Phenylephrine for Nasal Congestion User Reviews

• sic...
• August 15, 2007

"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."

• mom...
• January 12, 2016

"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."

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

"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."

• dhM...
• December 6, 2017

"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."

• Car...
• August 6, 2020

"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."

• gra...
• October 26, 2009

"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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2012

"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."

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

"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."

• som...
• September 7, 2017

"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."

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

"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."

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

"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."

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

Phenylephrine "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."

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

"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."

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

"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!"

• Ros...
• August 18, 2015

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

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

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

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

"Doesn't work. Pseudoephedrine works best for me."

• Anonymous
• August 17, 2018

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

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2021

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

• Gai...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 16, 2025

"This totally works for nasal congestion when I'm trying to sleep! I hope it's not taken off the market! I won't get no sleep then if I can't breathe!"