What is Pseudoephedrine?
- drsineadhowley
- Oct 22
- 1 min read
And why do so many Irish people want to take this when they have cold or flu symptoms... as a Doctor, it's not clear to me.
Pseudoephedrine is found in many over-the-counter products such as Benylin & Sudafed
Pseudoephedrine is a vasoconstrictor which means it narrows blood vessels and can reduce the sensation of nasal swelling and congestion. By narrowing blood vessels it also increases blood pressure, which is usually never a good thing!
It also carries a risk of neurological conditions such as Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS)
As a result, the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) in the UK has advised anyone who experiences a severe headache that develops very quickly or suddenly feels sick or is vomiting, confused or experiencing seizures or changes in vison while taking this medicine - should stop taking it immediately and seek urgent medical attention
Or you could just avoid taking this medicine entirely. There is no medical need to take this product. If you feel tempted to take this, please discuss with your GP and I would be very surprised a far more suitable (& safer) option isn't available
More information can be found here
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