Definition

A chemical compound that is used mainly to relieve nasal congestion and sinus pressure.

Example

The doctor recommended a medication containing pseudoephedrine to help with my cold symptoms.

Conversation

I’ve been feeling really congested lately.

Have you tried taking pseudoephedrine? It really helps clear things up.

I haven’t, but I’ve heard it’s effective for sinus relief.

Yeah, just be sure to follow the dosage instructions.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pseudoephedrine → It is formed from "pseudo-" (from Greek "pseudes", meaning false) and "ephedrine" (from the plant genus "Ephedra", which contains the active compound). The word refers to a compound that is similar to ephedrine but is not the same, hence 'false ephedrine.'

Memory Tip

Think of 'pseudo' meaning 'false' and 'ephedrine' as a reference to a plant compound — this helps you remember that pseudoephedrine is a substance that mimics the effects of ephedrine but is not the same.

Visually Confused Words