15 Facts About Phenylephrine

Phenylephrine is a medication primarily used as a decongestant, to dilate the pupil, to increase blood pressure, and to relieve hemorrhoids.

Phenylephrine can be taken by mouth, as a nasal spray, given by injection into a vein or muscle, or applied to the skin.

Phenylephrine is a selective a1-adrenergic receptor agonist which results in the constriction of both arteries and veins.

Phenylephrine was patented in 1927 and came into medical use in 1938.

Phenylephrine is used as a decongestant sold as an oral medicine or as a nasal spray.

Phenylephrine is used as an alternative for pseudoephedrine in decongestant medicines due to pseudoephedrine's use in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine.

Phenylephrine has been off patent for some time, and many generic brands are available.

Phenylephrine can be used topically to prevent symptoms of hemorrhoids.

Phenylephrine is used as an eye drop to dilate the pupil to facilitate visualization of the retina.

Phenylephrine has been used as an intracameral injection into the anterior chamber of the eye to arrest intraocular bleeding occurring during cataract and glaucoma surgery.

Phenylephrine is commonly used as a vasopressor to increase the blood pressure in unstable patients with hypotension, especially resulting from septic shock.

Recently, Phenylephrine has been used to treat conditions of orthostatic intolerance such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome - where by activation of venous alpha 1 adrenoreceptors increases venous return and stroke volume which improves symptoms.

Phenylephrine is not suggested for use in people with hypertension.

Phenylephrine is pregnancy category C Due to the lack of studies done in animals and in humans, it is not known whether there is harm to the fetus.

Phenylephrine is a sympathomimetic drug, which means that it mimics the actions of epinephrine or norepinephrine.