Advil Allergy Sinus
Advil Allergy Sinus is an over-the-counter allergy and cold medication. It contains three active ingredients: ibuprofen (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID), pseudoephedrine (a decongestant), and chlorpheniramine (an antihistamine). Advil Allergy Sinus helps with allergy and cold symptoms. These include stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and minor aches and pains. The dosage for people ages 12 years and older is 1 caplet by mouth every 4 to 6 hours when they have symptoms. Side effects include dizziness, constipation, and sleepiness.
What is Advil Allergy Sinus?
What is Advil Allergy Sinus used for?
Short-term relief of symptoms from allergies or the common cold:
Runny nose
Stuffy nose
Itchy nose or throat
Sneezing
Itchy or watery eyes
Sinus pressure
Headache
Minor aches and pains
Fever
How Advil Allergy Sinus works
Advil Allergy Sinus is a combination of three medications. They work together to relieve symptoms caused by allergies and the common cold.
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by blocking proteins in the body called cyclooxygenase (COX). This helps reduce pain and swelling related to minor aches, headache, and fever.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant. It helps clear stuffy nose and sinuses by making the blood vessels around them narrower.
Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine. It works by blocking histamine, a natural chemical in the body that causes allergy and cold symptoms. This helps relieve symptoms like stuffy nose, sneezing, and watery eyes.
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What are the side effects of Advil Allergy Sinus?
Other Side Effects
- Nervousness
- Trouble sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Swelling in legs
Serious Side Effects
- Stomach bleeding: feeling faint, vomiting blood, bloody or dark stools, severe stomach pain or discomfort
- Heart attack: chest pain or tightness; pain that spreads to your shoulder, arm, neck, or jaw; shortness of breath; sweating
- Stroke: weakness on one side of your body or face, slurred speech, severe headache, trouble speaking or walking
- Allergic reaction: hives, rash, skin reddening, blisters, swelling of the lips or tongue, trouble breathing, wheezing
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Bleeding—bloody or black, tar-like stools, vomiting blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds, red or dark brown urine, small red or purple spots on skin, unusual bruising or bleeding
- Heart attack—pain or tightness in the chest, shoulders, arms, or jaw, nausea, shortness of breath, cold or clammy skin, feeling faint or lightheaded
- Heart failure—shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands, sudden weight gain, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Heart palpitations—rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
- Increase in blood pressure
- Kidney injury—decrease in the amount of urine, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes
- Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
- Round red or dark patches on the skin that may itch, burn, and blister
- Stroke—sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, trouble speaking, confusion, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache, change in vision
- Sudden eye pain or change in vision such as blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss
- Trouble passing urine
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Anxiety, nervousness
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
Pros and cons of Advil Allergy Sinus
Pros
Can help with different allergy and cold symptoms at the same time
Convenient to take three medications in one pill
Available over the counter
Cons
Might need to take every 4 to 6 hours for lasting symptom relief
Hard to customize the dose since Advil Allergy Sinus is a fixed-dose combination
Might not be a good option if you're allergic to aspirin or other NSAIDs
Pharmacist tips for Advil Allergy Sinus
Take Advil Allergy Sinus with or without food. If the medication upsets your stomach, try taking it with food or milk next time to help.
You can take Advil Allergy Sinus as you need it for relieving cold and allergy symptoms. Taking the medication every 4 to 6 hours when you're having symptoms might help give you the most relief. Don't take it any more often than every 4 hours because of the risk of side effects.
Advil Allergy Sinus is only for short-term use to help with cold or allergy symptoms. Stop taking it and call your primary care provider if you have a fever for more than 3 days or a stuffy nose for more than 7 days. Call your primary care provider if your symptoms get worse so they can check what might be going on.
Also stop taking Advil Allergy Sinus and call your primary care provider if you notice redness or swelling in the painful area. Also call them if you have any new symptoms. Your care team can see if something else is causing the problem.
Stop taking Advil Allergy Sinus and talk to a healthcare professional if you get dizzy, nervous, or have trouble sleeping after you take it. These might be side effects from the ingredients in Advil Allergy Sinus like pseudoephedrine. Your care team can suggest other options if these side effects are severe and bother you a lot.
Some people might feel dizzy or drowsy after they take Advil Allergy Sinus. Make sure you know how the medication affects you before driving or using heavy machines.
Advil Allergy Sinus might cause children to become very excited or energetic. Stop giving your child this medication and speak to a pediatrician if this happens to your child.
Avoid drinking alcohol while you're taking Advil Allergy Sinus. Alcohol can make it more likely for you to feel sleepy from the medication. Drinking alcohol often can also raise your risk of stomach bleeding while taking Advil Allergy Sinus.
Ask a member of your care team if Advil Allergy Sinus is safe for you if you're taking other medications. The active ingredients in Advil Allergy Sinus can interact with many medications. Some examples include other NSAIDs, antihistamines, blood thinners, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
If you take aspirin for your heart, ask your prescriber if it's safe to take it with Advil Allergy Sinus. They can tell you the best way to take both medications to avoid interactions.
Frequently asked questions about Advil Allergy Sinus
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What are the risks and warnings for Advil Allergy Sinus?
Advil Allergy Sinus can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk for stomach bleeding
Risk factors: Age 60 years and up | History of stomach ulcers | History of bleeding problems | Taking another NSAID or aspirin at the same time | Taking other medications that raise your risk of bleeds (e.g., oral corticosteroids, blood thinners) | Having 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day | Taking more Advil Allergy Sinus than recommended | Taking Advil Allergy Sinus for longer than recommended
Advil Allergy Sinus contains ibuprofen. Ibuprofen can raise the risk of stomach problems like inflammation and bleeding. These can be serious.
These stomach problems can happen with or without warning while you're taking Advil Allergy Sinus. Your risk for stomach bleeds is even higher if you also take blood thinners or other medications that can cause bleeding.
Tell your care team about your health conditions and any medications you take before using Advil Allergy Sinus. They can check your risk for stomach bleeding.
Stomach bleeding might not always cause symptoms. But get medical help right away if you feel faint, have severe stomach pain that won't go away, vomit blood, or have bloody or dark stools.
Risk for heart attack, stroke, or heart failure
Risk factors: Heart problems | Having risk factors for heart problems | Past or planned heart surgery | Taking higher doses of Advil Allergy Sinus | Taking Advil Allergy Sinus for a long time
Advil Allergy Sinus contains ibuprofen, which can raise your risk of blood clots. Blood clots can sometimes lead to a life-threatening heart attack or stroke. Ibuprofen can also possibly raise the risk of heart failure.
If you have heart problems, talk to a healthcare professional before taking Advil Allergy Sinus to make sure it's safe for you. Don't take this medication if you've recently had or will have heart surgery. Your risk for clots is much higher after surgery.
Contact your care team if you have signs of heart failure like swelling in your ankles or feet, extreme tiredness, or trouble breathing. Call 911 if you have signs of a heart attack. This can include chest pain that spreads to your arm or neck, shortness of breath, or sweating. Also get medical help right away if you have a sudden severe headache, weakness on one side of your body, a drooping face, or trouble speaking or walking. These could be signs of a stroke.
Severe allergic reactions
Risk factors: Allergy to aspirin | Allergy to NSAIDs
Some people can have a severe allergic reaction to Advil Allergy Sinus. This can be life-threatening and cause swelling in the face, shock, or anaphylaxis. Although rare, it's also possible to have a serious skin reaction. Don't take Advil Allergy Sinus if you're allergic to aspirin or other NSAIDs because you could have a reaction.
Get medical help right away if you notice hives, rash, red or peeling skin, or blisters. Also call 911 right away if you have swelling of the lips or tongue, and trouble breathing. These are signs of an allergic reaction.
Worsening of certain medical conditions
Risk factors: History of serious side effects from other pain relievers | Stomach problems (e.g., heartburn) | Liver problems | Kidney problems | Heart disease | High blood pressure | Breathing problems (e.g., asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis) | Thyroid problems | Diabetes | Glaucoma | Urinary conditions
Before taking Advil Allergy Sinus, talk to a pharmacist or primary care provider if you have any health problems. They can help make sure that this medication is safe for you.
People 65 years and older might feel side effects from Advil Allergy Sinus more strongly. Also, you might be at higher risk of complications if you have liver problems, kidney problems, heart disease, or high blood pressure. This medication might also make certain conditions worse. These can include glaucoma, stomach issues, breathing problems like asthma, or trouble urinating.
Accidentally taking too much medication (overdose)
Advil Allergy Sinus contains ibuprofen (an NSAID), pseudoephedrine (a decongestant), and chlorpheniramine (an antihistamine). Many other over-the-counter and prescription medications have similar ingredients.
Taking more than one product with the same or similar ingredients can raise the risk of serious side effects. These can include daytime sleepiness, stomach bleed, heart attack, or stroke. This can happen if you take multiple antihistamines or NSAIDs by mistake.
To prevent an accidental overdose, check medication labels carefully. Ask a healthcare professional if you're not sure if your medications are safe to take together. If you think you or someone else accidentally took too much, get medical help or contact a Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
Harm to an unborn baby
Risk factors: Currently in second or third trimester of pregnancy
Advil Allergy Sinus contains ibuprofen. It can be harmful to an unborn baby, especially if it's taken in the second half of pregnancy (after week 20). It can raise the risk of serious problems, like heart or kidney issues in the baby. The medication might also cause problems during delivery.
Talk to a healthcare professional, like a pharmacist or an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN), about the risks and benefits of taking Advil Allergy Sinus while pregnant. Ask if there are safer options for allergy and cold symptoms.
Advil Allergy Sinus dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200mg/30mg/2mg | 40 tablets | $40.80 | $1.02 |
Typical dosing for Advil Allergy Sinus
Each caplet contains 200 mg of ibuprofen, 30 mg of pseudoephedrine, and 2 mg of chlorpheniramine.
Adults and children 12 years and up: The typical dose is 1 caplet by mouth every 4 to 6 hours while you're having symptoms. Don't take more than 6 caplets in a 24-hour period unless a healthcare professional told you it's okay.
Children under 12 years of age: Don't use. Ask your child's pediatrician or primary care provider for safer options.
How much does Advil Allergy Sinus cost?
Advil Allergy Sinus contraindications
Children younger than 12 years old
Have had an allergic reaction to aspirin, another NSAID, or other pain and fever reliever
Right before or after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), a type of open heart surgery
Currently take or have taken an MAOI in the last 2 weeks
What are alternatives to Advil Allergy Sinus?
Short-term relief of symptoms from allergies or the common cold:
Runny nose
Stuffy nose
Itchy nose or throat
Sneezing
Itchy or watery eyes
Sinus pressure
Headache
Minor aches and pains
Fever
Short-term relief of symptoms from allergies and the common cold: runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, itchy nose or throat, sneezing, nasal congestion, sinus pressure, headache, minor aches and pains, fever
Lowers swelling in the sinuses around the nose
Restores breathing through the nose
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References
Best studies we foundHaleon US Holdings LLC. (2024). Advil Allergy Sinus- chlorpheniramine maleate, ibuprofen, pseudoephedrine hcl tablet, coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2022). What is coronary artery bypass grafting?
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2006). Concomitant use of ibuprofen and aspirin: Potential for attenuation of the anti-platelet effect of aspirin.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2020). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Drug safety communication – Avoid use of NSAIDs in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). FDA recommends avoiding use of NSAIDs in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later because they can result in low amniotic fluid.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Legal requirements for the sale and purchase of drug products containing pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine.
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