Nostril (Nasal)

Phenylephrine is used to temporarily relieve congestion or stuffiness in the nose caused by hay fever or other allergies, colds, or sinus issues. It may also help relieve congestion in ear infections.

Your doctor may prescribe this medicine for other conditions as well.

This medicine is available without a prescription.

Do not give any over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicine to a baby or child under 4 years of age. Using these medicines in very young children might lead to serious or possibly life-threatening side effects.

In deciding to use a medicine, you need to consider the risks of taking it compared to the benefits it will provide. This decision should be made with your doctor. For this medicine, consider the following:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you've ever had any strange or allergic reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know about any other allergies you have, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, carefully read the label or package ingredients.

Pediatric

Children may be more sensitive to the effects of nasal phenylephrine. This could increase the risk of side effects during treatment.

Do not give any over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicine to a baby or child under 4 years of age. Using these medicines in very young children could cause serious or possibly life-threatening side effects.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been specifically studied in older adults. Therefore, it may not be known if they work the same way in older people as they do in younger adults, or if they cause different side effects or issues in older people. There is no specific information comparing the use of nasal phenylephrine in the elderly with other age groups.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication during breastfeeding. Consider the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might happen. In these situations, your doctor may want to adjust the dose or take other precautions. When taking this medicine, it’s especially important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected based on their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Dihydroergotamine
• Linezolid
• Rasagiline
• Selegiline

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency of one or both of the medicines.

• Ergonovine
• Fentanyl Citrate
• Iobenguane I 123
• Iobenguane I 131
• Methylergonovine
• Midodrine
• Zavegepant

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be taken around the time of eating food or certain types of food due to possible interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. The following interactions have been selected based on their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Be sure to inform your doctor if you have any other medical issues, especially:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus or
• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• High blood pressure or
• Overactive thyroid—Nasal phenylephrine may worsen this condition.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may occur, but if they do, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Symptoms of too much medicine being absorbed into the body

Note: The above side effects are more likely to occur in children because there is a greater chance that too much of this medicine may be absorbed into the body.

• Fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
• Headache or dizziness
• Increased sweating
• Nervousness
• Paleness
• Trembling
• Trouble sleeping

• Increase in runny or stuffy nose

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome, or if you have any questions about them:

• Burning, dryness, or stinging of the inside of the nose

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Neo-Synephrine
• Nostril
• Pretz-D
• Rhinall
• Tur-Bi-Cal
• Vicks Sinex

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution
• Spray

Therapeutic Class: Decongestant

Pharmacologic Class: Adrenergic System

Chemical Class: Alkylarylamine

To use the nose drops:

• Blow your nose gently. Tilt the head back while standing or sitting up, or lie down on a bed and hang head over the side. Place the drops into each nostril and keep the head tilted back for a few minutes to allow the medicine to spread throughout the nose.
• Rinse the dropper with hot water and dry with a clean tissue. Replace the cap right after use.
• To avoid spreading the infection, do not use the container for more than one person.

To use the nose spray:

• Blow your nose gently. With the head upright, spray the medicine into each nostril. Sniff briskly while squeezing the bottle quickly and firmly. For best results, spray once or twice into each nostril and wait 3 to 5 minutes to allow the medicine to work. Then, blow your nose gently and thoroughly. Repeat until the complete dose is used.
• Rinse the tip of the spray bottle with hot water, taking care not to suck water into the bottle, and dry with a clean tissue. Replace the cap right after use.
• To avoid spreading the infection, do not use the container for more than one person.

To use the nose jelly:

• Blow your nose gently. Wash your hands before applying the medicine. With your finger, place a small amount of jelly (about the size of a pea) up each nostril. Sniff it well back into the nose.
• Wipe the tip of the tube with a clean, damp tissue and replace the cap right after use.

Use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for longer than 3 days without first checking with your doctor. To do so may make your runny or stuffy nose worse and may also increase the chance of side effects.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For stuffy nose: For nose jelly dosage form: Adults—Use a small amount in the nose every three or four hours as needed. Children—Use is not recommended. For nose drops dosage form: Adults and children 12 years of age and older—Use two or three drops of a 0.25 to 0.5% solution in the nose every four hours as needed. Children 6 to 12 years of age—Use two or three drops of a 0.25% solution in the nose every four hours as needed. Children 4 to 6 years of age—Use two or three drops of a 0.125 or 0.16% solution in the nose every four hours as needed. Children and infants up to 4 years of age—Use is not recommended. For nose spray dosage form: Adults and children 12 years of age and older—Use two or three sprays of a 0.25 to 0.5% solution in the nose every four hours as needed. Children 6 to 12 years of age—Use two or three sprays of a 0.25% solution in the nose every four hours as needed. Children 4 to 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. Children and infants up to 4 years of age—Use is not recommended.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.