acetaminophen / phenylephrine
Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain is an over-the-counter, brand-name product containing two active ingredients: acetaminophen (an analgesic that relieves pain) and phenylephrine (a decongestant that clears the sinuses). This combination medication is also available as lower-cost generics and under other brand names, such as Tylenol Sinus Plus Headache. In general, it's used to relieve symptoms from allergies and the common cold, such as pain and nasal and sinus congestion. This medication can also lower fevers. The caplets are taken by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Side effects aren't common but can include headache and dizziness.
What is Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine)?
What is Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) used for?
Short-term relief of allergy and common cold symptoms, such as sinus congestion and pressure, nasal congestion (stuffy nose), headache, and minor aches and pains
Short-term relief of fever
How Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) works
Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) is a combination of two medications that work together to relieve symptoms caused by allergies and the common cold.
Acetaminophen is an analgesic. It blocks chemicals in your body to help treat pain and lower fever.
Phenylephrine is a decongestant. It works by tightening the blood vessels in your nose and sinuses to relieve pressure.
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What are the side effects of Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine)?
Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Dizziness
Other Side Effects
- Difficulty sleeping
- Nervousness
Serious Side Effects
- Allergic reactions: rash; hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Serious skin reaction: skin reddening, blisters, rash
- Liver damage: severe stomach pain, yellowing of skin or whites of the eyes, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
Source: DailyMed
Pros and cons of Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine)
Pros
Can treat a wide variety of allergy and common cold symptoms
More convenient to take two medications in one pill
Available over the counter
Available as lower-cost generics
Cons
Might need to take every 4 hours to relieve symptoms
More difficult to customize the dose since it's a combination of two medications
Risk for liver damage if you take too much
Pharmacist tips for Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine)
You can take Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) with or without food.
You can take Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) as needed for cold and allergies. When you're having symptoms, it's recommended that you take the medication every 4 hours (or as instructed by a healthcare professional) to get the most relief until your symptoms aren't as bothersome anymore.
Avoid drinking alcohol while you're taking Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) because it can raise your risk for liver problems.
Stop taking Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) and contact your healthcare team if you experience dizziness, nervousness, or trouble sleeping. These might be side effects from the phenylephrine in the medication. Your care team can discuss with you about ways to manage these side effects, such as taking it less often or trying a different medication.
Stop taking Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) and contact your primary care provider if you have pain or nasal congestion that gets worse or lasts more than 7 days or a fever that gets worse or lasts more than 3 days. Also talk to a healthcare professional if there's redness or swelling in a painful area or any new symptoms. These might be signs of a serious infection or medical condition, and you might need additional treatment.
Talk to your primary care provider or pharmacist before starting any new medications, especially those with acetaminophen or decongestants, while you're taking Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine). Taking multiple products with similar ingredients as Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) can raise your risk of accidentally taking too much medication, leading to severe side effects like liver damage.
Don't take Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) if you're taking or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), such as selegiline, within the past 2 weeks. This combination can cause dangerous changes to your blood pressure. Contact your primary care provider or a pharmacist for other options to treat your symptoms if you've taken an MAOI in the past 2 weeks.
Frequently asked questions about Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine)
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What are the risks and warnings for Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine)?
Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) 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.
Liver damage
Risk factors: Drinking 3 or more alcoholic beverages a day | Taking other medications containing acetaminophen | Taking too much Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) | History of liver problems
Taking too much acetaminophen can lead to permanent and life-threatening liver damage. For healthy adults, the maximum amount of acetaminophen is typically 4 grams in a 24-hour period. But it can be lower depending on your primary care provider's instructions and your risk for liver damage. For children, ask a pediatrician.
Speak to your primary care provider before you take Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) if you have liver problems since it can cause further damage to your liver. Avoid drinking alcohol while you're taking this medication.
Call your primary care provider right away if you have signs of liver problems, such as dark urine, feeling tired, upset stomach or stomach pain, or yellowing of skin or whites of the eyes.
Accidentally taking too much medication
There are many other over-the-counter products that contain the same or similar ingredients as Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine). In addition, some prescription pain medications have acetaminophen in them.
Taking more than one product containing the same or similar ingredients raises the risk that you might accidentally take too much medication. This can lead to serious side effects, including liver damage, skin reactions, and high blood pressure. Get medical help right away or contact a poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 if you think you or your loved one has accidentally taken too much medication.
To prevent accidentally taking too much medication, tell your care team about the medications you take before you start Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine). Also read package labels carefully; ask your pharmacist if you're not sure whether a product has acetaminophen or a decongestant in it. In addition, it's recommended to keep track of how much acetaminophen you're taking throughout the day.
Worsening of certain medical conditions
Risk factors: Liver problems | Heart problems | High blood pressure | Thyroid problems | Diabetes | Urinary conditions
Make sure your primary care provider knows about all the medical conditions you have or have had in the past before you start taking Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine). It's important to check that Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) is safe for you to take because it's possible for the medication to worsen certain medical conditions and cause serious side effects.
Allergic skin reactions
Although rare, Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) can cause serious skin reactions, such as rash, blisters, skin reddening, or skin peeling. Stop taking the medication and get medical attention right away if you notice unusual changes in your skin.
Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 325mg/5mg | 30 tablets | $13.44 | $0.45 |
Typical dosing for Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine)
Each caplet contains 325 mg of acetaminophen and 5 mg of phenylephrine.
Age 12 years or older: The typical dose is 2 caplets by mouth every 4 hours when you're having symptoms. Don't take more than 10 caplets in a 24-hour period.
Age under 12 years old: Ask your child's pediatrician.
How much does Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) cost?
Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine) contraindications
Take other medications containing acetaminophen
Currently take or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the last 14 days
What are alternatives to Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine)?
Short-term relief of allergy and common cold symptoms, such as sinus congestion and pressure, nasal congestion (stuffy nose), headache, and minor aches and pains
Short-term relief of fever
Short-term relief of symptoms from the common cold or flu: headache, fever, sinus pressure, nasal congestion, minor body aches and pains
Lowers swelling in nasal passages
Improves freer breathing through the nose
What is the latest news about Sudafed PE Pressure and Pain (acetaminophen / phenylephrine)?
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References
Best studies we foundHoeft, D. (2014). An overview of clinically significant drug interactions between medications used to treat psychiatric and medical conditions. Mental Health Clinician.
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (2024). Sudafed PE Pressure Plus Pain- acetaminophen and phenylephrine hydrochloride tablet, film coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (2024). Tylenol Sinus Plus Headache Day- acetaminophen and phenylephrine hydrochloride tablet, film coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
KnowYourDose.org. (n.d.). Common medicines containing acetaminophen.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2016). FDA drug safety communication: FDA warns of rare but serious skin reactions with the pain reliever/fever reducer acetaminophen.
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