What makes up sudafed

If you have trouble locating a product, talk to your pharmacist. Pseudoephedrine, an active ingredient in some cold, allergy, and sinus products, can be chemically processed into methamphetamine commonly known as meth.

The objective of the law is to eliminate the use of pseudoephedrine in the illegal production of meth. This can happen when you have: a cold the flu allergies such as hay fever a sinus infection sinusitis You can buy pseudoephedrine from pharmacies and supermarkets. It comes as tablets, capsules and a liquid that you swallow.

Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? Pseudoephedrine usually starts to work in 15 to 30 minutes Common side effects include feeling sick, headaches, a dry mouth, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or increased blood pressure. It might also make you feel restless, nervous or shaky.

Pseudoephedrine is also called by the brand names Sudafed or Galpseud Linctus. Important Do not give pseudoephedrine to children under 6 years. Tell a pharmacist or doctor if you have: ever had an allergic reaction to pseudoephedrine or other medicines in the past high blood pressure hypertension heart disease taken medicines for depression known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs in the last 2 weeks diabetes an overactive thyroid gland hyperthyroidism glaucoma increased pressure in the eye an enlarged prostate men with difficulty peeing or needing to pee often liver or kidney problems.

The usual dose depends on the medicine you're taking. Important If you have bought pseudoephedrine or any medicine containing pseudoephedrine from a pharmacy or supermarket, follow the instructions that come with the packet or ask a pharmacist for advice.

How to take it You can take pseudoephedrine tablets and liquid with or without food. What if I forget to take it? If you forget to take a dose, take the next dose when you need it. Always leave at least 4 hours between doses. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Call for advice now if:. Go to A serious allergic reaction is an emergency. These are not all the side effects of pseudoephedrine. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. What to do about: feeling or being sick — try taking pseudoephedrine with or after a meal or snack. It may also help if you do not eat rich or spicy food. If you have been sick, drink plenty of water by having frequent sips to avoid dehydration.

Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having strong-smelling pee. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask a pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. If your headache does not go away, stop taking pseudoephedrine or see your doctor.

Also call if you have a high fever. If your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. In most states, Sudafed is available over the counter OTC. However, some locations in the United States require a prescription.

The states of Oregon and Mississippi, as well as some cities in Missouri and Tennessee, all require a prescription for Sudafed. The reason for these prescription requirements is that PSE, the main ingredient in Sudafed, is used to make illegal methamphetamine. Also called crystal meth, methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug. These requirements help prevent people from buying Sudafed to make this drug.

Efforts to prevent people from using PSE to make methamphetamine also restrict the sale of Sudafed. It requires you to present a photo ID to buy products that contain pseudoephedrine. It also limits the amount of these products you can buy. In addition, it requires pharmacies to sell any products that contain PSE behind the counter.

You have to get Sudafed from the pharmacy. You also have to show your photo ID to the pharmacist, who is required to track your purchases of products that contain PSE. Sudafed is one of many drug options available today for treating nasal congestion and pressure. If you have further questions about using Sudafed, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

They can help you choose a medication that can help safely relieve nasal symptoms for you or your child. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. This can help your doctor prevent possible interactions. One class of drugs that is known to interact with both pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine is monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs.

This class includes drugs such as:. Ask your doctor about other treatment options. In general, pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine should not be used together. Combining them could lead to increases in both blood pressure and heart rate. However, check with your doctor. Certain medications can make certain conditions or diseases worse. If you have any of the following conditions, you should discuss with your doctor before taking pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine:.

Women should avoid using them during the first trimester of pregnancy and possibly throughout pregnancy. That means these drugs may have side effects in a child who is breastfed by someone who takes these drugs. For example, pseudoephedrine may cause irritability and sleep changes in the child. In the mother, both drugs may decrease milk production. While pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are similar in many ways, they also have some real differences.

These include:.