Comprehensive medication guide to Stahist AD including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
Coverage varies widely; Medicare Part D typically does not cover Stahist AD. Commercial plans may cover it if prescribed, but many do not include it on formulary. Discount cards like GoodRx often provide better pricing than insurance copays.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$23–$31 retail for 30 tablets (brand only, no generic); as low as $20–$23 with GoodRx or SaveHealth discount coupons for a 30-day supply.
Medfinder Findability Score
55/100
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Stahist AD is a brand-name combination medication manufactured by Magna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Its generic name is chlorcyclizine hydrochloride / pseudoephedrine hydrochloride. Each tablet contains chlorcyclizine 25 mg (a first-generation antihistamine) and pseudoephedrine 60 mg (a nasal decongestant). It is also available as a grape-flavored liquid containing 9.375 mg/30 mg per 5 mL.
Stahist AD is also marketed under the brand name NasOpen. It is used to relieve symptoms of the common cold, hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis), perennial allergic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, and allergic conjunctivitis — including runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, watery and itchy eyes, and sinus pressure.
Although technically an OTC product in most states, Stahist AD must be purchased from behind the pharmacy counter with valid photo ID due to its pseudoephedrine content, per the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act.
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Stahist AD works through two complementary mechanisms, one for each of its active ingredients. Chlorcyclizine is a first-generation piperazine antihistamine that competitively blocks histamine H1 receptors in the nasal mucosa, eyes, and other tissues, preventing the histamine-triggered cascade responsible for sneezing, runny nose, itching, and watery eyes. Because chlorcyclizine crosses the blood-brain barrier, it also produces central sedation.
Pseudoephedrine acts on alpha-1 adrenergic receptors in the walls of nasal blood vessels, causing vasoconstriction that shrinks swollen nasal tissue and opens the nasal passages for easier breathing. It is the most clinically effective oral decongestant available — oral phenylephrine was declared ineffective by the FDA in 2023.
Together, these two ingredients provide multi-symptom relief from a single dose. Both components reach onset in approximately 30-40 minutes after oral administration, with effects lasting 6-8 hours.
25 mg / 60 mg — tablet
Standard adult and pediatric (12+) dose; 1 tablet every 6-8 hours, max 3/day
9.375 mg / 30 mg per 5 mL — liquid
Grape-flavored oral solution; 10 mL every 6 hours for adults; 5 mL every 6 hours for children 6-11
Stahist AD is not on the FDA's national drug shortage list in 2026 — the medication is actively manufactured and available. However, many patients have difficulty finding it at their local pharmacy due to a combination of factors: it's produced by Magna Pharmaceuticals (a smaller manufacturer with limited distribution reach), it must be stored behind the pharmacy counter (reducing visibility), and many large pharmacy chains don't include it in their standard ordering rotation.
Independent community pharmacies are often more likely to carry Stahist AD than major chains. Pharmacies can typically special-order it within 1-3 business days if it's not currently in stock. The liquid formulation is generally harder to find than the tablet.
If you're having trouble locating Stahist AD, medfinder can check pharmacies near you and text you which ones have it in stock — saving you the time of calling around yourself.
Stahist AD is not a controlled substance and does not require DEA scheduling authorization to prescribe. Any licensed prescriber in the United States can write a prescription for Stahist AD. While it is technically available OTC behind the pharmacy counter in most states, a prescription is required for insurance coverage and for certain pharmacies.
Common prescriber types for Stahist AD include:
Primary care physicians (family medicine, internal medicine, general practice)
Allergists and immunologists
Otolaryngologists (ENT specialists)
Pediatricians (for children ages 6 and older)
Nurse practitioners (NPs)
Physician assistants (PAs)
Urgent care providers
Because Stahist AD is not a controlled substance, telehealth prescribing is fully available without any in-person visit requirement. Patients can obtain a prescription through their PCP's telehealth portal, platforms like Teladoc or MDLive, or urgent care telehealth services — often with same-day turnaround.
No, Stahist AD is not a controlled substance. It is not assigned a DEA schedule (Schedules I through V), and it can be prescribed by any licensed prescriber without special DEA registration requirements.
However, Stahist AD's pseudoephedrine content is subject to the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act (CMEA). Under this federal law, pseudoephedrine-containing products must be kept behind the pharmacy counter (not on open shelves), require valid photo ID for purchase, and are subject to daily and monthly purchase quantity limits (3.6 grams per day; 9 grams per 30 days of pseudoephedrine base). These restrictions apply at the retail level and do not affect how Stahist AD may be prescribed or refilled.
Because it is not a controlled substance, Stahist AD can be prescribed via telehealth without an in-person visit, and there are no DEA-specific refill restrictions on how frequently it can be prescribed.
The most commonly reported side effects of Stahist AD include:
Drowsiness or sedation (from chlorcyclizine)
Dry mouth (anticholinergic effect of chlorcyclizine)
Nervousness or restlessness (from pseudoephedrine stimulant effects)
Dizziness
Headache
Blurred vision
Difficulty urinating (especially in men with BPH)
Paradoxical excitability in children
Dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, chest pain, buzzing in ears)
Fast or irregular heartbeat or palpitations
Seizures
Hallucinations or severe confusion
Severe allergic reaction (rash, hives, swelling of face/lips/tongue/throat, difficulty breathing)
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Claritin-D (loratadine/pseudoephedrine)
Second-generation non-drowsy antihistamine with pseudoephedrine. Available OTC in 12-hour and 24-hour formulations. Widely stocked at virtually all pharmacies. Less sedating than Stahist AD.
Zyrtec-D (cetirizine/pseudoephedrine)
Second-generation antihistamine with pseudoephedrine in a 12-hour OTC formulation. Mildly sedating compared to Stahist AD. Widely available with generic options.
Allegra-D (fexofenadine/pseudoephedrine)
Non-sedating second-generation antihistamine with pseudoephedrine. Available in 12-hour and 24-hour forms. Best for patients who need maximum daytime alertness.
Chlorpheniramine/pseudoephedrine (Aprodine, generics)
Closest structural match to Stahist AD — first-generation antihistamine with pseudoephedrine. Generic versions widely available at lower cost. Similar sedating profile.
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MAO Inhibitors (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, linezolid, etc.)
majorContraindicated. Risk of hypertensive crisis and serotonin syndrome. Do not use within 14 days of MAOI.
Other antihistamines or decongestants
majorRisk of accidental overdose from duplicate ingredients. Many OTC cold and allergy products contain antihistamines or pseudoephedrine.
Antihypertensive medications (beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers)
moderatePseudoephedrine raises blood pressure and may counteract antihypertensive therapy. Monitor blood pressure closely.
Alcohol
moderateSignificantly worsens drowsiness from chlorcyclizine. Avoid alcohol while taking Stahist AD.
CNS depressants (benzodiazepines, opioids, sleep aids, muscle relaxants)
moderateAdditive CNS depression; increases sedation and impairs cognitive function and driving ability.
Anticholinergic medications (oxybutynin, tricyclic antidepressants, scopolamine)
moderateAdditive anticholinergic effects; risk of dry mouth, urinary retention, blurred vision, and confusion.
Stahist AD is an effective combination antihistamine/decongestant for patients who need relief from both allergy symptoms and nasal congestion. Its use of pseudoephedrine — the most clinically effective oral decongestant — sets it apart from phenylephrine-based products that the FDA has declared ineffective. However, its limited distribution through a small manufacturer means it can be frustratingly hard to find at many pharmacies.
The medication is not in a national shortage — it is available. The key is knowing which pharmacy near you stocks it. Patients who need Stahist AD should ask for it specifically at the pharmacy counter, consider asking the pharmacy to special-order it, and explore discount programs (GoodRx, SaveHealth) to manage out-of-pocket costs since insurance coverage is often unavailable.
If you're struggling to locate Stahist AD at pharmacies near you, medfinder is the fastest way to find which pharmacies have it in stock. We call pharmacies on your behalf and text you the results — no phone tag required.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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