What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Nicotine and phenylephrine
Nicotine's FDA label of July 25, 2024 names phenylephrine in its drug interactions (prescription label) section; the phenylephrine labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name nicotine. The nicotine label: “May Require an Increase in Dose at Cessation of Smoking Possible Mechanism Adrenergic agonists Decrease in circulating catecholamines with smoking cessation.”
Check it at the source: the nicotine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 25, 2024, Dr. Reddys Laboratories Inc.); the phenylephrine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 19, 2026, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.).
What does the nicotine label say about phenylephrine?
Nicotine label, drug interactions (prescription label)May Require an Increase in Dose at Cessation of Smoking Possible Mechanism Adrenergic agonists (e.g. isoproterenol, phenylephrine) Decrease in circulating catecholamines with smoking cessation.
Source: FDA drug label (Nicotine transdermal system), Dr. Reddys Laboratories Inc., effective July 25, 2024 (SPL set e2391b29-9bac-fc09-f2a5-a3370bc4e2c3), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the phenylephrine label say about nicotine?
Phenylephrine's label (effective August 19, 2026) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name nicotine in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Phenylephrine Hydrochloride), Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., effective August 19, 2026 (SPL set e1a7ab4b-0afe-4463-a039-5be0323cf2f7), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Nicotine | Phenylephrine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Quitting smoking | Cough and cold, Allergies |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $1.87 per patch 21 mg/24hr patch | $5.24 per mL 10% eye drop |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once