budesonide
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