Pseudoephedrine (Systemic)

Brand Names : Cenafed, Chlor-Trimeton Non-Drowsy Decongestant 4 Hour, Decofed, Dimetapp Decongestant, Dimetapp Decongestant Pediatric Drops, Drixoral Nasal Decongestant, Efidac/24, Genaphed, Myfedrine, PediaCare Infants' Oral Decongestant Drops, Pseudo 60's, Sudafed, Sudafed Children's Nasal Decongestant Liquid Medication, Sudafed 12 Hour, Triaminic AM Decongestant Formula, Triaminic Infant Oral Decongestant Drops, Balminil Decongestant Syrup, Benylin Decongestant, Drixoral N.D., Eltor 120, Maxenal, Robidrine, Sudafed Decongestant, Sudafed Decongestant Extra Strength, Sudafed Decongestant 12 Hour

Proper Use of This Medicine

For patients taking pseudoephedrine extended-release capsules :

• Swallow the capsule whole. However, if the capsule is too large to swallow, you may mix the contents of the capsule with jam or jelly and swallow without chewing.
• Do not crush or chew before swallowing.

For patients taking pseudoephedrine extended-release tablets :

• Swallow the tablet whole.
• Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.

To help prevent trouble in sleeping, take the last dose of pseudoephedrine for each day a few hours before bedtime . If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Take this medicine only as directed . Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer period of time than recommended on the label (usually 7 days), unless otherwise directed by your doctor. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

Dosing - The dose of pseudoephedrine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of pseudoephedrine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules, tablets, or teaspoonfuls of solution or syrup that you take each day depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the time between doses depends on whether you are taking a short-acting or long-acting form of pseudoephedrine.

• For nasal or sinus congestion:
  • For regular (short-acting) oral dosage form (capsules, oral solution, syrup, or tablets):
    • Adults and children 12 years of age and older - 60 milligrams (mg) every four to six hours. Do not take more than 240 mg in twenty-four hours.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age - 30 mg every four to six hours. Do not take more than 120 mg in twenty-four hours.
    • Children 2 to 6 years of age - 15 mg every four to six hours. Do not take more than 60 mg in twenty-four hours.
    • Children 4 months to 2 years of age - Dose must be determined by your doctor
    • Children up to 4 months of age - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For long-acting oral dosage form (extended-release capsules or extended-release tablets):
    • Adults and children 12 years of age and older - 120 mg every 12 hours, or 240 mg every 24 hours. Do not take more than 240 mg in twenty-four hours.
    • Children up to 12 years of age - Use is not recommended.

Missed dose - If you miss a dose of this medicine and you remember within an hour or so of the missed dose, take it right away. However, if you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage - To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the capsule or tablet form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Keep the liquid form of this medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.