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Phenylephrine is one of the substances most commonly found in painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Like any chemical, it has some side effects. It cannot always be accepted.
Phenylephrine – what is it?
Phenylephrine is an organic chemical compound with a structure similar to ephedrine, as well as epinephrine, more known as adrenaline. Their action is very similar, but phenylephrine works much longer. This substance is used, inter alia, in drugs that are supposed to fight the first signs of a cold, i.e. analgesic, antipyretic and soothing cough.
Phenylephrine also has a similar effect to pseudoephedrine. The difference, however, is that phenylephrine causes side effects on a smaller scale. It is mainly due to its poor effect on the frequency and strength of heart contractions and the lack of stimulation of the release of norepinephrine.
Phenylephrine – action
The substance directly stimulates the receptors in the vessel walls. This causes the blood vessels to contract for an average of 20-50 minutes after taking phenylephrine. Medical products that contain this chemical can lower the stroke volume of the heart muscle and slightly raise the central arterial pressure – systolic and diastolic. However, phenylephrine does not cause cardiac arrhythmias. It also has no negative effect on the central nervous system.
Phenylephrine – drugs and preparations
Pharmaceutical manufacturers add phenylephrine primarily to orally taken preparations that are supposed to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, fight cough, and fight allergies. In addition, phenylephrine is used in common and allergic rhinitis, as well as in the case of edema of the Eustachian tube.
It is worth noting that this substance is used not only in medicines for colds, but also in preparations used in ophthalmology. Due to the fact that phenylephrine, when introduced into the eye, narrows the vessels and dilates the pupil, it is one of the components of the drops used during diagnostic tests, as well as eye procedures and operations.
Phenylephrine – contraindications
Drugs with phenylephrine should not be used in the case of:
- hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of the preparation, especially phenylephrine itself,
- ischemic heart disease,
- arterial hypertension,
- diabetes
- prostatic hyperplasia,
- overactive thyroid gland
- glaucoma,
- high intraocular pressure.
Before giving the preparation with phenylephrine to children, consult a doctor. It is forbidden to take the substance by pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. Taking with antidepressants may reduce the effectiveness of phenylephrine. In addition, it is also worth consulting the intake of this substance with other drugs that contain some:
- inhibitory,
- methyldopa,
- indometacyny,
- beta-blockers,
- digitalis glycosides.
Phenylephrine – side effects
Overdosing on phenylephrine or using it in exceptional circumstances for the body may result in, among others:
- a significant increase in blood pressure,
- anxiety, tremors and insomnia,
- pale skin,
- breathing disorders,
- tachycardias,
- shortness of breath and hallucinations,
- urinary retention.