Who Can And Cannot Take Pseudoephedrine

Who can take pseudoephedrine

Most adults and children aged 12 years and over can take pseudoephedrine.

You can sometimes give pseudoephedrine to children aged 6 years and over if they have a stuffy nose, but this depends on their symptoms. Ask a pharmacist for advice.

Important

Do not give pseudoephedrine to children under 6 years. This includes cough and cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Always check the label.

Who may not be able to take pseudoephedrine

Pseudoephedrine is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell a pharmacist or doctor before taking it if you have:

ever had an allergic reaction to pseudoephedrine or any other medicine
high blood pressure (hypertension)
heart disease
taken medicines for depression known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the last 2 weeks
diabetes
an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye)
an enlarged prostate (this causes difficulty peeing or needing to pee often)
liver or kidney problems

Sexual Health Advice

Throughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The topics covered in this series include:

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