Meaning & use
Actifed
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounpropertrademark
A brand of non-prescription medicine that eases a blocked nose and allergy symptoms such as sneezing and watery eyes.
Grammar: Always capitalized and used without an article: 'Actifed is sold...', not 'an Actifed'.
Patterns
- take Actifed
- Actifed for a cold
She bought Actifed at the pharmacy to help with her hay fever.
The doctor said Actifed could make him sleepy, so he shouldn't drive after taking it.
Actifed is kept behind the counter in some countries, even though you don't need a prescription.
nouncountable or uncountabletrademark
A tablet or syrup sold under the Actifed brand, containing a decongestant and an antihistamine.
Grammar: Can be countable when referring to a single dose or product: 'two Actifeds'; uncountable when talking about the medicine in general: 'a bottle of Actifed'.
Patterns
- an Actifed
- some Actifed
He took an Actifed before bed and slept well.
The shelf was empty except for a few Actifeds left in the box.
Common combinations
- take Actifed
- You can take Actifed for a stuffy nose, but follow the instructions on the box.
- Actifed tablet
- She swallowed an Actifed tablet with a glass of water.
- Actifed syrup
- The children's Actifed syrup is available in a smaller bottle.
- buy Actifed
- You can buy Actifed without a prescription at most drugstores.
Synonyms and how they differ
- decongestant
- This is the general term for any medicine that clears a blocked nose; Actifed is a specific brand name, so use 'decongestant' when you don't mean the brand.
- antihistamine
- This refers to a drug that reduces allergy symptoms; Actifed contains one, but the word itself is not a brand and can refer to many different products.
Commonly confused: Actifed or Actifed vs. Sudafed?
Actifed vs Actifed vs. Sudafed
Both are brand names for cold and allergy medicines, but they contain different active ingredients. Actifed usually includes an antihistamine, while Sudafed often contains pseudoephedrine. Check the label.
Practice
Which sentence uses the brand name Actifed correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 3 is correct because Actifed is a brand name and is used without an article when talking about the product in general. Option 1 is wrong because Actifed is not typically used for coughs; it treats nasal congestion and allergy symptoms. Option 2 is wrong because brand names are usually uncountable and take no article ('an Actifed' is unnatural). Option 4 is wrong because Actifed is not an antibiotic.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Actifed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.