The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition comprising phenylephrine in a sustained-release formulation alone or in combination with another active such as an antihistamine, an analgesic, an antipyretic or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent or a mixture of two or more other actives. In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises a solid dosage form with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium as a matrix for sustained release of phenylephrine. Phenylephrine is released over a prolonged period of time by the solid dosage form essentially independent of pH.
