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Sudafed PE Warnings and Precautions
There are many things to be aware of before starting treatment with Sudafed PE, including important information on who should not take the drug. Avoid taking Sudafed PE if you have difficulty passing urine, glaucoma, or heart disease. Warnings and precautions with Sudafed PE also extend to people with certain allergies and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Sudafed PE?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Sudafed PE® (phenylephrine hydrochloride) if you have:- An enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH)
- Difficulty passing urine
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Heart disease
- Glaucoma
- Difficult passing urine
- An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
- Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
(It should be noted that there are several different Sudafed PE medications, many of which contain additional active ingredients other than phenylephrine. This article focuses primarily on the single ingredient phenylephrine, not the products with other active ingredients.)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD