How to Choose the Best Cold and Flu Medicine for Your Symptoms
Which cold and flu medicines actually work for runny noses or fevers? Review the best OTC cold and flu medications, including the symptoms they treat, here.
phenylephrine
Used for Hypotension, Pupil Dilation
Used for Hypotension, Pupil Dilation
Phenylephrine eye drops are used to dilate (widen) pupils for eye exams or certain eye procedures. Side effects include temporary burning or stinging in the eye, blurry vision, and possibly raise your blood pressure. Let your provider know if your pregnant or breastfeeding because you might need to use a different medication.
What is Phenylephrine eye drops?
What is Phenylephrine eye drops used for?
- Dilate (widen) pupils
How Phenylephrine eye drops works
Phenylephrine eye drops is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist. It stimulates a muscle in your eye to cause your pupils to widen (dilate) for eye exams or before certain eye procedures.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | AK-Dilate |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Phenylephrine eye drops
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Temporary stinging or burning in your eye
- Temporary blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light
Phenylephrine eye drops serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reaction: hives, rash, blisters, skin reddening, swelling of the lips or tongue, difficulty breathing
- Heart attack: Chest pain or tightness, pain that spreads up to your shoulder, arm, neck, or jaw, trouble breathing, cold sweat
The following Phenylephrine eye drops side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Symptoms of too much medicine being absorbed into the body
Less common with 10% solution; rare with 2.5% or weaker solution
Dizziness
fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
increased sweating
increase in blood pressure
paleness
trembling
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common with 2.5 or 10% solution
Burning or stinging of eyes
headache or browache
sensitivity of eyes to light
watering of eyes
Less common
Eye irritation not present before use of this medicine
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$87.41
GoodRx discount
$18.75
Pros and cons of Phenylephrine eye drops
Pros
- Can be used in adults and children
- Starts working quickly (within 15 minutes)
- Available as a lower-cost generic medication
Cons
- Can cause eye pain and stinging
- Dilating effects can last for up to 7 hours (or longer)
- The 10% strength can raise blood pressure in people with certain heart or thyroid problems
Pharmacist tips for Phenylephrine eye drops
- Before receiving phenylephrine eye drops, make sure to follow your provider's instructions for when to remove and put back your contact lens in your eye.
- Make sure your provider knows if you have heart problems, high blood pressure, or thyroid problems before using phenylephrine eye drops. This medication can cause significantly higher blood pressure in people with these conditions.
- Phenylephrine eye drops can cause blurry vision and light sensitivity for up to 8 hours after receiving your dose. Don't drive or do anything that requires you to focus while your pupils are dilated.
- After receiving phenylephrine eye drops, your eyes might be more sensitive to light while your pupils are dilated. It's important that you protect your eyes from light as much as possible until the medication's effects wear off.
- If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, make sure to tell your provider before you use phenylephrine eye drops. It's not unknown how phenylephrine eye drops might affect your unborn baby or if it passes into breast milk. Your provider might choose to wait until you have given birth or are done breastfeeding before instructing you to use this medication.
Risks and warnings for Phenylephrine eye drops
Phenylephrine eye drops can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
For use in the eyes only
While phenylephrine is available in tablet and nasal spray forms, phenylephrine eye drops should only be used in your eyes. Don't give yourself this medication any other way. If you or someone else takes phenylephrine eye drops by mouth, get medical help right away or contact a Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Heart problems
- Risk factors: History of heart problems | Using the 10% strength of phenylephrine eye drops
There have been some reports of serious heart problems, including heart attacks and heart rhythm problems in people who use phenylephrine eye drops 10%. If you have heart problems, let your provider know because you'll need to use the lower strength (phenylephrine eye drops 2.5%) of this medication. Get medical help right away if you experience irregular heartbeat, chest pain, arm pain, shortness of breath, or a cold sweat.
High blood pressure
- Risk factors: Using the 10% strength of phenylephrine eye drops | Age under 5 years old | High thyroid hormone levels (hyperthyroidism) | Heart problems | High blood pressure
Although rare, phenylephrine eye drops can raise your blood pressure, especially if you have a history of heart or blood pressure problems, thyroid problems, or are using the 10% strength of phenylephrine eye drops. If you're already at risk for high blood pressure or if your blood pressure isn't under control, your provider will need to prescribe the lower strength (phenylephrine eye drops 2.5%) of this medication. If you get severe headaches, nosebleeds, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, or chest pain while taking phenylephrine eye drops, stop taking it and seek medical attention right away.
Rebound pupil constriction
Phenylephrine eye drops is used to widen your pupils, but it's possible for your pupils to be more constricted (tighter) more than usual a day after receiving the medication. Applying more phenylephrine eye drops won't work as well as the first time.
Phenylephrine eye drops dosage
The average cost for 1 eye dropper of 2ml of 2.5% of Phenylephrine eye drops is $21.67 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 47.13% off the average retail price of $40.99. 
Eye dropper
Eye dropper| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5ml of 10% | 1 eye dropper | $18.75 | $18.75 |
| 15ml of 2.5% | 1 eye dropper | $34.38 | $34.38 |
| 2ml of 2.5% | 1 eye dropper | $21.67 | $21.67 |
Typical dosage for Phenylephrine eye drops
The typical dose is 1 drop into the eye every 3 to 5 minutes as needed, for a maximum of 3 drops total.
Adults and children 1 year of age and older can use either phenylephrine eye drops 2.5% or 10% strengths. Children under 1 year of age should only use phenylephrine eye drops 2.5% strength.
Interactions between Phenylephrine eye drops and other drugs
Phenylephrine eye drops may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Phenylephrine eye drops. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Clorgyline
- Dihydroergotamine
- Iproniazid
- Isocarboxazid
- Linezolid
- Nialamide
- Phenelzine
- Procarbazine
- Rasagiline
- Selegiline
- Tranylcypromine
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Ergonovine
- Furazolidone
- Iobenguane I 123
- Iobenguane I 131
- Methylergonovine
- Midodrine
- Pargyline
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
How much does Phenylephrine eye drops cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Phenylephrine eye drops (generic)
$18.75
Phenylephrine eye drops contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Phenylephrine eye drops will not be safe for you to take.
- 10% strength only: Use in people with heart problems, thyroid problems, and children less than 1 year of age
What are alternatives to Phenylephrine eye drops?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Phenylephrine eye drops. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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