Sudafed Products for Cough, Cold, and Flu Symptoms

What do Sudafed products treat?

Sudafed products are commonly used to treat cough, cold, and flu symptoms. The main active ingredient in most products is a decongestant. A decongestant lowers swelling, inflammation, and congestion in your nose, allowing you to breathe better and helps drain your sinuses, leading to less sinus pressure. The decongestant in Sudafed products can vary based on the specific product. It is usually one of the following medicines.

• Pseudoephedrine
• Phenylephrine
• Oxymetazoline

Sudafed products may also have some of the following medicines in them to treat other symptoms. Click on an ingredient below if you need more information about it.

• Pain reliever/fever reducer (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen) for fever and pain, including headache, sore throat, and body aches
• Antihistamine (diphenhydramine) for itchy/watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, itching of the nose or throat, and to control cough to help you sleep
• Expectorant (guaifenesin) to help break up congestion by thinning and loosening mucus
• Cough suppressant (dextromethorphan) to reduce the urge to cough

There are Sudafed products for adults and children as young as four years old.

What should I know before using Sudafed products?

Sudafed products that contain pseudoephedrine are kept behind the counter in pharmacies. You do not need a prescription to buy them, but you will have to show some identification and sign for the medicine. This is part of a program to reduce the use of pseudoephedrine to make illicit drugs. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about this. 

Most sudafed products should not be used if you are taking a medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or for two weeks after stopping the MAOI. An MAOI is a medicine usually used for depression or Parkinson’s disease. If you do not know if your prescription medicine contains an MAOI, ask your health care provider or pharmacist before using an oral Sudafed product.

Check with a health care provider before taking any Sudafed products that you swallow if you have any of the following conditions.

• Heart problems
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Thyroid problems
• Trouble peeing, if you have problems with your prostate
• Pregnant or breast-feeding

There may be side effects, additional warnings, and interactions with other medicines that are not listed here. These may vary depending on the combination of ingredients in the specific Sudafed product you are using. Always check the label before taking any Sudafed product. Talk to a pharmacist or healthcare provider about your health conditions and other medicines to help determine which Sudafed products are safe for you.