Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: EMERPHED versus FEXOFENADINE HYDROCHLORIDE PSEUDOEPHEDRINE HYDROCHLORIDE.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: EMERPHED versus FEXOFENADINE HYDROCHLORIDE PSEUDOEPHEDRINE HYDROCHLORIDE.
EMERPHED vs FEXOFENADINE HYDROCHLORIDE; PSEUDOEPHEDRINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
EMERPHED is a combination of ephedrine and phenylephrine. Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine that acts directly on alpha and beta adrenergic receptors and indirectly by releasing norepinephrine from nerve endings, causing vasoconstriction, bronchodilation, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Phenylephrine is a selective alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist causing vasoconstriction and increased blood pressure.
Fexofenadine is a selective peripheral H1-receptor antagonist; pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine that acts as a decongestant by stimulating alpha-adrenergic receptors in the respiratory tract mucosa, causing vasoconstriction.
Adults: 1-2 capsules (25-50 mg ephedrine sulfate) orally every 3-4 hours as needed, not to exceed 150 mg in 24 hours.
One tablet (fexofenadine HCl 60 mg / pseudoephedrine HCl 120 mg) orally every 12 hours. Maximum 2 tablets per day.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life: 3-6 hours (prolonged in renal impairment: up to 15 hours).
Fexofenadine: 14.4 hours. Pseudoephedrine: 5-8 hours, prolonged in renal impairment.
Renal excretion of unchanged drug (~30-50%) and metabolites; minor biliary/fecal elimination (<10%).
Fexofenadine: 80% unchanged in feces, 11% in urine. Pseudoephedrine: 70-90% unchanged in urine.
Category C
Category A/B
Sympathomimetic
Sympathomimetic