Can You Take Gabapentin And Sudafed Together?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not Sudafed can safely be taken with gabapentin.
I take gabapentin for nerve pain. I'm always very careful about other medications I take. I currently am very congested and want to know if Sudafed is okay to take.
Nov 09, 2022- There is no known drug interaction between Sudafed and gabapentin, so they are safe to take together.
- The two medications may cause some mild shared side effects like nausea or headaches, but these are generally not serious.
- If nasal congestion is an ongoing problem, a nasal steroid spray like Flonase is an effective alternative that is also safe to use with gabapentin.
Answer
There is no known drug interaction between Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) and gabapentin. They are considered safe to take together.
Similarly, Sudafed PE, which contains phenylephrine, is also safe to take with gabapentin.
Sudafed and gabapentin don't share many common side effects either aside from gastrointestinal effects (e.g., nausea) and headaches. If these occur, they are generally mild in nature.
If nasal congestion has been a continuing problem for you, you may want to try a nasal steroid, such as Flonase, Rhinocort or Nasacort. They are very effective for relieving congestion as well as other allergy symptoms. They are safe to use with gabapentin as well.
What Is Sudafed?
Sudafed is a brand name of a family of products.
Sudafed generally refers to pseudoephedrine, a nasal decongestant. Sudafed PE contains a similar decongestant, phenylephrine.
Pseudoephedrine is used to relieve nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies, and hay fever. It is also used to temporarily relieve sinus congestion and pressure.
Pseudoephedrine is in a class of medications called nasal decongestants and works by causing narrowing of the blood vessels in the nasal passages.
What Is Gabapentin?
Gabapentin is used to help control certain types of seizures in people who have epilepsy. It is also used to relieve nerve-type pain and treat restless legs syndrome (RLS).
Gabapentin is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It treats seizures by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain and relieves pain by changing the way the body senses it.
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Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Pseudoephedrine
- A nasal decongestant medication that narrows blood vessels in the nasal passages to relieve congestion.
- Phenylephrine
- A similar decongestant to pseudoephedrine that is used in some Sudafed products to relieve nasal congestion.
- Nasal steroid
- A type of medication applied to the nose that reduces inflammation and relieves congestion and allergy symptoms.
- Gabapentin
- A medication in the anticonvulsant class used to treat seizures, nerve pain, and restless legs syndrome.
- Anticonvulsants
- A class of medications used to prevent seizures by decreasing abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
- Seizures
- Sudden bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause loss of consciousness or involuntary movements.
- Restless legs syndrome
- A condition characterized by uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them, especially at night.
- Drug interaction
- A reaction that occurs when two medications affect each other's effectiveness or safety when taken together.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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