Phenylephrine: profile and news

Federal, state laws prompt decongestant reformulation May 8, 2006
...and combination cold and cough products that contain pseudoephedrine are in the process of replacing it with another decongestant, phenylephrine, which can't ... - MarketWatch

Pseudoephedrine getting harder to find May 9, 2006
Johnson & Johnson, which makes Tylenol and Motrin; and Pfizer Inc., which makes Benedryl, said most products will replace the decongestant with phenylephrine. ... - Political Gateway,

Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail May 7, 2006
Common ones (and their brand names) are pseudoephedrine pills (Sudafed), oxymetazoline (Vicks Sinex), phenylephrine (Fenox) and xylometazoline (Otrivine ... - ic Wales,

Springtime allergies: Solutions for a problem in full bloom May 5, 2006
Sudafed, Actifed, others). Nasal decongestants include phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) and oxymetazoline (Afrin). Oral decongestants ... - MayoClinic.com

Relief from allergies is confusing Apr 30, 2006
Manufacturers have come up with alternatives such as phenylephrine, which is now available in Sudafed PE. It can't be converted into methamphetamine. ... - Houston Chronicle,

Anti-meth legislation cuts into Perrigo's bottom line Apr 28, 2006
...deadline. Perrigo is replacing the active ingredient pseudoephedrine in many of its cough and cold products with phenylephrine. ... - Kalamazoo Gazette,

Other information

Indication
For the treatment of ophthalmic disorders (hyperaemia of conjunctiva, posterior synechiae, acute atopic), nasal congestion, hemorrhoids, hypotension, shock, hypotension during spinal anesthesia, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. It is also used as an aid in the diagnosis of heart murmurs and for prolongation of spinal anesthesia

Pharmacology
Phenylephrine is a powerful vasoconstrictor. It is used as a mydriatic, nasal decongestant, and cardiotonic agent. Phenylephrine is a postsynaptic alpha-receptor stimulant with little effect on the beta receptors of the heart. Parenteral administration of Phenylephrine causes a rise in systolic and diastolic pressures, cardiac output is slightly decreased and peripheral resistance is considerably increased, most vascular beds are constricted; renal, splanchnic, cutaneous, and limb blood flows are reduced but coronary blood flow is increased. Pulmonary vessels are constricted, and pulmonary arterial pressure is raised. This alpha receptor sympathetic agonist is also used locally because its vasoconstrictor and mydriatic action.

Mechanism Of Action
Phenylephrine produces its ophthalmic and systemic actions by acting on alpha 1 adrenergic receptors in the pupillary dilator muscle and the vascular smooth musle, resulting in contraction of the dilator muscle and contraction of the smooth muscle in the arterioles of the conjunctiva and peripheral vasoconstriction. Phenylephrine decreases nasal congestion by acting on alpha 1 adrenergic receptors in the arterioles of the nasal mucosa to produce constriction.

Drug Category
Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Cardiotonic Agents; Nasal Decongestants; Sympathomimetics; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Mydriatics; ATC:C01CA06; ATC:R01AA04; ATC:R01AB01; ATC:R01BA03; ATC:S01FB01; ATC:S01GA05

Brand Names/Synonyms
Adrianol; Ak-Dilate; Ak-Nefrin; Alcon Efrin; Alconefrin Nasal Drops 12; Alconefrin Nasal Drops 25; Alconefrin Nasal Drops 50; Alconefrin Nasal Spray 25; Biomydrin; Dilatair; Dimetane; Dionephrine; Doktors; Duration; Fenilefrina [Inn-Spanish]; HSDB 3383; I-Phrine; Isophrim; Isophrin; Isopto Frin; L-Phenylephedrine; L-Phenylephrine; M-Methylaminoethanolphenol; M-Oxedrine; M-Sympathol; M-Sympatol; M-Synephrine; Mesaton; Mesatone; Mesatonum; Metaoxedrin; Metaoxedrine; Metaoxedrinum; Metasympatol; Metasynephrine; Metsatonum; Mezaton; Minims Phenylephrine; Mydfrin; Neo-Synephrine; Neo-Synephrine Nasal Drops; Neo-Synephrine Nasal Jelly; Neo-Synephrine Nasal Spray; Neofrin; Neophryn; Neosynephrine; Nostril; Nostril Spray Pump; Nostril Spray Pump Mild; Ocu-Phrin Sterile Eye Drops; Ocugestrin; Phenoptic; Phenylephrine; Phenylephrine, I-; Phenylephrine, L-; Phenylephrinhydrochlorid; Phenylephrinum [Inn-Latin]; Prefrin; Prefrin Liquifilm; Pyracort D; Relief Eye Drops for Red Eyes; Rhinall; Spersaphrine; Vicks Sinex; Visadron

Dosage Forms
Ophthalmic Solution; Nasal Solution; Solution (IM, IV, IV infusion and subcutaneous); Gel; Cream; Ointment; Suppository

Absorption
Not Available

Interactions
-->Interactions for Phenylephrine:

Vasopressors, particularly metaraminol, may cause serious cardiac arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia and therefore should be used only with great caution or not at all.

MAO Inhibitors

The pressor effect of sympathomimetic pressor amines is markedly potentiated in patients receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI). Therefore, when initiating pressor therapy in these patients, the initial dose should be small and used with due caution. The pressor response of adrenergic agents may also be potentiated by tricyclic antidepressants.

Chemical IUPAC Name
3-(1-hydroxy-2-methylamino-ethyl)phenol

Chemical Formula
C9H13NO2

Half Life
Not Available

Drug Type
Approved Drug

# Accession No
APRD00365

CAS Registry Number
59-42-7