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Side Effects of Pseudophedrine

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reports that each year Americans suffer 1 billion colds. Though usually not life threatening, colds cause a number of unpleasant side effects such as congestion, sneezing, sore throat and coughing. There are a number of over-the-counter medications available to help relieve the symptoms of the common cold, including pseudophedrine or pseudoephedrine. Despite its effectiveness, pseudoephedrine is not for everyone since it presents several risks of side effects and complications.

  1. Common Side Effects

    • The most common side effects of pseudoephedrine are not serious and not typically cause to discontinue usage. Unlike other types of cold medications, pseudoephedrine does not cause drowsiness. Instead, the drug has a stimulating effect upon the body. Some people are sensitive to these effects, however, and experience nervousness, restlessness and difficulty sleeping while taking pseudoephedrine.

    Other Side Effects

    • Pseudoephedrine also has the potential to cause a number of other troublesome or annoying, but not dangerous, side effects. Possible neurological side effects include dizziness, headache, trembling and weakness. Some people experience painful or difficult urination while using pseudoephedrine. Gastrointestinal side effects like loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and dry mouth may occur. It is also possible to develop increased sweating or pale skin while taking pseudoephedrine.

    Drug Interactions

    • There are some medications that produce unwanted side effects when used in conjunction with pseudoephedrine. The antibacterial drug, furazolidone, and the antihypertensive drugs, guanethidine and methyldopa, often increase blood pressure levels when combined with pseudoephedrine. Additionally, sodium bicarbonate liquid or tablets taken for indigestion have the potential to cause higher concentrations of pseudoephedrine to be present in your body than usual. As a result, you are more at risk for developing serious side effects from pseudoephedrine. Upon using pseudoephedrine, patients also taking psychiatric MAOI inhibitor drugs often experience severe headaches and dangerous increases in heart rate or blood pressure.

    Risks

    • In addition to minor side effects and the risk of interactions, pseudoephedrine has the potential to cause serious medical complications. In rare instances, pseudoephedrine may cause seizures or hallucinations. Serious cardiovascular side effects of the drug include irregular heartbeat and sudden drops in blood pressure. Additionally, pseudoephedrine usage infrequently leads to respiratory difficulties, such as labored or rapid breathing.

    Considerations

    • Because of its potential to cause complications, pseudoephedrine is typically not an approved treatment for pregnant women. Additionally, children under the age of 3 months should not take pseudoephedrine unless specifically recommended by a doctor. Patients over the age of 65 are more susceptible to side effects such as nervousness and restlessness. If you have a history of hyperthyroidism, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high pressure in your eyes or enlargement of your prostate, you should not take pseudoephedrine without consulting your doctor.

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