Drug interactions
Pseudoephedrine + Salmeterol
Severity: Moderate
Pseudoephedrine and Salmeterol: 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 agents stimulate adrenergic receptors and can increase heart rate, blood pressure, tremor and palpitations. Patients with cardiovascular disease are most at risk of adverse effects.
What this interaction means in plain words
Pseudoephedrine and Salmeterol 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.
Pseudoephedrine belongs to Respiratory; Salmeterol belongs to Respiratory.
Why it happens
Additive adrenergic stimulation: beta-2 agonism from salmeterol plus indirect sympathomimetic release of norepinephrine from pseudoephedrine.
What to do
Monitor heart rate and blood pressure and counsel patients to report palpitations; avoid in uncontrolled hypertension or arrhythmia.
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?
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Other interactions of Pseudoephedrine
- Isocarboxazid + Pseudoephedrine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Pseudoephedrine Contraindicated
- Pseudoephedrine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Pseudoephedrine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Pseudoephedrine + Selegiline transdermal Contraindicated
- Pseudoephedrine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Salmeterol
- Ritonavir + Salmeterol Contraindicated
- Salmeterol + Saquinavir Contraindicated
- Amitriptyline + Salmeterol Major
- Arformoterol + Salmeterol Major
- Atazanavir + Salmeterol Major
- Budesonide-formoterol + Salmeterol Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Pseudoephedrine with Salmeterol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Pseudoephedrine and Salmeterol 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 agents stimulate adrenergic receptors and can increase heart rate, blood pressure, tremor and palpitations. Patients with cardiovascular disease are most at risk of adverse effects.
How serious is the interaction between Pseudoephedrine and Salmeterol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor heart rate and blood pressure and counsel patients to report palpitations; avoid in uncontrolled hypertension or arrhythmia.
What other medicines interact with Pseudoephedrine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Pseudoephedrine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Rasagiline. The full list is on the Pseudoephedrine page.
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