Drug interactions
Phenylephrine + Propylhexedrine
Severity: Moderate
Phenylephrine and Propylhexedrine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both are sympathomimetic decongestants, and using them together duplicates adrenergic activity. This may increase blood pressure and heart rate and cause palpitations or nervousness.
What this interaction means in plain words
Phenylephrine and Propylhexedrine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Phenylephrine belongs to Respiratory; Propylhexedrine belongs to Respiratory.
Why it happens
Additive sympathomimetic (alpha-adrenergic and indirect) effects.
What to do
Avoid using two decongestants together and choose a single agent. Monitor blood pressure in patients with hypertension or cardiac disease.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Phenylephrine and Propylhexedrine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Phenylephrine
- Isocarboxazid + Phenylephrine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Phenylephrine Contraindicated
- Phenylephrine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Bromocriptine + Phenylephrine Major
- Cocaine + Phenylephrine Major
- Dihydroergotamine intranasal + Phenylephrine Major
Other interactions of Propylhexedrine
- Isocarboxazid + Propylhexedrine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Propylhexedrine Contraindicated
- Linezolid + Propylhexedrine Major
- Propylhexedrine + Selegiline Major
- Propylhexedrine + Tranylcypromine Major
- Adrenaline-articaine + Propylhexedrine Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Phenylephrine with Propylhexedrine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Phenylephrine and Propylhexedrine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Both are sympathomimetic decongestants, and using them together duplicates adrenergic activity. This may increase blood pressure and heart rate and cause palpitations or nervousness.
How serious is the interaction between Phenylephrine and Propylhexedrine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid using two decongestants together and choose a single agent. Monitor blood pressure in patients with hypertension or cardiac disease.
What other medicines interact with Phenylephrine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Phenylephrine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine. The full list is on the Phenylephrine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
