Apparently Sudafed can be bad for you!

[Leopardess]

So, the past several days, I have been pretty sick. Run of the mill nasal congestion, sore throat, coughing, tired, etc etc. Naturally, I took some Sudafed decongestant. I've used it several times, though usually I prefer not to take any meds and let my immune system/body do what it's supposed to do in peace. This time, I couldn't take it.

Today I had a routine dr's appointment of sorts...and when she went to take my bloodpressure I joked that it would be higher than normal (normal for me being 110/70) because I've been really stressed out the past few days...in part because of this dr's apt. Well...little did I know I'd be right! My blood pressure was 150/102, then 160/96 about 20 minutes later!! That's craaaazy for me (bear in mind I'm in my very early twenties!).

The dr noticed I was sick and asked if I'd taken anything. So I told her Sudafed and she goes...yah, that'd do it for some people. When I got home tonight I googled on my own and basically found exactly what she said....Sudafed can really raise your bp (or lower the efficacy of your bp medicines), raise your heart beat, and can cause you to be aware of your heartbeat with palpitations of sorts!

I never realized any of that. My heart felt a little racey today and yesterday as well...which I chalked up to stress and anxiety.

I'm hoping Sudafed is the source of all that extra pressure....nothing else has changed since last year when it was taken...don't drink, don't smoke...

So....anyway...if you've got high blood pressure, you may want to avoid plain old OTC Sudafed!

[125gJoe]

Good post...
Many don't know that a lot of the "cold" remedies (over the counter stuff) can elevate blood pressure.

[Emg]

Not only that, but be careful about how much tylenol you use......it can do a number on your liver !!

[nursie]

Yep..had a friend that developed hepatitis from dosing himself with too muchTylenol. If he'd have gone to the md and gotten the proper treatment for gout he'd have been much better off.
Don't let the fact that drugs are over the counter make you think they have no side effects. Use them carefully.

[Dangerdoll]

ugh..... any and all cold medicines throw me for a loop every time to the point where I don't even use it. I'd rather suffer through the 3 or 4 days (7 at the most) with a cold and good supply of cough drops. Heck, even the cough drops will have me dizzy after taking too many so I try to be careful and thankfully I don't get sick too often.... once a year at best. Anyhoo.... the cold meds, whether they say drowsy or non-drowsy, they all knock me out cold after about 10 or 15 minutes of taking them. When I wake, cloud city. That's the only way I can explain it. Kinda like ytou're in a movie but watching yourself in it.... while walking on clouds.... I hate it. So, I do without.

[mykidsmylife]

Yep Sudafed can be scary stuff. It is often used to make meth amphatamines, that should say plenty right there. There is a certain cold medicine out for those with high bloodpressure but I don't think it's all that effective. I do think it's best to let things run a course. I know that Sudafed is also put on the "safe list" for pregnant women too....little scary. Or it least years ago when I was pregnant it was, that may have changed now.


Hope you get to feeling better soon!

[centralharbor]

i use airborn since it supposed to be only vitamins, minerals, and herbs

[cyberbeer65]

Not only that, but be careful about how much tylenol you use......it can do a number on your liver !!

Six years ago,my Sister in law overdosed on Tylenol and it killed her. Now I am helping my brother raise his two boys,that have been left motherless.So that being said,be extremely careful with Acetaminophen containing products!

[cyberbeer65]

Oh yeah,sudafed makes my blood pressure skyrocket too.

[valerie]

Yep, sudafed screws me up too. My cardiologist said to stay far away from it. It causes my blood pressure to go higher and i get palpitations.

There are defiantely better cold meds out there. I take Cold FX and neocitrin when i'm really sick