Phenylephrine User Reviews & Ratings

Brand names: Sudafed PE Congestion, Neo-Synephrine, Nasal Decongestant PE, Nasop12, Biorphen, Suphedrine PE, Despec-SF, Sudogest PE, Dimetapp Toddler's Drops Decongestant, Congest Aid II, AH-Chew D, Gilchew IR, Little Colds Decongestant, Contac-D Nasop Ricobid-D Vazculep Sudafed PE Children's Nasal Decongestant …show all brand names

Phenylephrine has an average rating of 6.2 out of 10 from a total of 23 reviews on Drugs.com. 61% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 39% reported a negative experience.

Condition	Avg. Rating	Reviews	Compare
Nasal Congestion	5.9	19 reviews for Nasal Congestion	602 medications
Allergies	9.5	2 reviews for Allergies	67 medications

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Reviews for Phenylephrine

sic...
August 15, 2007

For Nasal Congestion "I just searched peer-reviewed journals and found no evidence supporting the effectiveness of phenylephrine. 'Phenylephrine, at the FDA-approved dose of 10 mg for adults, is unlikely to provide relief of nasal congestion. It has poor oral bioavailability because of extensive first-pass metabolism in the gut and liver. Only 38% of the dose reaches the systemic circulation, compared with 90% of a pseudoephedrine dose. Moreover, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of three oral decongestants in 20 patients with chronic nasal stuffiness, phenylephrine was no more effective than placebo in reducing nasal airway resistance.' From the Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, and the Drug Information Center, Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL."

2 / 10

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78 Report

mom...
January 12, 2016

For Nasal Congestion "This medication has been a lifesaver for me in getting my ears to drain. I suffer from year-round allergies and have been diagnosed with eustachian tube dysfunction. This is the only medication that works to keep my ears drained so I don't get an ear infection. I only take 10 mg total daily, broken into 2-5 mg doses. To those that this med does not work for, I say they are very wrong. I have tried regular pseudoephedrine and had to stop it due to excessive nervousness and insomnia. This med, on the other hand, works great. I have been taking it daily for 20 years and have to due to my allergies/ ear dysfunction. If I miss a few days' doses, I get an ear infection every time."

10 / 10

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37 Report

Rav...
Taken for 2 to 5 years
February 25, 2013

For Nasal Congestion "At 67, I have asthma due to formaldehyde exposure. I overreact to most allopathic meds and am accustomed to using turmeric for inflammation and aloe vera for nearly everything else. I'm generally in excellent health, with all values from an annual blood draw in the 'ideal' range. In an attempt to avoid allopathic inhalers, I tried several over-the-counter meds, settling on phenylephrine as effective, inexpensive, and having no apparent side effects for me, the canary in the coal mine. Even though it is not even suggested for asthma, this permits me to live an active life of hiking in the redwood forests and dunes of coastal northern California."

10 / 10

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30 Report

Frequently asked questions

dhM...
December 6, 2017

For Nasal Congestion "Taking phenylephrine before bedtime allows me to breathe all night through my nose while wearing a sleep apnea mask, which I could not do most nights. I take one 10 mg pill before bedtime only, do not use at any other time. Has also stopped my post-nasal drip problem."

9 / 10

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16 Report

Car...
August 6, 2020

For Nasal Congestion "My regular pseudoephedrine works, this phenylephrine brand does NOT work at all for a stuffy nose. At all. I don’t know who buys this. I feel tired when I take it too, but my nose stays stuffed. No bueno."

1 / 10

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12 Report

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gra...
October 26, 2009

For Nasal Congestion "After 125 standard allergy tests and told 'no reaction,' I was pronounced as having 'chronic non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis.' I truly believe that my biggest problem was from corticosteroid nasal sprays prescribed, but never overused. I've found phenylephrine has helped in a variable increased dose. When the wind blows primarily in the fall, whatever is out there causes my problem. If I take 2 10 mg to start my day, I'm in good shape with the regular dose the rest of the day."

8 / 10

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19 Report

Anonymous
Taken for less than 1 month
November 14, 2012

For Nasal Congestion "I took it at the recommendation of a pharmacist specifically for chronic post-nasal drip. I've taken a lot of things, and I can tell you that it worked within 40 minutes. I don't think I can take it forever, but I'm hoping that before the 7 days are out, this will be cleared up permanently."

10 / 10

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16 Report

som...
September 7, 2017

For Nasal Congestion "I have read so much about this medication not working. But I don't suffer from a runny nose or congestion exactly. I have allergies that make my sinuses swell shut, and it's very painful. Other than good old Benadryl, there is no other medication that is even slightly effective for me. I'm curious to find out if anyone has used it for a similar problem and had positive results. All I have seen is that it's a placebo. And I can say with confidence that is not the case for me."

8 / 10

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11 Report

Iva...
Taken for less than 1 month
May 23, 2018

For Nasal Congestion "People say that this drug isn’t effective, but it really is for me. I have tried so many drugs in the past for nasal relief, and this drug works wonders for me. Whenever I have a really bad stuffy nose, I turn to phenylephrine because it works."

10 / 10

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10 Report

Cle...
Taken for less than 1 month
August 18, 2022

For Nasal Congestion "New job is at a custom cabinet shop, and my allergies resurfaced severely. I take 10 mg of this every weekday morning. I had to take two once, so it does a great job with a single dose of 10 mg. I am on my feet for 8 hrs doing heavy lifting. No side effects at all for me. Not drowsy, tired, confused, or any common allergy medicine side effect. This stuff works very, very well."

10 / 10

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3 Report

Ama...
Taken for 1 to 2 years
September 13, 2023

"I am not sure why I am reading in the news lately that this ingredient is ineffective in nasal decongestants. This has been very effective for me in reducing my pre-asthma attack tight chest symptom. It causes relaxation, allowing me to breathe better and hindering a full-blown asthma attack. I just wanted to add this review. Asthmatic folks will understand the usefulness of this drug component once they use it. Cancelling this drug is a very bad idea."

10 / 10

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3 Report

Mea...
February 25, 2018

Phenylephrine "On a Saturday morning, I was seen and told by an ER doctor to buy Sudafed for a severe sore throat and take it every 4 hours. I did not have a cold or congestion or strep. I bought Sudafed PE. Sunday, I continued to get worse, and Monday morning, I woke up with a swollen throat, face, and lips and drove to urgent care, where I was promptly treated for anaphylaxis."

1 / 10

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9 Report

Mel...
Taken for less than 1 month
June 10, 2019

For Nasal Congestion "I have been a long-time Sudafed original user, the one that contained pseudoephrine. I would rate it 11/10. Usually, I have a script and am able to get it from my local pharmacy, despite it being a so-called magnet for bikie gangs making ICE. I tried the little red pills they brought out with moderate success. Then I tried Sudafed PE, just to be sure I'm not bagging the wrong thing, the little grey pills, and had the worst reaction of all time. As an ex-smoker, I know I'm a candidate for COPD down the track, but these tablets brought on a wheeze that lasted for over 11 hours. It's on the pack as a warning, but pharmacists should issue their own warning... NOT suitable for anyone with dodgy lungs. Just wish they'd bring back original, taking them off the general market was just a cop-out."

2 / 10

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2 Report

Dar...
Taken for less than 1 month
March 25, 2023

Phenylephrine for Nasal Congestion "On the third day of a cold, I decided to try Sudafed PE for a blocked, stuffy nose. Wish I had read the literature on this product before purchase, it is totally ineffective three hours after ingestion. Do yourself a favor and get the OTC version if possible."

1 / 10

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1 Report

Bod...
Taken for 5 to 10 years
February 4, 2023

For Nasal Congestion "I took this medication for an extended period of time. While the drug did alleviate congestion, I began to experience some unusual side effects, such as dizziness, nervousness, severe headaches, a pounding pulse in my ears and head, a rash on my face and neck, and my blood pressure increased significantly. I did not realize that I had been taking more than the recommended dosage and putting my health at risk. I stopped taking it, but it took some time for the drug to leave my system, and not all of the symptoms disappeared immediately. I learned that it is best to read the instructions for use before taking a medication."

8 / 10

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All...
Taken for 2 to 5 years
April 7, 2022

For Nasal Congestion "Phenylephrine is the only thing that helps me. My allergies swell everything, close my nose and ears, and make my teeth hurt. Thank goodness for phenylephrine!"

10 / 10

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5 Report

Ros...
August 18, 2015

Phenylephrine for Nasal Congestion "Excellent to relieve pain and pressure when taking off and landing in an airplane."

10 / 10

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13 Report

be2...
Taken for 2 to 5 years
August 27, 2015

For Nasal Congestion "Doesn't work. Pseudoephedrine works best for me."

1 / 10

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8 Report

JPa...
Taken for less than 1 month
July 18, 2019

For Nasal Congestion "I had the little red pill of phenylephrine, and they just did not work at all."

1 / 10

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4 Report

Anonymous
August 17, 2018

For Nasal Congestion "Had the flu, and the pharmacist told me to take this for nasal congestion. It did not work at all."

1 / 10

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5 Report

Anonymous
Taken for less than 1 month
August 16, 2021

For Nasal Congestion "Did nothing to relieve my symptoms, but did make me feel acutely worse."

1 / 10

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2 Report

Anonymous
Taken for 10 years or more
November 12, 2024

For Allergies "Phenylephrine is very effective as a decongestant and works flawlessly. Over the years, I have bacterial pansinusitis, especially in allergy season. It is great to get rid of phenylephrine."

9 / 10

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Cat...
Taken for 5 to 10 years
November 7, 2024

For Allergies "Yes, it works. It works at 7.8 mg and at 10 mg. It is my go-to med for sinus congestion and stopped-up ears. Very effective. The FDA is wrong to remove it from shelves."

10 / 10

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.