Pharmacist reveals the surprising over-the-counter cold drug that gives you insomnia

A pharmacist has warned people with colds and flu against taking a popular remedy before bed due to risks of insomnia.

In a clip shared with his 300,000 TikTok followers, Dr Ethan Melillo, a pharmacist from Rhode Island, said the decongestant pseudoephedrine can cause trouble sleeping.

This is because the ingredient can affect cells in the brain that are responsible for the jittery feeling associated with the ‘fight or flight’ phenomenon that keeps us safe when we’re under threat. 

Dr Melillo made the warning while holding up a packet of Sudafed – as  pseudoephedrine is the main ingredient. 

‘Pseudoephedrine can cause insomnia,’ he said. ‘The best way to avoid insomnia is to try to take it at least two hours prior to bed.

‘And at night I also recommend supplementing with a saline nasal spray.’

Saline nasal sprays are a well-proven decongestant which are known to cause few side effects as they do not contain any medicine.

Another popular decongestant came under fire last year after health chiefs at the FDA ruled it ineffective when it comes to treating nasal congestion.

Phenylephrine is found in drugs including Sudafed PE, Vicks Nyquil Sinex Nighttime Sinus Relief and Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion.

The drug is thought to relieve congestion by reducing the swelling of blood vessels in the nasal passages.

However, the expert panel reviewed a wealth of evidence and concluded that when taken orally, a very small amount of the drug actually reaches the nose to relieve congestion.

 Following the ruling, in September last year, the nation’s biggest pharmacies began to pull products from shelves, including CVS and Walgreens.

 The ingredient is still considered safe by the FDA and is yet to be removed from the agency’s list of ingredients for OTC use.