What is Alka-Seltzer Cold and Sinus (Acetaminophen Pseudoephedrine)?

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer.

Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).

The combination of acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine is used to treat stuffy nose, sinus congestion, and pain or fever caused by the common cold.

Acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Alka-Seltzer Cold and Sinus (Acetaminophen Pseudoephedrine)?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen or pseudoephedrine.

Do not use this medication if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take a decongestant before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

Before taking acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• cirrhosis or other liver disease
• a history of alcoholism
• heart disease or high blood pressure
• glaucoma
• an enlarged prostate
• diabetes; or
• a thyroid disorder

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Artificially-sweetened liquid forms of cough-and-cold medications may contain phenylalanine. This would be important to know if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). Check the ingredients and warnings on the medication label if you are concerned about phenylalanine.

Alka-Seltzer Cold and Sinus Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Alka-Seltzer Cold and Sinus (Acetaminophen Pseudoephedrine)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms
• increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure); or
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild loss of appetite
• warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin
• feeling excited or restless
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• skin rash or itching

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Alka-Seltzer Cold and Sinus Interactions

What other drugs affect Alka-Seltzer Cold and Sinus (Acetaminophen Pseudoephedrine)?

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• isoniazid
• zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT)
• medicines to treat high blood pressure
• gout medications such as probenecid (Benemid) or sulfinpyrazone
• seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton)
• stimulants (caffeine, diet pills, ADHD medications such as Ritalin or Adderall)
• an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), and others; or
• a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Alka-Seltzer Cold and Sinus (Acetaminophen Pseudoephedrine)?

Do not use any other cough, cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as “APAP”) and pseudoephedrine are contained in many combination medicines. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains acetaminophen, APAP, or pseudoephedrine.

If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day, do not take acetaminophen without your doctor’s advice, and never take more than 2 grams (2000 mg) of acetaminophen per day.

Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications) without your doctor’s advice. Taking a stimulant together with a decongestant can increase your risk of unpleasant side effects.

Alka-Seltzer Cold and Sinus Dosage

How should I take Alka-Seltzer Cold and Sinus (Acetaminophen Pseudoephedrine)?

Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your doctor. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended. Cold medicine should be taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.

Drink extra fluids while you are taking acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine.

An overdose of acetaminophen can cause serious harm. The maximum amount of acetaminophen for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. Taking more acetaminophen could cause damage to your liver. One acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine tablet may contain up to 500 mg of acetaminophen. Know the amount of acetaminophen in the specific product you are taking.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 2 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.

Measure the liquid form of acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have taken a cold medicine within the past few days.

Store this medication at room temperature, away from heat, light, and moisture.

What happens if I overdose on Alka-Seltzer Cold and Sinus (Acetaminophen Pseudoephedrine)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include feeling restless or nervous, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, increased sweating, seizure (convulsions), or coma.

What happens if I miss a dose of Alka-Seltzer Cold and Sinus (Acetaminophen Pseudoephedrine)?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Edited from everydayhealth.com