Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride is the chlorine salt  form of pseudoephedrine, a biointegrated monoamine alkaloid that acts as a central nervous system stimulant and is a diastereoisomer of ephedrine.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• Pseudoephedrine - It's an alkaloid found in some plants of the Ephedra genus. Its chemical structure is similar to that of ephedrine but with some differences, hence the "pseudo-" prefix in the name.
• hydrochloride indicates that the pseudoephedrine molecule is combined with hydrochloric acid, forming a salt. This salt is often used in medications because it's more stable and soluble than the base pseudoephedrine.

Description of the raw materials used in its production:

• Pseudoephedrine is the main raw material for the production of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride. It is a synthetic chemical compound that can be obtained through chemical synthesis processes from appropriate precursors.
• Hydrochloric acid is used for the formation of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride. It is a corrosive chemical substance that reacts with pseudoephedrine to form its hydrochloride salt.

Industrial chemical synthesis step-by-step:

• Pseudoephedrine Preparation - Pseudoephedrine is prepared through chemical synthesis processes from appropriate precursors, following the proprietary methodologies of the manufacturing companies.
• Reaction with Hydrochloric Acid - Pseudoephedrine is reacted with hydrochloric acid, usually in the form of an aqueous solution, to form pseudoephedrine hydrochloride. During this reaction, hydrochloric acid reacts with the amino group of pseudoephedrine to form the hydrochloride salt.
• Purification - The reaction product is purified to remove any impurities or residual reagents. This can be done through processes such as crystallization, filtration, or washing.
• Drying - The purified pseudoephedrine hydrochloride is dried to remove any solvent or moisture residues.
• Quality Control - Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride undergoes quality control checks to ensure its purity, concentration, and compliance with the required standards.

What it is for and where

Medical

Take only under medical supervision

Pharmaceutical Use. Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride is used as an active ingredient in various decongestant pharmaceutical products, such as tablets, syrups, or nasal sprays.

Both pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, that belong to the amphetamine family, have a long history as nasal decongestants.

Ephedrine was synthesized in 1920 in Japan and subsequently marketed by Merck, while pseudoephedrine appeared on the market shortly afterwards. Ephedrine is administered nasally and a prescription is required for its use while pseudoephedrine is taken orally and is an over-the-counter medicine.

Pseudoephedrine is usually used in combination with other chemical compounds such as acetylsalicylic acid (1) or paracetamol (2) for the symptomatic treatment of nasal congestion.

Treatments with Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride administered twice a day significantly reduced rhinitis and asthma symptoms and improved overall asthma quality of life in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and concomitant mild-to-moderate asthma (3).

This study considers that acute administration of pseudoephedrine, even at high doses, has no psychostimulant effects and may be relatively safe for the treatment of non-chronic nasal congestion (4).

With regard to contraindications of this drug, a percentage of somnolence, insomnia and nervousness has been found in children (5).

The combination of two over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine has been shown to be effective in rhinogenic headache (6).

Pseudoephedrine is currently banned in the world of sport because its stimulating activity can improve performance. However, its effect is marginal and probably less than that of caffeine (7).

Some studies have warned of unpredictable serious cardiovascular and neurological adverse events that could occur, advising treating physicians to carefully assess the risks when prescribing this substance for the common cold (8).

Like all drugs it can cause side effects. Always ask the physician.

Pseudoephedrine updates

• Molecular Formula: C₁₀H₁₆ClNO
• Linear Formula:  C₆H₅CH[CH(NHCH₃)CH₃]OH·HCl 
• Molecular Weight: 201.69 g/mol
• CAS: 345-78-8
• EC Number: 206-462-1
• UNII  6V9V2RYJ8N
• MDL number MFCD00058088
• PubChem Substance ID  329823450
• Beilstein/REAXYS Number 3915112

Synonyms: 

• Pseudoephedrine Hcl
• Sudafed hydrochloride
• Tussaphed
• CoAdvil
• Novafed
• Dorcol
• Sudomyl

References____________________________________________________________________

(1) Loose I, Winkel M. Clinical, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigating the combination of acetylsalicylic acid and pseudoephedrine for the symptomatic treatment of nasal congestion associated with common cold. Arzneimittelforschung. 2004;54(9):513–521. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1297006

(2) Furcha R, Monnet J. An open-label, in-use study assessing the warming sensation accompanying IFF Flavour 316282 and the acceptability and local tolerability of a syrup containing paracetamol and pseudoephedrine for the short-term treatment of symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection. SAGE Open Med. 2015;3:2050312115575937. Published 2015 Mar 19. doi:10.1177/2050312115575937

(3) Nathan RA, Finn AF Jr, LaForce C, et al. Comparison of cetirizine-pseudoephedrine and placebo in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and concomitant mild-to-moderate asthma: randomized, double-blind study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2006;97(3):389–396. doi:10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60806-X

(4) Sa-Ih N, Reakkamnuan C, Samerphob N, Cheaha D, Niyomdecha S, Kumarnsit E. Local field potential power spectra and locomotor activity following treatment with pseudoephedrine in mice. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars). 2020;80(1):19–31.

(5) Gelotte CK, Albrecht HH, Hynson J, Gallagher V. A Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of Pseudoephedrine for the Temporary Relief of Nasal Congestion in Children With the Common Cold. J Clin Pharmacol. 2019;59(12):1573–1583. doi:10.1002/jcph.1472

(6) Chiarugi A, Camaioni A. Update on the pathophysiology and treatment of rhinogenic headache: focus on the ibuprofen/pseudoephedrine combination. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2019;39(1):22–27. doi:10.14639/0392-100X-1882

(7) Gheorghiev MD, Hosseini F, Moran J, Cooper CE. Effects of pseudoephedrine on parameters affecting exercise performance: a meta-analysis. Sports Med Open. 2018;4(1):44. Published 2018 Oct 5. doi:10.1186/s40798-018-0159-7

(8) Laccourreye O, Werner A, Giroud JP, Couloigner V, Bonfils P, Bondon-Guitton E. Benefits, limits and danger of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine as nasal decongestants. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2015 Feb;132(1):31-4. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2014.11.001.