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Phenylephrine Non-Prescription
Used for Nasal Congestion
Used for Nasal Congestion
Phenylephrine nasal spray is a decongestant. It's used to treat nasal and sinus congestion in children and adults. The typical dose is 2 or 3 sprays every 4 hours, but for no longer than 3 days. It's typically well-tolerated, but some people might experience temporary side effects, such as stinging or sneezing, right after each spray. Phenylephrine nasal spray is available as brand name (e.g., Neo-Synephrine) and generic medications.
What is Phenylephrine nasal spray?
What is Phenylephrine nasal spray used for?
- Short-term relief of nasal and sinus congestion and pressure
How Phenylephrine nasal spray works
Phenylephrine nasal spray is a decongestant. It's thought to work by narrowing the blood vessels in the nose to relieve sinus pressure.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Neo-Synephrine, Little Remedies Decongestant Nasal Drops |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Alpha agonist |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Over-the-counter |
Side effects of Phenylephrine nasal spray
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Temporary discomfort, like burning and tingling
- Runny nose
Less Common Side Effects
- Sneezing
- Rebound congestion (if using longer than 3 days)
The following Phenylephrine nasal spray side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Increase in runny or stuffy nose
Symptoms of too much medicine being absorbed into the body
Fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
headache or dizziness
increased sweating
nervousness
paleness
trembling
trouble in sleeping
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.
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. Also, your health care professional may 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 inside of 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.
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Pros and cons of Phenylephrine nasal spray
Pros
- Available over the counter
- Typically well-tolerated with few side effects
- The phenylephrine 0.125% strength nasal drops can be used in children as young as 2 years old
Cons
- Might need to be used up to every 4 hours
- Might be difficult for some people to use the spray correctly
- Can't be used for longer than 3 days due to the risk of rebound congestion
Pharmacist tips for Phenylephrine nasal spray
- Don't use phenylephrine nasal spray longer than 3 days because doing so can cause your congestion to come back or get worse. If your symptoms don't get better after 3 days, talk with your PCP about other treatment options, including home remedies.
- You might feel temporary discomforts, such as stinging or sneezing, right after using phenylephrine nasal spray. These side effects are typically mild and go away after a while. But if they're bothersome and don't go away, let your primary care provider (PCP) know because you might need to stop using this spray.
- If phenylephrine nasal spray isn't enough to ease your congestion, ask a member of your care team about other nasal sprays, such as fluticasone (Flonase) or sodium chloride (Ocean Nasal Spray). These medications work differently than phenylephrine nasal spray and your care team can talk with you about other available options to help with your symptoms.
- If you're pregnant, don't use phenylephrine nasal spray until you've talked with your obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) to understand the risks and benefits of this medication. There's not much research looking into how phenylephrine nasal spray might affect pregnancy, but evidence suggests oral decongestants can cause harm. Your care team can talk with you about safer options to treat your symptoms during pregnancy.
Tips on how to use phenylephrine nasal sprays:
- Before using phenylephrine nasal spray, blow your nose and wash your hands with soap and water. Shake the bottle gently before each use and remove the cap. Press down one nostril with your index finger to close it. Tilt your head slightly forward and place the tip of the bottle into the other nostril aiming towards the back of your head. For each dose, squeeze the bottle with firm, quick pressure while breathing in.
- It's normal for some of the spray or drops to drip out your nose after each dose. Don't give yourself or your child any additional sprays or drops than what's recommended to try to replace what drips out. You might accidentally use too much medication and put yourself or your child at higher risk for side effects.
- Always clean the tip of the bottle after each use. Don't share phenylephrine nasal spray with other people to avoid spreading infections.
- Stop using phenylephrine nasal spray if you feel nervous or dizzy, or if you can't sleep after using this medication. Ask your primary care provider for other options to help with your congestion.
- Phenylephrine nasal spray is a decongestant, which are in many other over-the-counter medications. Using more than one medication containing a decongestant, including oral forms, can cause serious side effects, such as fast heart rate and dizziness. If you're not sure if a product has a decongestant, ask your pharmacist.
Risks and warnings for Phenylephrine nasal spray
Phenylephrine nasal spray 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.
For use in the nose only
While phenylephrine is available in forms that can be taken by mouth, phenylephrine nasal spray should only be used in your nose. Don't give yourself or your child this medication any other way. If you feel a nasal spray isn't the best choice for you, ask your pharmacist or primary care provider for other options to treat your congestion. If you or someone else takes phenylephrine nasal spray by mouth, get medical help right away or contact a poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
Worsening of medical conditions
- Risk factors: Heart disease or high blood pressure | Endocrine problems (e.g., thyroid disease, diabetes) | Trouble urinating
Don't use phenylephrine nasal spray if you have any of the medical conditions listed above unless your primary care provider (PCP) said it's safe to do so. Using phenylephrine nasal spray can worsen your condition(s) and cause serious side effects. Make sure your PCP knows about all medical conditions you have or have had in the past before starting phenylephrine nasal spray.
Phenylephrine nasal spray dosage
The average cost for 1 nasal spray of 30ml of 1% of Phenylephrine nasal spray is $10.92 with a free GoodRx coupon.
Interactions between Phenylephrine nasal spray and other drugs
Phenylephrine nasal spray may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Phenylephrine nasal spray. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of 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 required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Ergonovine
- Fentanyl Citrate
- Iobenguane I 123
- Iobenguane I 131
- Methylergonovine
- Midodrine
How much does Phenylephrine nasal spray cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Phenylephrine nasal spray (generic)
$10.11
What are alternatives to Phenylephrine nasal spray?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Phenylephrine nasal spray. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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Phenylephrine nasal spray images
