Phenylephrine
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| Pronunciation | /ˌfɛnəlˈɛfriːn, fiː-, -ɪn/ ⓘ |
| Trade names | Neosynephrine, Sudafed PE, others[1][2][3][4] |
| Other names | Phenephrine; Fenefrine; L-m-Synephrine; Metaoxedrine; Neo-Oxedrine; Mesatonum; Neosynephrine; Adrianol; (R)-β,3-Dihydroxy-N-methylphenethylamine[1][2][4] |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
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| Routes of administration | By mouth, intranasal, ophthalmic, intravenous, intramuscular, rectal[5][6][7] |
| Drug class | α1-adrenergic receptor agonist; vasopressor |
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| Bioavailability | Oral: conflicting—38%[8][3][9][10] or 0.003%[11] |
| Protein binding | 95% |
| Metabolism | Liver and intestines (via oxidative deamination by MAO-A and MAO-B; sulfation; glucuronidation)[5][8][3][11][9] |
| Metabolites | • meta-Hydroxymandelic acid[9][3] • Sulfate conjugates[9][3] • Glucuronide conjugates[9] |
| Onset of action | IV: Very rapid[12] Oral: 15–20 min[12][9] Intranasal: <2 min[9] Eye drop: <30 min[9] |
| Elimination half-life | 2–3 hours[8][5][3][13] |
| Duration of action | IV: 20 min–5 h[12][9] Oral: 2–4 h[12][9] Intranasal: 0.5–4 h[9] Eye drop: 3–7 h[9] |
| Excretion | Urine: 86% (3–16% unchanged)[5][8][3] |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.386 |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C9H13NO2 |
| Molar mass | 167.208 g·mol−1 |
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Phenylephrine, sold under the brand names Neosynephrine and Sudafed PE among others, is a medication used as a decongestant for uncomplicated nasal congestion in the form of a nasal spray or oral tablet,[5] to dilate the pupil, to increase blood pressure given intravenously in cases of low blood pressure, and to relieve hemorrhoids as a suppository.[12][14] It can also be applied to the skin.[12][5]
Common side effects when taken by mouth or injected include nausea, vomiting, headache, and anxiety.[12] Use on hemorrhoids is generally well tolerated.[12] Severe side effects may include a slow heart rate, intestinal ischemia, chest pain, kidney failure, and tissue death at the site of injection.[12][14] It is unclear whether its use during pregnancy and breastfeeding is safe.[12] Phenylephrine is a selective α1-adrenergic receptor agonist with minimal to no β-adrenergic receptor agonist activity or induction of norepinephrine release.[5][8][15] It causes constriction of both arteries and veins.[12]
Phenylephrine was patented in 1933[16] and came into medical use in 1938.[17] It is available as a generic medication.[14][18][19] Unlike pseudoephedrine, abuse of phenylephrine is very uncommon.[20] Its effectiveness as an oral nasal decongestant has been questioned.[12][21][22] In 2023, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel concluded that the drug was ineffective as a nasal decongestant when taken orally, performing no better than placebo.[23] In November 2024, the FDA proposed to remove oral phenylephrine as an active ingredient that can be used in over-the-counter (OTC) monograph drug products for the temporary relief of nasal congestion.[24]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Elks2014was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
IndexNominum2000was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference
DrugBankwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Drugs.com-Internationalwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e f g Richards E, Lopez MJ, Maani CV (2023). "Phenylephrine". StatPearls. Treasure Island, Florida: StatPearls Publishing. PMID 30521222. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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DailyMedwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference
Eccles2007was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Cite error: The named reference
ChuaBenrimojTriggs1989was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Medsafe2004was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
AtkinsonPottsAnderson2015was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Phenylephrine Monograph for Professionals". Drugs.com. AHFS. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
However, efficacy of oral phenylephrine for this use [as a decongestant] has been questioned.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
KanferDowseVuma1993was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Joint Formulary Committee (2018). BNF 76 : September 2018 - March 2019. London: British Medical Association, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. pp. 188–189. ISBN 9780857113382. OCLC 1021215075.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ODonnell1995was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ U.S. patent 1,932,347, application 1928, expired 1950
- ^ Fischer J, Ganellin CR (2006). Analogue-based Drug Discovery. John Wiley & Sons. p. 541. ISBN 9783527607495.
- ^ "Competitive Generic Therapy Approvals". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "First Generic Drug Approvals 2023". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 30 May 2023. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "Max Strength Decongestant Tablets" (PDF). www.mhra.gov.uk. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ Hatton RC, Hendeles L (March 2022). "Why Is Oral Phenylephrine on the Market After Compelling Evidence of Its Ineffectiveness as a Decongestant?". Ann Pharmacother. 56 (11): 1275–1278. doi:10.1177/10600280221081526. PMID 35337187. S2CID 247712448.
- ^ Lowe D (March 2022). "The Uselessness of Phenylephrine". Science (blog).
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
christensen23was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "FDA Proposes Ending Use of Oral Phenylephrine as OTC Monograph Nasal Decongestant Active Ingredient After Extensive Review". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Press release). 7 November 2024. Archived from the original on 7 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.