Pseudoephedrine HCl has moved behind the counter
Because of changes to federal legislation, products that contain the decongestant pseudoephedrine HCl cannot be sold over-the-counter—causing many leading brands to reformulate their cold, allergy, and sinus products. Some of these reformulated products no longer contain any decongestant at all. Reformulated Tylenol Cold, Allergy and Sinus products contain the decongestant phenylephrine. Both decongestants in Tylenol Cold, Allergy and Sinus products, pseudoephedrine (now available in products kept behind the pharmacy counter) and phenylephrine, are safe and effective when taken as directed.
See renamed products
Some of our reformulated products have new names. For example,
Tylenol Sinus Daytime is now called
Tylenol Sinus Congestion & Pain Daytime. Most of our over-the-counter products containing pseudoephedrine are being discontinued. A few products containing pseudoephedrine will still be available without a prescription, but only from behind the pharmacy counter. These products will also be sold through some online retailers who meet certain requirements. Ask your pharmacist about these products.
Our products containing the decongestant phenylephrine have revised dosing instructions. Phenylephrine is dosed on a more frequent basis (every 4 hours) than pseudoephedrine (every 4–6 hours). The amount of acetaminophen contained in our reformulated Tylenol Cold, Allergy and Sinus products was decreased to accommodate the more frequent dosing schedule while not exceeding the daily maximum dose of both products.
Both children's and adult products have been reformulated. Please read the label carefully and consult your doctor before giving medicine to a child.
The Tylenol adult and pediatric Cold, Allergy and Sinus products will continue to relieve your worst symptoms—including nasal congestion. The decongestant, phenylephrine, provides fast, effective relief of congestion and is safe when taken as directed.
Do not be concerned if you still have Tylenol products containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine. As long as your Tylenol products have not passed their expiration date, they are safe to take as directed.
Tylenol pseudoephedrine products, including
Tylenol Cold Severe Congestion, and
Tylenol Sinus Severe Congestion will still be available without a prescription but only from behind the pharmacy counter. These products will also be sold through some online retailers who meet certain requirements. Ask your pharmacist about these products. Or try our, reformulated products,
Tylenol Cold Head Congestion Severe and
Tylenol Sinus Congestion & Pain Severe. Our over-the-counter cold, allergy, and sinus products for adults and children contains the decongestant, phenylephrine. Phenylephrine provides fast, effective relief of congestion and is safe when taken as directed.
The decongestant pseudoephedrine can be chemically processed into a drug called methamphetamine. The illegal use of methamphetamine has increased in recent years, prompting Congress to pass the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2006. The objective of the law is to eliminate the use of pseudoephedrine in the illegal production of methamphetamine. By law, pseudoephedrine products must now be sold behind the pharmacy counter and through some online retailers who meet certain requirements. You do not need a prescription to purchase these products, but there are restrictions on the amount of pseudoephedrine an individual may purchase within a day, and over the course of a month. If you purchase a behind-the-counter pseudoephedrine product, you may also be asked to show identification and provide additional personal information. We regret any inconvenience you may experience when buying Tylenol products containing pseudoephedrine.
Pseudoephedrine is still an effective, safe, non-habit forming decongestant when taken as directed.
We've reformulated our adult cold, allergy, and sinus products and given the products new names.
If you are a resident of Canada, click here
