Phenylephrine - Food & Medicine Encyclopedia

It is a powerful vasoconstrictor which is commonly used to dilate the pupils and relieve nasal congestion. Available as injection under the brand name, VAZCULEP (phenylephrine hydrochloride), it is an intravenous medication first approved by the US FDA in 1954.

What are the uses of Phenylephrine?[edit]

Phenylephrine hydrochloride) Injection is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of clinically important hypotension resulting primarily from vasodilation in the setting of anesthesia.

What is the recommended dosage?[edit]

VAZCULEP (phenylephrine hydrochloride) Injection, 10 mg/mL, is injected intravenously either as a bolus or in a dilute solution as a continuous infusion.
Dosing for treatment of hypotension during anesthesia  Bolus intravenous injection: 40 mcg to 100 mcg every 1-2 minutes as needed, not to exceed 200 mcg.
Intravenous infusion: 10 mcg/min to 35 mcg/min, titrating to effect, not to exceed 200 mcg/min.
The dose should be adjusted according to the pressor response (i.e., titrate to effect).

How is this medication supplied?[edit]

1 mL single use vials containing 10 mg phenylephrine hydrochloride (10 mg/mL)
5 mL pharmacy bulk package vials containing 50 mg phenylephrine hydrochloride (10 mg/mL)
10 mL pharmacy bulk package vials containing 100 mg phenylephrine hydrochloride (10 mg/mL)

What are the warnings and precautions I should be aware of?[edit]

Extravasation during intravenous administration may cause necrosis or sloughing of tissue
Severe bradycardia and decreased cardiac output
Allergic-type reactions: Sulfite
Concomitant use with oxytocic drugs: Pressor effect of sympathomimetic pressor amines is potentiated

What side effects can this medication cause?[edit]

Most common adverse reactions during treatment include nausea, vomiting, and headache.

What drug interactions can this medication cause?[edit]

Agonistic effects with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), oxytocin and oxytocic drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, angiotensin and aldosterone, atropine, steroids, norepinephrine transporter inhibitors, ergot alkaloids
Antagonistic effects with α-adrenergic antagonists, phosphodiesterase Type

Can this medication be used in pregnancy?[edit]

No. Based on animal data, may cause fetal harm.

Cardiac stimulants excluding cardiac glycosides (C01C)

Adrenergic and
dopaminergic agents

Adrenergic agonists

α	* Denopamine Metaraminol Methoxamine Midodrine Norfenefrine Oxedrine Phenylephrine
β	* Arbutamine Dobutamine Isoprenaline Prenalterol
mixed	* Amezinium metilsulfate Droxidopa Epinephrine # Etilefrine Norepinephrine

Dopamine agonists

* Fenoldopam

Both

* Docarpamine

Unknown/ungrouped

* Cafedrine

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE3I)

* Amrinone

Other cardiac stimulants

* Angiotensinamide

^#WHO-EM
^‡Withdrawn from market
Clinical trials:
- ^†Phase III
- ^§Never to phase III

Decongestants and other nasal preparations (R01)

Topical

Sympathomimetics, plain	* Amidephrine Cyclopentamine Ephedrine Epinephrine Fenoxazoline Iproheptine Levmetamfetamine Methylephedrine Metizoline Naphazoline Oxymetazoline Phenylephrine Propylhexedrine Tetryzoline Tramazoline Tuaminoheptane Tymazoline Xylometazoline
Antiallergic agents, excluding corticosteroids	* Spaglumic acid histamine antagonists (Levocabastine Antazoline Thonzylamine) mast cell stabilizer (some are also antihistamines) (Cromoglicic acid Nedocromil Azelastine Olopatadine Lodoxamide)
Corticosteroids	* Beclometasone dipropionate Betamethasone^# Budesonide Ciclesonide Dexamethasone Flunisolide Fluticasone (Fluticasone furoate, Fluticasone propionate) Mometasone furoate Prednisolone^# Tixocortol Triamcinolone Triamcinolone acetonide
Other nasal preparations	* Cafaminol Calcium hexamine thiocyanate Eucalyptus oil Framycetin Hexamidine Hyaluronan Ipratropium bromide Mupirocin Retinol Ritiometan Saline water
Combination products	* Olopatadine/mometasone

^#WHO-EM
^‡Withdrawn from market
Clinical trials:
- ^†Phase III
- ^§Never to phase III

Ophthalmologicals: mydriasis and cycloplegia (S01F)

Anticholinergics/antimuscarinics	* Atropine Scopolamine Methylscopolamine Cyclopentolate Homatropine Tropicamide (+phenylephrine)
Sympathomimetics	* Ephedrine Hydroxyamphetamine (norpholedrine) Ibopamine Phenylephrine (+ketorolac) Pholedrine

Adrenergic receptor modulators

α₁	* Agonists: 6-FNE Amidephrine Anisodine Buspirone Cirazoline Corbadrine Desglymidodrine Dexisometheptene Dipivefrine Dopamine Droxidopa (L-DOPS) Ephedrine Epinephrine Etilefrine Etilevodopa Ethylnorepinephrine Indanidine Isometheptene L-DOPA (levodopa) L-Phenylalanine L-Tyrosine Melevodopa Metaraminol Methoxamine Methyldopa Midodrine Naphazoline Norepinephrine Octopamine (drug) Oxymetazoline Phenylephrine Phenylpropanolamine Pseudoephedrine Synephrine Tetryzoline Tiamenidine XP21279 Xylometazoline Antagonists: Abanoquil Adimolol Ajmalicine Alfuzosin Amosulalol Anisodamine Arotinolol Atiprosin Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., brexpiprazole, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone) Benoxathian Buflomedil Bunazosin Carvedilol Corynanthine Dapiprazole Domesticine Doxazosin Ergolines (e.g., ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, lisuride, terguride) Etoperidone Eugenodilol Fenspiride Hydroxyzine Indoramin Ketanserin L-765,314 Labetalol mCPP Mepiprazole Metazosin Monatepil Moxisylyte Naftopidil Nantenine Neldazosin Niaprazine Nicergoline Niguldipine Pardoprunox Pelanserin Perlapine Phendioxan Phenoxybenzamine Phentolamine Phenylpiperazine antidepressants (e.g., hydroxynefazodone, nefazodone, trazodone, triazoledione) Piperoxan Prazosin Quinazosin Quinidine Ritanserin Silodosin Spiperone Talipexole Tamsulosin Terazosin Tiodazosin Tolazoline Tetracyclic antidepressants (e.g., amoxapine, maprotiline, mianserin) Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, clomipramine, doxepin, imipramine, trimipramine) Trimazosin Typical antipsychotics (e.g., chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, loxapine, thioridazine) Urapidil WB-4101 Zolertine
α₂	* Agonists: (R)-3-Nitrobiphenyline 4-NEMD 6-FNE Amitraz Apraclonidine Brimonidine Cannabivarin Clonidine Corbadrine Detomidine Dexmedetomidine Dihydroergotamine Dipivefrine Dopamine Droxidopa (L-DOPS) Etilevodopa Ephedrine Ergotamine Epinephrine Etilefrine Ethylnorepinephrine Guanabenz Guanfacine Guanoxabenz L-DOPA (levodopa) L-Phenylalanine L-Tyrosine Lofexidine Medetomidine Melevodopa Methyldopa Mivazerol Naphazoline Norepinephrine Oxymetazoline Phenylpropanolamine Piperoxan Pseudoephedrine Rezatomidine Rilmenidine Romifidine Talipexole Tasipimidine Tetrahydrozoline Tiamenidine Tizanidine Tolonidine Urapidil Vatinoxan XP21279 Xylazine Xylometazoline Antagonists: 1-PP Adimolol Amesergide Aptazapine Atipamezole Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., asenapine, brexpiprazole, clozapine, lurasidone, paliperidone, quetiapine, risperidone, zotepine) Azapirones (e.g., buspirone, gepirone, ipsapirone, tandospirone) BRL-44408 Buflomedil Cirazoline Efaroxan Esmirtazapine Fenmetozole Fluparoxan Idazoxan mCPP Mianserin Mirtazapine NAN-190 Olanzapine Pardoprunox Phentolamine Phenoxybenzamine Piperoxan Piribedil Rauwolscine Rotigotine SB-269970 Setiptiline Spiroxatrine Sunepitron Tolazoline Typical antipsychotics (e.g., chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, loxapine, thioridazine) Yohimbine
β	* Agonists: Abediterol Alifedrine Amibegron Arbutamine Arformoterol Arotinolol BAAM Bambuterol Befunolol Bitolterol Broxaterol Buphenine Carbuterol Carmoterol Cimaterol Clenbuterol Colterol Corbadrine Denopamine Dipivefrine Dobutamine Dopamine Dopexamine Droxidopa (L-DOPS) Ephedrine Epinephrine Etafedrine Etilefrine Etilevodopa Ethylnorepinephrine Fenoterol Formoterol Hexoprenaline Higenamine Indacaterol Isoetarine Isoprenaline Isoxsuprine L-DOPA (levodopa) L-Phenylalanine L-Tyrosine Levosalbutamol Mabuterol Melevodopa Methoxyphenamine Methyldopa Mirabegron Norepinephrine Orciprenaline Oxyfedrine PF-610355 Phenylpropanolamine Pirbuterol Prenalterol Ractopamine Procaterol Pseudoephedrine Reproterol Rimiterol Ritodrine Salbutamol Salmeterol Solabegron Terbutaline Tretoquinol Tulobuterol Vilanterol Xamoterol XP21279 Zilpaterol Zinterol Antagonists: Acebutolol Adaprolol Adimolol Afurolol Alprenolol Alprenoxime Amosulalol Ancarolol Arnolol Arotinolol Atenolol Befunolol Betaxolol Bevantolol Bisoprolol Bopindolol Bornaprolol Brefonalol Bucindolol Bucumolol Bufetolol Bufuralol Bunitrolol Bunolol Bupranolol Butaxamine Butidrine Butofilolol Capsinolol Carazolol Carpindolol Carteolol Carvedilol Celiprolol Cetamolol Cicloprolol Cinamolol Cloranolol Cyanopindolol Dalbraminol Dexpropranolol Diacetolol Dichloroisoprenaline Dihydroalprenolol Dilevalol Diprafenone Draquinolol Ecastolol Epanolol Ericolol Ersentilide Esatenolol Esprolol Eugenodilol Exaprolol Falintolol Flestolol Flusoxolol Hydroxycarteolol Hydroxytertatolol ICI-118,551 Idropranolol Indenolol Indopanolol Iodocyanopindolol Iprocrolol Isoxaprolol Isamoltane Labetalol Landiolol Levobetaxolol Levobunolol Levomoprolol Medroxalol Mepindolol Metipranolol Metoprolol Moprolol Nadolol Nadoxolol Nebivolol Nifenalol Nipradilol Oxprenolol Pacrinolol Pafenolol Pamatolol Pargolol Penbutolol Pindolol Practolol Primidolol Procinolol Pronethalol Propafenone Propranolol Ridazolol Ronactolol Soquinolol Sotalol Spirendolol SR 59230A Sulfinalol Talinolol Tazolol Tertatolol Tienoxolol Tilisolol Timolol Tiprenolol Tolamolol Toliprolol Xibenolol Xipranolol

Phenethylamines

Phenethylamines	* Psychedelics: 25B-NBOMe 25C-NBOMe 25D-NBOMe 25I-NBOMe 25N-NBOMe 2C-B 2C-B-AN 2C-Bn 2C-Bu 2C-C 2C-CN 2C-CP 2C-D 2C-E 2C-EF 2C-F 2C-G 2C-G-1 2C-G-2 2C-G-3 2C-G-4 2C-G-5 2C-G-6 2C-G-N 2C-H 2C-I 2C-iP 2C-N 2C-NH2 2C-O 2C-O-4 2C-P 2C-Ph 2C-SE 2C-T 2C-T-2 2C-T-3 2C-T-4 2C-T-5 2C-T-6 2C-T-7 2C-T-8 2C-T-9 2C-T-10 2C-T-11 2C-T-12 2C-T-13 2C-T-14 2C-T-15 2C-T-16 2C-T-17 2C-T-18 2C-T-19 2C-T-20 2C-T-21 2C-T-22 2C-T-22.5 2C-T-23 2C-T-24 2C-T-25 2C-T-27 2C-T-28 2C-T-30 2C-T-31 2C-T-32 2C-T-33 2C-TFE 2C-TFM 2C-YN 2C-V Allylescaline DESOXY Escaline Isoproscaline Jimscaline Macromerine MEPEA Mescaline Metaescaline Methallylescaline Proscaline Psi-2C-T-4 TCB-2 Stimulants: Phenylethanolamine Hordenine Phenethylamine Phenpromethamine α-Methylphenethylamine (amphetamine) β-Methylphenethylamine m-Methylphenethylamine N-Methylphenethylamine o-Methylphenethylamine p-Methylphenethylamine Methylphenidate Entactogens: Lophophine MDPEA MDMPEA Others: BOH DMPEA
Amphetamines	* Psychedelics: 3C-AL 3C-BZ 3C-E 3C-MAL 3C-P Aleph Beatrice Bromo-DragonFLY D-Deprenyl DMA DMCPA DMMDA DOB DOC DOEF DOET DOI DOM DON DOPR DOTFM Ganesha MMDA MMDA-2 Psi-DOM TMA TeMA ZDCM-04 Stimulants: 2-FA 2-FMA 3-FA 3-FMA Acridorex Alfetamine Amfecloral Amfepentorex Amphetamine (Dextroamphetamine, Levoamphetamine) Amphetaminil Benfluorex Benzphetamine Cathine Clobenzorex Dimethylamphetamine Ephedrine Etilamfetamine Fencamfamin Fencamine Fenethylline Fenfluramine (Dexfenfluramine, Levofenfluramine) Fenproporex Flucetorex Fludorex Formetorex Furfenorex Gepefrine 4-Hydroxyamphetamine Iofetamine Isopropylamphetamine Lefetamine Lisdexamfetamine Mefenorex Metaraminol Methamphetamine (Dextromethamphetamine, Levomethamphetamine) Methoxyphenamine MMA Morforex Norfenfluramine L -Norpseudoephedrine N,alpha-Diethylphenylethylamine Oxifentorex Oxilofrine Ortetamine PBA PCA PFA PFMA PIA PMA PMEA PMMA Phenylpropanolamine Pholedrine Prenylamine Propylamphetamine Pseudoephedrine Sibutramine Tiflorex Tranylcypromine Xylopropamine Zylofuramine Entactogens: 4-FA 4-FMA 4-MA 4-MMA 4-MTA 5-APB 5-APDB 5-EAPB 5-IT 5-MAPB 5-MAPDB 6-APB 6-APDB 6-Chloro-MDMA 6-EAPB 6-IT 6-MAPB 6-MAPDB EDA IAP 2,3-MDA 3,4-MDA (tenamfetamine) MDEA MDHMA MDMA (midomafetamine) MDOH Methamnetamine MMDMA Naphthylaminopropane TAP Others: 3,4-DCA Amiflamine DiFMDA Selegiline (also D -Deprenyl)
Phentermines	* Stimulants: Chlorphentermine Cloforex Clortermine Etolorex Mephentermine Pentorex Phentermine Entactogens: MDPH MDMPH Others: Cericlamine
Cathinones	* Stimulants: 3-FMC 4-MC 4-BMC 4-CMC 4-EMC 4-FMC 4-MEC 4-MeMABP 4-MPD Amfepramone Benzedrone Brephedrone Buphedrone Bupropion Cathinone Dimethylcathinone Ethcathinone Eutylone Hydroxybupropion Methcathinone Methedrone NEB N-Ethylhexedrone N-Ethylpentedrone Pentedrone Pentylone Radafaxine Entactogens: 3,4-DMMC 3-MMC Butylone Ethylone Methylone Methylenedioxycathinone Mephedrone
Phenylisobutylamines	* Entactogens: 4-CAB 4-MAB Ariadne BDB Butylone EBDB Eutylone MBDB Stimulants: Phenylisobutylamine