Medical Health Encyclopedia

Oral decongestants also come in many brands, which mainly differ in their ingredients. The most common active ingredient is pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, Actifed, Drixoral).

Side Effects of Decongestants. Decongestants have certain adverse effects, which are more apt to occur in oral than nasal decongestants and include the following:

• Agitation and nervousness.
• Drowsiness (particularly with oral decongestants and in combination with alcohol).
• Changes in heart rate and blood pressure.
• Avoid combinations of oral decongestants with alcohol or certain drugs, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) and sedatives.

Note: In November of 2000 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned products, including decongestants, which contained phenylpropanolamine (PPA). This action was in response to a few reports of an increased risk of stroke. (Stroke tended to occur in people who took diet suppressants containing PPA rather than decongestants. In any case, serious events were still very rare.) All major brands that previously contained PPA have now substituted other active ingredients (usually pseudoephedrine) and are safe to use. Anyone with old forms of any decongestant should check the labels and discard them if they contain phenylpropanolamine. It should be noted that PPA has been used in dozens of medications for over 50 years. Extreme concern, therefore, is unwarranted.

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Individuals at Risk for Complications from Decongestants. People who may be at higher risk for complications are those with certain medical conditions, including disorders that make blood vessels highly susceptible to contraction. Such conditions include the following:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Thyroid disease
• Diabetes
• Prostate problems that cause urinary difficulties
• Migraines
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• High sensitivity to cold
• Emphysema or chronic bronchitis