Product name as reported
Otrivin: adverse event reports filed with FDA
542 reports list it as a suspect or interacting product, 2007–2026.
- 542
- reports as suspect product
- 0% of all reports · about 29 a year
- 50
- reports, 12 months to June 2026
- 24 in the 12 months before
- 98.5%
- marked serious by the reporter
- 57.4% across all reports
- 37.5%
- record death among outcomes, as reported
- 203 reports · not verified by FDA
542 adverse event reports received by FDA list the product name "Otrivin" as reporters wrote it as a suspect or interacting product, from September 2007 to June 2026. A further 119 reports list it only as a concomitant medication, and those are not counted in the figures on this page.
In the 12 months to June 2026, 50 reports listed it, up 108% from 24 in the 12 months before. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases. Over its reporting history that is about 29 reports a year and 0% of the 20,646,523 reports in the database. How many people take it is not in the data, so a count is not a rate of occurrence.
The reactions recorded most often are drug dependence (31.9%), condition aggravated (30.4%) and general physical health deterioration (29.5%). A report can list several reactions, so shares add to more than 100%; 220 different terms appear across these reports. Drug dependence is recorded in 31.9% of these reports, against 0.8% of all reports in the database.
98.5% of the reports are marked serious by the reporter; 37.5% record death among the outcomes and 36.2% record hospitalisation, as reported. 49.3% of the reports came from consumers, and the largest patient age group is 75 and over (35.8%). FDA states that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report" and that for any given report "there is no certainty that a suspected drug caused the event."
Reports by month, five years
Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases.
By year received
2026 covers reports received through June 2026 only.
Reactions recorded in the reports
share of Otrivin reports recording the termall reports in the database
- Drug dependencedependence on a medicine31.9%173
- Condition aggravatedthe condition being treated got worse30.4%165
- General physical health deteriorationgeneral decline in health29.5%160
- Off label useused for a purpose or in a way not on the label28.8%156
- Multiple organ dysfunction syndromeseveral organs failing27.5%149
- Hyponatraemialow blood sodium27.3%148
- Somnolencedrowsiness27.3%148
- Stressstress27.3%148
- Sepsisa severe body-wide response to infection27.1%147
- Abdominal distensiona bloated abdomen26.9%146
- Abdominal painstomach or belly pain26.6%144
- Appendicitis26.6%144
- Ascitesfluid in the abdomen26.6%144
- Appendicolith26.2%142
- Constipationconstipation26.2%142
- Cardiogenic shockshock from the heart failing to pump25.8%140
- Blood phosphorus increased25.5%138
- Dry mouthdry mouth25.5%138
- Nauseafeeling sick25.3%137
- Vomitingbeing sick24.7%134
- Diabetes mellitusdiabetes24.5%133
- Myasthenia gravis24.4%132
- Ventricular fibrillationa chaotic rhythm from the lower heart chambers24.4%132
- Drug intolerancethe medicine was not tolerated24.2%131
- Drug hypersensitivityan allergic-type reaction to a medicine23.8%129
- Anaemialow red blood cells23.2%126
- Bacterial infectiona bacterial infection23.1%125
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCOPD, a long-term lung disease22.7%123
- Swellingswelling22.7%123
- Blood cholesterol increasedraised cholesterol22.1%120
Top 30 of 220 MedDRA preferred terms recorded across these reports, with a plain-language gloss where one is available. One report can record several terms. The hollow bar is the share of all reports in the database; it describes the reports, not the patients. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic."
Outcomes recorded
Outcome flags as the reporter set them; a report can carry several, and "other serious" is FDA's own category for serious reports outside the named outcomes. Grey bar: all 20,646,523 reports. FDA has not verified any outcome and states that the reports "cannot be used to estimate the incidence of these events."
Patients and reporters
Patient age
Patient sex
Who reported
Age and sex as stated in the report; the reporter's qualification is the primary source recorded by FDA. 1.8% of reports give the United States as the country of the event or reporter.
Reason for use recorded
| Indication as recorded (MedDRA) | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Dyspnoea | 141 | 26% |
| Nasal congestion | 99 | 18.3% |
| Nasopharyngitis | 16 | 3% |
| Rhinitis | 6 | 1.1% |
| Sinus disorder | 4 | 0.7% |
| Hypersensitivity | 2 | 0.4% |
The indication field is filled in by the reporter and is often blank; shares are of all 542 reports.
In context
| Measure | Otrivin | All reports |
|---|---|---|
| Reports as suspect product | 542 | 20,646,523 |
| Share of that pool | — | 0% |
| Reports, latest 12 months | 50 | 1,332,454 |
| Marked serious | 98.5% | 57.4% |
| Death recorded among outcomes, per 1,000 reports | 375 | 91 |
| Hospitalisation recorded, per 1,000 reports | 362 | 213 |
| Consumer-filed share | 49.3% | 45.8% |
| Top term, share of reports | Drug dependence 31.9% | 0.8% |
Shares are of reports, not of patients treated. The number of people taking a product is not in the data, so none of these figures is a rate, and differences between columns reflect who takes a product, who reports and how long it has been sold. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic."
Questions about Otrivin reports
How many adverse event reports has FDA received for Otrivin?
542 reports list Otrivin as a suspect or interacting product in the openFDA FAERS release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through June 2026. 50 of them arrived in the latest 12 months. Another 119 list it only as a concomitant medication.
What reactions are recorded in Otrivin reports?
drug dependence (31.9%), condition aggravated (30.4%), general physical health deterioration (29.5%), off label use (28.8%) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (27.5%). These are MedDRA preferred terms coded from what the reporter described; a report can list several, and a term's presence is not a finding that Otrivin was responsible.
How serious are the reports?
98.5% are marked serious by the reporter. Among the outcomes recorded, 37.5% of reports include death and 36.2% include hospitalisation. FDA has not verified these outcomes and states that the reports "cannot be used to estimate the incidence" of the events.
Who files these reports?
consumer or non-health professional (49.3%), other health professional (38%) and physician (7%). Most reports reach FDA through the manufacturer, which must forward reports it receives.
Are reports for Otrivin rising?
50 reports in the 12 months to June 2026, up 108% from 24 in the 12 months before. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases. Counts also move with how many people take a product, its time on the market and publicity.
Do these reports show that Otrivin was responsible for these reactions?
No. FDA states that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report" and that for any given report "there is no certainty that a suspected drug caused the event." The reaction may relate to the condition being treated, to other medicines, or to something else.
Is this a list of the side effects of Otrivin?
No. It is a count of what was reported to FDA. The adverse reactions observed in clinical studies are printed on the FDA-approved label, which a pharmacist or clinician can go through with you.
How do I report an adverse event?
Consumers and health professionals can report to FDA through MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 online, or 1-800-FDA-1088), or to the manufacturer, which must pass reports on. See the guide on how to report.
Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Drug Adverse Event (FAERS) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 30 Jun 2026. Drug names are as reported, resolved to the brand or generic name on the FDA label where openFDA's harmonisation matched them; classes are the pharmacologic class (EPC) from the label and the National Drug Code Directory of 17 Sep 2026. A report counts here when it lists Otrivin as a suspect or interacting product; reports listing it only as a concomitant medication (119) are excluded. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.
Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.