Skip to main content

Pseudoephedrine and Anxiety: What Users Say

Brand names: Sudafed Congestion, Sudafed 12-Hour, SudoGest, Sudafed 24-Hour, Entex, Nexafed Nasal Decongestant, Chlor-Trimeton Nasal Decongestant, Contac Cold, Drixoral Decongestant Non-Drowsy, SudoGest 12 Hour, nasofed, Silfedrine, Suphedrin, Suphedrine, Children's Dimetapp Decongestant Infant, Allermed, Novafed, Cenafed, Genaphed, Afrinol, Zephrex-D Decofed Liquid Efidac Decofed Elixsure Decongestant 12 Hour Decongestant 12 Hour Nasal Decongestant …show all brand names

Anxiety: mentioned by 10 users (10.8%)

Based on user experiences from 93 Pseudoephedrine reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

anxiety 10.8%
heart palpitations 7.5%
insomnia 7.5%
drowsiness 5.4%
nausea 5.4%
tremors 4.3%
dizziness 3.2%

Reviews for Pseudoephedrine

Showing 10 reviews tagged with "anxiety". Clear filters to view all 93 reviews.
Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Coo...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 16, 2016

Sudafed Congestion (pseudoephedrine) for Nasal Congestion "I've had plugged ears from sinus congestion for two weeks. I took two doses every four hours of two tablets each, and the congestion has finally cleared, but I didn't realize that it would make for a sleepless, jittery night and now a jittery morning with no appetite and mild nausea. Next time I would start with one tablet and see if that helps and make sure I had plenty of time before going to sleep."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
44 Report
  • Jak...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 31, 2019

For Nasal Congestion "Took one Sudafed 12 hr in the AM. It cleared up my congestion but also had a bad reaction. Heart racing, feeling of disconnect, tingly head, anxious, jittery but exhausted, horrible insomnia. Felt the same the next day. Took about 40 hrs to wear off. Will never take again!"

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
28 Report
  • Jak...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 31, 2019

For Nasal Congestion "Took one Sudafed 12 hr in the AM. It cleared up my congestion but also had a bad reaction. Heart racing, feeling of disconnect, tingly head, anxious, jittery but exhausted, horrible insomnia. Felt the same the next day. Took about 40 hrs to wear off. Will never take again!"

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
28 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Tra...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 12, 2014

Sudafed 24-Hour (pseudoephedrine) for Nasal Congestion "After taking one dose of the Sudafed 24, it started to help me, but it only lasted 8 hours. So, I waited a full 24 hours before I took a second dose, and it made me feel jittery, and my heart was racing. Tried to eat and drink something, but it didn’t help."

4 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
36 Report
  • NoT...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 24, 2017

For Nasal Congestion "I was told by my doctor to take Sudafed for allergy congestion. I guess she didn't know that it interacts BADLY with my Synthroid and Cytomel! (Although she SHOULD have known - she is a doctor, after all.) After taking Sudafed, I had a major anxiety attack, and my blood pressure shot through the roof. It took HOURS for it to wear off. Apparently, there is a warning on the box that people with thyroid disease shouldn't take Sudafed. Sudafed causes the effects of Synthroid to increase dramatically, and Synthroid does the same thing to the Sudafed. If you take Synthroid, AVOID Sudafed!! I threw the box away and will never take it again. I blame my doc for not knowing this stuff is dangerous to thyroid patients."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
22 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
  • Kil...
  • March 13, 2017

For Nasal Congestion "Yes. Pseudoephedrine will make it easier to breathe, but if you don't read the fine print, you'll also find out that it makes it harder to pee, makes you jittery, and can make you restless. So, if you need to take it for a day or two - you should. But not for any longer."

7 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
15 Report
  • Hel...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 13, 2018

For Nasal Congestion "I took Telfast D, 1 tablet twice a day, 120 mg of pseud. I was fine at night, but just an hour after I took my 2nd dose in the morning, got nausea, lightheadedness, felt my heart racing - heart palpitations approx 100 bpm. This went on for hours. I threw up the meds. I got better after I took a short nap a couple of hours later. I stopped taking it, but the next morning - lightheadedness, nausea, heart palpitations, I gagged but didn't throw up, I went to A&E. ECG test normal. 120 bpm. Trembling, jittery, cold, and anxious. Very similar to an anxiety attack. The doctor said pseudo caused my heart palpitations as a side effect. It didn't even help me at all with my nasal congestion in the first place."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report

More FAQ

  • Hel...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 13, 2018

For Nasal Congestion "I took Telfast D, 1 tablet twice a day, 120 mg of pseud. I was fine at night, but just an hour after I took my 2nd dose in the morning, got nausea, lightheadedness, felt my heart racing - heart palpitations approx 100 bpm. This went on for hours. I threw up the meds. I got better after I took a short nap a couple of hours later. I stopped taking it, but the next morning - lightheadedness, nausea, heart palpitations, I gagged but didn't throw up, I went to A&E. ECG test normal. 120 bpm. Trembling, jittery, cold, and anxious. Very similar to an anxiety attack. The doctor said pseudo caused my heart palpitations as a side effect. It didn't even help me at all with my nasal congestion in the first place."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 13, 2025

Sudafed Congestion (pseudoephedrine) for Nasal Congestion "Let me start by saying that I have horrible anxiety, and Sudafed didn't make me shaky or anxious at all. I need to mention that I'm very weak already, as this infection has made me extremely exhausted. I'm also on an antibiotic that makes me a little tired. Sudafed definitely helped some, but since I have an infection, I'm still dealing with issues. It's opened my head partially, but a few hours ago, I had nearly 100% blockage of my sinuses, and when lying flat, I couldn't breathe at all, and now I can. I have serious sinus pain, as I've battled a 2-month-long chronic sinus infection. It started viral, I believe, the first few weeks. I wished I had started Sudafed sooner. I'm afraid of the rebound effect, so I don't plan on taking longer than a week. I'm supposed to start steroids if this regimen doesn't help, and oral prednisone makes me an anxious and moody mess, so I'm hoping I don't need to take it. I already had a steroid shot that didn't help and antibiotic shots too."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
0 Report
  • Joy...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • July 22, 2020

Sudafed Congestion (pseudoephedrine) for Nasal Congestion "Have nasal and ear blockage. Usually, Sudafed is the only thing that helps. I can only take one 30 mg at a time because of nervousness and sleeplessness."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
16 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.