Health Centres - Phenylephrine Injection
How does it work?
Phenylephrine belongs to a group of medicines known as sympathomimetics. It acts by stimulating alpha adrenergic receptors.
What is it used for?
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Use with caution in
-
Advanced disease of the arteries in which fat sticks to the inner wall leading to obstruction
-
Angina pectoris
-
Closed angle glaucoma
-
Diabetes
-
Disease involving the heart and blood vessels
-
High blood pressure
- Irregular heart beats (arrhythmias)
-
Narrowing of blood vessels in the extremities
Not to be used in
-
Hyperthyroidism
- People who have taken monoamine-oxidase inhibitor antidepressants (MAOIs) in the last 14 days
-
Very high blood pressure
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- This medicine passes into breast milk, however there are no reported harmful effects when used by breastfeeding mothers.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention)
- Sweating
- Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
- Changes in blood sugar levels
- Awareness of your heartbeat (palpitations)
- Increased salivation
- Problems with urinating
- Difficulty in breathing (dyspnoea)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Temporary worsening of chest pain (angina) at the start of therapy
- Severe reduction in blood pressure and fainting
- Local tingling sensation
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
Phenylephrine may increase bloodpressure and reverse the action of many blood-pressure lowering medicines.
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