Does Sudafed Make Kids Hyper: The Answer to This Common Question and More
Key takeaways:
Sudafed is safe for most kids older than 4 years. It can help treat nasal congestion from colds or allergies.
Pseudoephedrine is the active ingredient in Sudafed. Some kids experience hyperactivity, restlessness, and trouble sleeping when they take Sudafed.
Cough and cold medicines like Sudafed can be kid-safe when used the right way. But most pediatricians recommend other treatment options that cause fewer side effects.
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Coughing, sneezing, and congestion can make anyone miserable, including kids. If your child has a cold, you might be tempted to give them some cold medicine you have at home, like Sudafed.
The active ingredient in Sudafed is pseudoephedrine. Pseudaphedrine helps with cold symptoms by constricting blood vessels in the nose and sinuses. This relieves swelling and congestion, making it easier to breathe. But Sudafed can cause side effects in kids, like hyperactivity and restlessness.
Let’s look at when you can use Sudafed to treat your child’s cold or allergy symptoms.
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Can kids take Sudafed?
Yes. Some kids can take Sudafed to treat sinus congestion caused by a cold or allergies. One study found that pseudoephedrine helped relieve congestion from colds for kids ages 6 to 11. But this study noted that kids got the most benefit from Sudafed on the first day of their cold. So you may want to limit Sudafed use to the first day of your child’s illness.
But children younger than 4 years shouldn’t take Sudafed because they’re at a higher risk for accidental Sudafed overdose and serious side effects.
Children older than 4 years with certain health conditions should also avoid Sudafed. Pseudoephedrine can increase blood pressure, blood sugar, and heart rate. That’s why kids with the following medical conditions shouldn’t take Sudafed:
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
Use of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) — a type of medication for depression — in the past 2 weeks
Contact your child’s pediatrician or primary care provider if you aren’t sure whether Sudafed is safe for your child.
What forms does Sudafed come in for children?
Sudafed is available as a liquid under the brand Children’s Sudafed. This product has 15 mg of pseudoephedrine in 5 mL of liquid.
Kids can take adult Sudafed if they are older than 12 years old. Most adult Sudafed products are available in tablet form. They may be immediate release (IR) or extended release (ER).
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Children older than 12 years can also use over-the-counter (OTC) products that combine pseudoephedrine with other medications to treat cold and allergies like:
Sudafed is available without a prescription. But because pseudoephedrine can be addictive and has the potential for misuse, medications that contain pseudoephedrine are kept behind the counter. So you need to speak with the pharmacy staff and show identification in order to purchase these medications.
Does Sudafed make kids hyper?
Yes, some children who take Sudafed become restless and more excitable. That’s because Sudafed has some stimulant properties. Kids may also have trouble sleeping if you give Sudafed close to bedtime.
Less common side effects of Sudafed in kids can include:
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Sweating
Increased heart rate
Dizziness
Trembling
What is the recommended Sudafed dosage for kids?
The dose of children’s liquid Sudafed you can give your child is based on age. You can find dosage information on the bottle, but for quick reference, take a look at these instructions:
Age | Dosage | Frequency | Max daily dose (in 24 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
Less than 4 years | Don’t use | ||
4-5 years | 5 mL (15 mg) | Every 4-6 hours | 20 mL (60 mg) |
6-11 years | 10 mL (30 mg) | Every 4-6 hours | 40 mL (120 mg) |
Follow these suggestions closely so you don’t accidentally give your child too much Sudafed. Don’t give doses closer than 4 hours together. And make sure you don’t give more than the recommended daily maximum dose.
If you’re giving other cough and cold medicine products, check all the labels to ensure they don’t contain pseudoephedrine or similar decongestant, like Sudafed PE or phenylephrine.
How long does it take children’s Sudafed to work?
Sudafed works within 30 minutes. Extended-release versions of Sudafed take an hour to work, but these medications are not made for kids younger than 12 years.
How long does children’s Sudafed last?
Most kids will notice an improvement in nasal congestion for 4 to 6 hours. Extended-release forms of Sudafed for children over the age of 12 can last for anywhere from 12 to 24 hours.
What should I do if my child takes double the recommended dosage of Sudafed?
If you give your child too much Sudafed, always call your local or national Poison Control center at 1-800-222-1222. They’ll tell you if your child needs immediate medical care. They can also advise you on how to watch for more serious symptoms.
In the case of a Sudafed overdose, more severe symptoms can happen, such as:
A very rapid heartbeat
Fast or troubled breathing
Slow or irregular heart rate
Hallucinations
Seizures
Call emergency services right away if your child experiences any of these severe symptoms after taking Sudafed.
Other cough and cold treatment options for kids
Many studies show that cough and cold medicines don’t work well for children younger than 6 years. The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t recommend decongestants for children younger than 12 years. That’s because the potential side effects seem to outweigh pseudoephedrine’s benefits.
As a result, healthcare professionals often recommend other options for cough and cold treatment for kids. These remedies can often provide better relief for cold symptoms:
Saline nasal rinse: Washing out the nose with saltwater sprays clears mucus and makes kids feel better faster. You can buy OTC drops or sprays, or you can make your own.
Humidifier: Use a humidifier or vaporizer in your child’s bedroom. That can add moisture to the air and help clear secretions. Keep these devices clean to prevent the buildup of mold or bacteria.
Honey: Research shows that honey helps kids sleep when they have a cough. You can add honey to some warm tea or water. But don’t give honey to kids younger than 12 months. It can cause botulism.
The bottom line
In the right dosage, Sudafed is safe for most kids over the age of 4. But healthcare professionals often recommend trying other remedies first, because Sudafed can cause side effects like hyperactivity and restlessness. Sudafed can also cause serious problems if kids accidentally take too large a dose.
Instead of pseudoephedrine products, try saline nasal washes and a humidifier for your child’s cold and allergy symptoms. You can also give honey if your child is older than 1 year. Contact a healthcare professional if you’d like to give your child Sudafed, especially if they have another chronic medical condition, to be sure it’s safe for them.
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References
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Healthwise. (2023). Saline nasal washes for children: Care instructions. Kaiser Permanente.
Healthychildren.org. (2023). How to care for your child’s cold.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Pediatric hypertension.
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MedlinePlus. (2018). Pseudoephedrine.
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