Type of medicine: decongestant
Generic and brand names: pseudoephedrine, oral; Children's Silfedrine; Children's Sudafed; Genaphed; Kidkare Decongestant; Sudafed; Sudafed 12 Hour; Sudafed S.A.; Sudafed 24 Hour; SudoGest; Suphedrine (There may be other brand names for this medicine.)
This medicine is taken by mouth to relieve nasal, sinus, and ear congestion due to infections, colds, sinusitis, or allergies such as hay fever.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Do not take this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor within the last 14 days. Using these products together can cause very serious side effects.
Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
You can buy this medicine without a prescription, but it is usually kept behind the pharmacy counter. Ask the pharmacist about this.
Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider or according to the directions on the package. Do not take more of it or take it more often than directed. Do not take this medicine for more than 7 days without your healthcare provider's approval. Taking too much of this medicine can cause side effects.
Swallow the extended-release capsules and tablets whole. Do not crush or chew them. The contents of the capsules may be mixed with soft food you can swallow without chewing (such as applesauce).
If you are using the liquid form of this medicine, use a specially marked measuring spoon to measure each dose. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.
This medicine can cause restlessness or nervousness. Take the last dose of the day a few hours before bedtime to avoid interrupting your sleep at night. Take extended-release products early in the day.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: restlessness, nervousness, seizures, nausea, vomiting, fast or irregular heartbeat.
Do not give a child under age 4 any cough and cold medicines unless specifically instructed to do so by your healthcare provider. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
Decongestants are contained in many allergy and cold medicines. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much decongestant. To prevent overdose while you are taking this medicine, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider before you take any other nonprescription medicine.
Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms do not improve in 7 days, if you develop a high fever, or if your symptoms get worse.
This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat), seizures.
Serious (contact your healthcare provider): Fast breathing, increased blood pressure, fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, severe nausea or vomiting, severe dizziness or nervousness, confusion, hallucinations, seizures.
Other: Nervousness, trouble sleeping, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, trembling.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
