pseudoephedrine

noun

pseu·​do·​ephed·​rine ˌsü-dō-i-ˈfed-rən 

 British also  -ˈe-fə-drən

: an isomer of ephedrine used in the form of its hydrochloride or sulfate especially to relieve nasal congestion

Examples of pseudoephedrine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Methamphetamine is a stimulant that has cold medicine like pseudoephedrine as a main ingredient. —Lex Harvey, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024

Doctors don’t recommend products that contain pseudoephedrine for children at all, or for adults for more than a few days in a row because the ingredient can increase heart rate and blood pressure. —Nina Agrawal, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2024

Stuffy nose Decongestants like Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) and Afrin (oxymetazoline) narrow blood vessels in the nasal passages. —Colleen Murphy, Health, 5 Apr. 2024

For safety reasons, such products are invariably kept behind-the-counter because of the possibility of pseudoephedrine being used as a starter chemical for methamphetamine production. —Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

pseudoephedrine

noun

pseu·​do·​ephed·​rine

-i-ˈfed-rən, British also -ˈef-ə-drən

: a crystalline alkaloid C₁₀H₁₅NO that is isomeric with ephedrine and is administered chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride C₁₀H₁₅NO·HCl or sulfate (C₁₀H₁₅NO)₂·H₂SO₄ especially to relieve nasal congestion