[depressedIRL21]

Hello Everyone!,

Has anyone have any success finding a cold OTC that doesn't interact with your meds? The only OTC that I really have no problems with is Sudafed. Any suggestions on other meds?

Thanks!!

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I would ask my pharmacist or pdoc. A lot of cold meds interact with bipolar meds. Sudafed isn't a great choice at least for me because it is very activating and makes me manic. YMMV but I'd be very careful.

[depressedIRL21]

Thank you for the reply!

I talked to a few pharmacists and all they have told me is Sudafed PE. I will definitely be talking to my pdoc about this when I see them.

Originally Posted by depressedIRL21

Hello Everyone!,

Has anyone have any success finding a cold OTC that doesn't interact with your meds? The only OTC that I really have no problems with is Sudafed. Any suggestions on other meds?

Thanks!!

I have asked pharmacists and they said that my only safe options are the lousy nasal sprays that don't work for me. If I have pain, I can take an OTC pain pill.

My psychiatrist forbids me from using Sudafed (pseudoephedrine). I have a history of abusing that a bit. It is a stimulant. In my state, you can buy pseudoephedrine without a prescription, but must provide your driver's license before buying it. They keep it behind the pharmacist counter. My past pharmacists were very reluctant to sell it to me and only if I promised it was for my husband. I would often buy it at pharmacies where they didn't know me. You must know that it has been used to make crystal methamphetamine, a very bad drug.

Pseudoephedrine may be all well and good for occasional use by the general public, but not by people prone to mania. If a person can't take antidepressants or stimulants, certain cold medications can be problematic. I have gotten high from pseudoephedrine.

When I have colds or sinus discomfort, I use old-fashioned remedies and relief. Vicks Vapo Rub is one of them.

[fern46]

What about the Alla Seltzer Cold med? It has an antihistamine in it and those work similarly on the brain to the way antipsychotics do.

You cannot mix it with an MAOI and it has sodium in it, so I don't know how it would mix with lithium.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Aspirin 325 mg (NSAID)* (Pain reliever/Fever reducer)
Chlorpheniramine Maleate 2 mg (Antihistamine)
Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide 10 mg (Cough suppressant)
Phenylephrine Bitartrate 7.8 mg (Nasal decongestant)
*nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Not sure what meds you already take. I would call my doc and ask for recommendation or speak to the pharmacist.

If it were me, I would lean on essential oils.
A Guide to the Best Essential Oils for Winter & Fall - Dr. Axe
How to Use Essential Oils for Colds

[depressedIRL21]

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

I have asked pharmacists and they said that my only safe options are the lousy nasal sprays that don't work for me. If I have pain, I can take an OTC pain pill.

My psychiatrist forbids me from using Sudafed (pseudoephedrine). I have a history of abusing that a bit. It is a stimulant. In my state, you can buy pseudoephedrine without a prescription, but must provide your driver's license before buying it. They keep it behind the pharmacist counter. My past pharmacists were very reluctant to sell it to me and only if I promised it was for my husband. I would often buy it at pharmacies where they didn't know me. You must know that it has been used to make crystal methamphetamine, a very bad drug.

Pseudoephedrine may be all well and good for occasional use by the general public, but not by people prone to mania. If a person can't take antidepressants or stimulants, certain cold medications can be problematic. I have gotten high from pseudoephedrine.

When I have colds or sinus discomfort, I use old-fashioned remedies and relief. Vicks Vapo Rub is one of them.

Thank you for the response! I am definitely going to talk to my pdoc about Sudafed. I am very prone to sinus infections so it really sucks when I have 6 in a 2 month period.

[depressedIRL21]

Originally Posted by fern46

What about the Alla Seltzer Cold med? It has an antihistamine in it and those work similarly on the brain to the way antipsychotics do.

You cannot mix it with an MAOI and it has sodium in it, so I don't know how it would mix with lithium.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Aspirin 325 mg (NSAID)* (Pain reliever/Fever reducer)
Chlorpheniramine Maleate 2 mg (Antihistamine)
Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide 10 mg (Cough suppressant)
Phenylephrine Bitartrate 7.8 mg (Nasal decongestant)
*nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Not sure what meds you already take. I would call my doc and ask for recommendation or speak to the pharmacist.

If it were me, I would lean on essential oils.
A Guide to the Best Essential Oils for Winter & Fall - Dr. Axe
How to Use Essential Oils for Colds

Hello!

Thanks for replying! I am going to ask my pdoc if that is okay. If I remember right, Dxm interacts with lithium so I'm gonna check with my doc just in case.

[bpcyclist]

Though not widely appreciated, DXM is also unbelievably addictive and may at higher doses cause serotonin syndrome all by itself. Drug interactions are a serious concern.

Sudafed is now illegal in this state. A valid MD prescription is required to obtain it. This move has dramatically reduced the amount of meth production here in OR, so it seems to be working. Unfortunately, all the zillions of folks with allergies and sinus and cold issues get the short end of the stick. Thanks, meth people!

[fern46]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

Though not widely appreciated, DXM is also unbelievably addictive and may at higher doses cause serotonin syndrome all by itself. Drug interactions are a serious concern.

Sudafed is now illegal in this state. A valid MD prescription is required to obtain it. This move has dramatically reduced the amount of meth production here in OR, so it seems to be working. Unfortunately, all the zillions of folks with allergies and sinus and cold issues get the short end of the stick. Thanks, meth people!

I had no idea about the DXM. Cough meds and allergy meds are scary. Benadryl makes me hallucinate and my heart palpitate...

[*Beth*]

I do well with Nyquil. It helps me fall asleep and relieves the cold symptoms, at least so I can sleep for a few hours.

[still_crazy]

an rx...hydroxyzine...its an old school anthistamine that kinda sorta tranquilizes (to me, its more...sedative, not as rough as benadryl...). its also used in pre-operative sedative cocktails and in injection mixes to treat severe pain. fairly innocuous stuff, wide dosing range, not pleasant but not unpleasant, either...

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by fern46

I had no idea about the DXM. Cough meds and allergy meds are scary. Benadryl makes me hallucinate and my heart palpitate...

I know. When you really look under the hood, dextromethorphan is an absolutely terrifying medication. No way it should be over the counter. No way.

[Zeroid]

I accidentally OD'd on Sudafed and a couple of migraine meds, both of which were vasoactive. I had a BP of 220 / 110 ish, and the medical team though I'd had a stroke or heart attack. Once they figured it out the ER doc said I should never take Sudafed again. I asked if this was because of my other meds, and he said, no, no-one approaching 40 or older should take it. He saw a LOT of heart attacks from Sudafed.

So there's that.