Warning: Anyone with old forms of any decongestant should check the labels and discard them if they contain phenylpropanolamine. In November 2000, the U.S. 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.
Side Effects of Decongestants. Decongestants have certain adverse effects, which are more apt to occur in oral than nasal decongestants and include:
- Agitation and nervousness
- Drowsiness (particularly with decongestants taken by mouth 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
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:
- 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. (Such individuals should particularly avoid high-potency short-acting nasal decongestant.)
- People taking medications that increase serotonin levels, such as certain antidepressants, anti-migraine agents, diet pills, St. John's wort, and methamphetamine. The combinations can cause blood vessels in the brain to narrow suddenly, causing severe headaches and even stroke.
Anyone with these conditions should not use either oral or nasal decongestants without a doctor's guidance. Other groups who should not use these drugs without first consulting a doctor include:
Previous Section
