Can You Take Delsym And Sudafed Together?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not Delsym and Sudafed can be taken together.
Can you take Delsym (Dextromethorphan) and Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) together? What about Sudafed PE?
Oct 12, 2022- Delsym and Sudafed have no documented interaction and are safe to take together, and you can even find combination products containing both.
- Before taking Sudafed, let your doctor know if you have high blood pressure, heart problems, or take certain medications like MAOI antidepressants.
- Delsym can interact with certain antidepressants, so check with your doctor or pharmacist about your current medications before use.
Answer
There is no documented interaction between Delsym (Dextromethorphan) and Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) and they are perfectly fine to take together in most situations. In fact, these two drugs come in combination in a multitude of OTC products so it is very likely that you can find a single product that puts the two together without having to purchase two separate products.
Additionally, it is worth pointing out that Delsym is also safe to take with Sudafed PE (phenylephrine) products
Considerations
When planning to take OTC medications for symptomatic relief, remember that it is important to know of any contraindications or precautions that must be taken before self-medicating.
In regards to Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine), it is important to let your doctor know you want to take it if you have elevated blood pressure, or cardiac problems or are on a variety of drugs that could cause an interaction (e.g. MAOI antidepressants).
If any of these apply to you, you still may be able to take the drug but your doctor might offer alternative suggestions such as saline nasal sprays or steroid nasal sprays.
For Delsym (Dextromethorphan), it is fine to take in most situations but can interact with certain medications, including antidepressants. There unfortunately aren't many alternatives to dextromethorphan for cough suppression besides cough drops, herbal teas, and other more natural remedies.
It is always important to read the ingredients and directions of the product you are purchasing as many over-the-counter cough/cold medications contain several ingredients, and you want to be sure you are not getting too much of any one drug.
Final Words
Thanks for your question and reach back out anytime!
References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Dextromethorphan
- An active ingredient in cough suppressants that helps reduce the urge to cough.
- Pseudoephedrine
- A decongestant medication that helps relieve nasal congestion by shrinking swollen blood vessels in the nose.
- Phenylephrine
- An alternative decongestant ingredient similar to pseudoephedrine used in some over-the-counter products.
- Contraindications
- Specific medical conditions or situations where a medication should not be used because it could be harmful.
- MAOI antidepressants
- A class of depression medications that can cause serious interactions with certain other drugs.
- Saline nasal sprays
- Non-medicated nasal sprays containing salt water used to relieve nasal congestion naturally.
- Steroid nasal sprays
- Medicated nasal sprays containing corticosteroids that reduce inflammation and congestion in the nasal passages.
- Over-the-counter
- Medications that can be purchased without a doctor's prescription.
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...
More answers from Brian →