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You are here : Healthopedia.com > Drugs & Medications > Detailed Drug Information (USP DI) > Phenylephrine : Proper Use

Phenylephrine (Nasal)

Brand Names : Rhinall, Rhinall-10 Children's Flavored Nose Drops, Vicks Sinex, Alconefrin Nasal Drops 12, Alconefrin Nasal Drops 25, Alconefrin Nasal Drops 50, Alconefrin Nasal Spray 25, Doktors, Duration, Neo-Synephrine Nasal Drops, Neo-Synephrine Nasal Jelly, Neo-Synephrine Nasal Spray, Neo-Synephrine Pediatric Nasal Drops, Nostril Spray Pump, Nostril Spray Pump Mild

Phenylephrine | Before Using | Proper Use | Side Effects


Proper Use of This Medicine

To use the nose drops :

  • Blow your nose gently. Tilt the head back while standing or sitting up, or lie down on a bed and hang head over the side. Place the drops into each nostril and keep the head tilted back for a few minutes to allow the medicine to spread throughout the nose.
  • Rinse the dropper with hot water and dry with a clean tissue. Replace the cap right after use.
  • To avoid spreading the infection, do not use the container for more than one person.

To use the nose spray :

  • Blow your nose gently. With the head upright, spray the medicine into each nostril. Sniff briskly while squeezing the bottle quickly and firmly. For best results, spray once or twice into each nostril and wait 3 to 5 minutes to allow the medicine to work. Then, blow your nose gently and thoroughly. Repeat until the complete dose is used.
  • Rinse the tip of the spray bottle with hot water, taking care not to suck water into the bottle, and dry with a clean tissue. Replace the cap right after use.
  • To avoid spreading the infection, do not use the container for more than one person.

To use the nose jelly :

  • Blow your nose gently. Wash your hands before applying the medicine. With your finger, place a small amount of jelly (about the size of a pea) up each nostril. Sniff it well back into the nose.
  • Wipe the tip of the tube with a clean, damp tissue and replace the cap right after use.

Use this medicine only as directed . Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for longer than 3 days without first checking with your doctor. To do so may make your runny or stuffy nose worse and may also increase the chance of side effects.

Dosing—The dose of nasal phenylephrine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of nasal phenylephrine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

  • For stuffy nose:
    • For nose jelly dosage form:
      • Adults—Use a small amount in the nose every three or four hours as needed.
      • Children—Use is not recommended.
    • For nose drops dosage form:
      • Adults and children 12 years of age and older—Use two or three drops of a 0.25 to 0.5% solution in the nose every four hours as needed.
      • Children 6 to 12 years of age—Use two or three drops of a 0.25% solution in the nose every four hours as needed.
      • Children 2 to 6 years of age—Use two or three drops of a 0.125 or 0.16% solution in the nose every four hours as needed.
      • Children up to 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For nose spray dosage form:
      • Adults and children 12 years of age and older—Use two or three sprays of a 0.25 to 0.5% solution in the nose every four hours as needed.
      • Children 6 to 12 years of age—Use two or three sprays of a 0.25% solution in the nose every four hours as needed.
      • Children up to 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—If you are using this medicine on a regular schedule and you miss a dose, use it right away if you remember within an hour or so of the missed dose. However, if you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

  • Keep out of the reach of children.
  • Store away from heat and direct light.
  • Keep the medicine from freezing.
  • Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

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Phenylephrine: Before Using

 

Phenylephrine: Side Effects

Date Revised: 05/16/1994









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Page Last Updated: 6th April, 2009