Nexafed

Nexafed is a brand name for a medication that contains pseudoephedrine, a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. It is used to treat nasal and sinus congestion, or congestion of the tubes that drain fluid from your inner ears, caused by allergies, hay fever, and the common cold.

Composition

Nexafed contains the active ingredient pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, a sympathomimetic amine that acts primarily on alpha-adrenergic receptors. It also has weak direct agonist activity at beta-adrenergic receptors.

Indications

Nexafed is indicated for the temporary relief of nasal congestion due to the common cold, hay fever, or other upper respiratory allergies. It is also used to relieve sinus congestion and pressure.

Contraindications

Nexafed is contraindicated in patients with severe hypertension or severe coronary artery disease. It should not be used by patients who are currently taking or have recently taken monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Side Effects

Common side effects of Nexafed include nervousness, restlessness, excitability, dizziness, headache, fear, anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, convulsions, pallor, respiratory difficulty, dysuria, insomnia, hallucinations, arrhythmias, and cardiovascular collapse.

Interactions

Nexafed may interact with beta-blockers, antihypertensives, and other drugs that can affect blood pressure. It may also interact with antidepressants, particularly MAOIs and tricyclic antidepressants.

Precautions

Patients with diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, or difficulty in urination due to enlargement of the prostate gland should consult a healthcare professional before using Nexafed.

Dosage

The usual adult dosage of Nexafed is one tablet every four to six hours, not to exceed four tablets in 24 hours.

See Also

• Pseudoephedrine
• Sympathomimetic amine
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
• Tricyclic antidepressant