Sudafed is a popular over-the-counter medication that helps to relieve nasal and sinus congestion caused by allergies or the common cold. It is also used to treat high blood pressure and certain heart conditions. However, there are some risks associated with this drug. It can increase heart rate, cause dehydration, and even lead to a dangerous condition known as serotonin syndrome. In addition, combining it with alcohol can be harmful. Fortunately, there are some ways to get sudafed out of your system fast.
Generally, it takes about 5 to 6 hours for pseudoephedrine to clear from the body after taking a dose of Sudafed. It is recommended that you wait at least this long to consume any type of alcohol. However, it is important to note that there is no way to completely remove all traces of this medication from your system. If you are concerned about your reaction to this medicine, you should talk with your doctor about a more reliable method of getting rid of it from your body.
Pseudoephedrine and other drugs like it can interfere with some types of drug tests. This is especially true if you are taking high doses of it. This can result in a false positive for morphine, methamphetamine, or ecstasy. Therefore, if you are planning to take a drug test in the near future, you should avoid taking Sudafed for at least 30 to 32 hours.
Many over-the-counter products that contain pseudoephedrine are no longer available on pharmacy shelves. This is because it was being abused and misused by people who were trying to make methamphetamine, which is an extremely dangerous and addictive drug. Fortunately, there are many treatment programs in California that can help you overcome substance dependence.