Allergy and cold
Pseudoephedrine
Oral decongestant
Other names: Sudafed, Efidac
Wait
24 hours
after the first dose (the FAA's MedGuide, which gives Allegra-D and Claritin-D 48 hours)
Two FAA documents give different waits. Both are below.
Examiner
The examiner can issue when the document's criteria are met
FAA label
ACCEPTABLE
The FAA's two documents on pseudoephedrine give different waits.
Track your medicationsCompare FAA documents: pseudoephedrineWhat each of the three FAA documents says, in plain wordsOpen
The FAA's documents differ. The FAA's allergy sheet requires a 48-hour ground trial after the first use of any new medication; the FAA's MedGuide, newer and written medicine by medicine, gives pseudoephedrine 24 hours after the first dose (and its combinations with an antihistamine 48 hours). Both are current FAA documents and both name the medicine, so neither is set aside.
Wait
- 48-hour ground trial after first use of any new medication (the FAA's allergy sheet)
The FAA's MedGuide names pseudoephedrine (Efidac, Sudafed) as allowed, for congestion, with a wait of 24 hours after the first dose and none after later doses or after the final dose, used per label directions; its entries for fexofenadine with pseudoephedrine (Allegra-D) and loratadine with pseudoephedrine (Alavert-D, Claritin-D) give 48 hours after the first dose.
The FAA's allergy sheet lists pseudoephedrine as an acceptable decongestant, which may be used as a single agent or in any combination product, if other certification criteria are met. Under new medications, the allergy sheet says symptoms must be controlled without adverse side effects and a mandatory 48-hour ground trial is required after initial use; for acceptable medications, it says the initial observation time is not required (see chart below); and its footnote prohibits flight/safety-related duties after initial use of a new medication until after a 48-hour ground trial and no side effects are noted. The allergy sheet also says airmen who are exhibiting symptoms, regardless of the treatment used, must not fly.
The FAA's over-the-counter guide cautions that Sudafed-like medications can speed up the heart rate, and to use caution with an underlying heart condition. The MedGuide defines allowed as acceptable for use while performing flight or safety-related duties, provided the condition is stable/aeromedically acceptable and no adverse side effects are present.
- pseudoephedrine on its own (the FAA's MedGuide): 24 hours after the first dose: ground observation
- Allegra-D and Claritin-D in the MedGuide, and any new medication under the allergy sheet: 48 hours after the first dose: ground observation
Show the FAA's words: pseudoephedrineThe official FAA wording: four passages, each with its document and dateOpen
New medications:
Symptoms must be controlled without adverse side effects.
Initial observation time: Mandatory 48-hour ground trial required after initial use.
Acceptable medications:
Initial observation time: Not required for acceptable medications (see chart below).
ACCEPTABLE* (Non-Sedating) Antihistamine and Allergy Medications
May be used as a single agent or in any combination product, if other certification criteria are met.
Oral/Nasal: Decongestants
pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
oxymetazoline (Afrin) nasal spray
* Airmen are prohibited from flight/safety-related duties after initial use of a new medication until after a 48-hour ground trial and no side effects are noted.
Generic: pseudoephedrine
Brand Name: Efidac; Sudafed
Drug Class: Decongestant
Underlying Condition: Congestion
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): 24 hours
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): None
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: Per label directions
Generic: fexofenadine + pseudoephedrine
Brand Name: Allegra-D
Drug Class: Antihistamine (H1) Second Generation + decongestant
Underlying Condition: Allergic rhinitis; Congestion
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): 48 hours
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): None
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: Per label directions
Generic: loratadine + pseudoephedrine
Brand Name: Alavert-D; Claritin-D
Drug Class: Antihistamine (H1) Second Generation + decongestant
Underlying Condition: Allergic rhinitis; Congestion
Use: ALLOW
INITIAL Wait Time (after first dose): 48 hours
SUBSEQUENT Dose Wait Time (after each dose): None
DISCONTINUATION Wait Time (after final dose): None
Frequency Use Limit: Per label directions
Airmen who are exhibiting symptoms, regardless of the treatment used, must not fly.
oxymetazoline (Afrin), phenylephrine (Sudafed PE), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). CAUTION: Sudafed- like medications can speed up your heart rate; therefore, use caution if you have an underlying heart condition.
ALLOWED: The medication is acceptable for use while performing flight or safety-related duties, provided the condition is stable/aeromedically acceptable and no adverse side effects are present.