Reaction to OTC Meds

[Ex-zombie]

One of the biggest reasons I suffer so when I have a cold or the flu is my adverse reactions to cold/flu medications. Whenever I take them within thirty minutes my heart is racing and I have the jitters. They also make me completely sleepless. I get anxious and dizzy.

Nyquil is one that I have had the most severe reaction to. Within ten minutes of ingesting it I vomit furiously and feel like I have taken a massive dose of speed.

It doesn't seem to matter whether it's cough syrup, anti-histamines, or decongestants. I end up just suffering badly with the symptoms as I just can't deal with the effects of the medication.

Am I out of my mind or could there be a legitimate reason for this? The only health problem that I have is hypoglycemia which I was diagnosed with about fifteen years ago. I had to do a fast as I was going to have tests done to check to see if I had an ulcer. The next morning I arrived at the lab shaking and almost incoherent. The lab tech phoned my doctor and he ordered a glucose tolerance test. I ended up having to drink some noxious syrupy concoction. The lab tech immediately went to the cafeteria to grab me some food when the test was over. I was shaking so bad I probably looked like a druggie. My doctor gave me a list of foods to avoid and a recommendation to not go without food for more than three hours.

I don't know if the hypogycemia is related to my inability to take cold/flu medication or not. I'm just adding it in so all the facts are on the table. Both my daughters have the same problem with the medications. Is it possible that it is some kind of allergic reaction to an ingredient?

[wildernesse]

I don't think it has to be an allergic reaction to the medication--just a regular old how your body responds to certain chemicals. None of us react exactly the same way to medications, and OTC doesn't necessarily mean that it won't affect you badly. Sometimes people can even experience a difference between the name-brand and generic brands of medications. Do you know if there is a similar chemical in all of them? Even if they are not the same, are they chemically similar--chlorpheniramine and brompheniramine are active ingredients in anti-histamines, and in the same kind of chemical family. (Chemical family is my technical term.)

link to anti-histamine site that groups drugs by active ingredient (http://www.answers.com/topic/antihistamine)

After taking OTC Claritin, I felt encredibly hyped up, like my eyes were constantly darting from place to place without actually moving my eyes. That's pretty much a weird feeling that I don't want to have again. My brother had a similar reaction to Claritin.

[Dragoon]

For you, the word is "contraindicated."

The warning labels on the sides of cold/flu OTC medications warn specifically about the very same reactions you have describe and furthermore go on to warn you to discontinue use if they occur. The very reason they print those warnings is because a significant number of people are prone to the side effects you have experienced, so don't "feel like the Lone Ranger" (didn't mean you, Michael).

It's not fun when you know you can not turn to OTC's for relief from the miserable symptoms of the flu, but if you can't take the drugs, you can't take the drugs. Not everybody can take every OTC drug, so avoid the ones you know make you sick. Nice thing about OTC's though, the side effects will rarely kill you unlike serious side effects of prescription drugs.

With regard to alternatives, I've found that snorting those atomizers of salt water keeps my sinuses as clear as anything and doesn't dry out the tissues. I also respond well to good old aspirin. Of course, there's nothing like a good slug of red wine before going to bed (there really is something in red wine), but your hyperglycemia might preclude that. Strong coffee seems to perk me up during the day although getting as much sleep as possible throughout the day works even better.

You really should discuss this with your regular doctor and follow his/her advice regarding cold/flu relief. In the meantime, I'd suggest avoiding cold/flu OTC remedies altogether because they all pretty much contain the same cocktail of stuff. Stuff that is "contraindicated" for you and a lot of other people too.

BTW, when you take something and then you immediately vomit, that is nature's gentle little way of telling you to just stop doing it for god's sake!! :glare:

[lisarea]

OK. Is it sort of like you're one of those flourescent lights that's just slow enough that you can distinguish the flickers consciously? And you're like on some Disneyland Small World ride, but instead of little kids singing, there are giant angry men doing vocal renditions of 'sirens of the world' like one is going BRANK BRANK BRANK! and another guy is yelling AWOOGAH! and another is going WOOoooOOOwOOOooooOOO and they're all doing it right up next to you and all angry-like, so they're spitting on you the whole time, and instead of having the regular flourescence inside of you, instead it's made out of Las Vegas? Like, not even just the regular strip, but that scaryassed Freemont Street or whatever the fuck it is? And even instead of being that regular scaryassed Freemont Street or whatever, instead it's made out of BEES? But not even regular bees, but instead some kind of "fast zombie" style bee homonculuses or beemunculuses or whatever the fuck?

Because that's the pseudoephedrine.

[Ex-zombie]

OK. Is it sort of like you're one of those flourescent lights that's just slow enough that you can distinguish the flickers consciously? And you're like on some Disneyland Small World ride, but instead of little kids singing, there are giant angry men doing vocal renditions of 'sirens of the world' like one is going BRANK BRANK BRANK! and another guy is yelling AWOOGAH! and another is going WOOoooOOOwOOOooooOOO and they're all doing it right up next to you and all angry-like, so they're spitting on you the whole time, and instead of having the regular flourescence inside of you, instead it's made out of Las Vegas? Like, not even just the regular strip, but that scaryassed Freemont Street or whatever the fuck it is? And even instead of being that regular scaryassed Freemont Street or whatever, instead it's made out of BEES? But not even regular bees, but instead some kind of "fast zombie" style bee homonculuses or beemunculuses or whatever the fuck?

Because that's the pseudoephedrine.


You have described my reaction to cold/flu medications to a tee. Thanks for the info. I'll google pseudoephedrine.

[Dingfod]

You should read the warnings on Nyquil (http://vicks.com/products/nyquil_liquid.shtml).

[Roland98]

Aren't there pseudoephedrine-free cold medicines? I know Sudafed was supposed to make one, but don't know if it's on the shelves yet.

[Dingfod]

I don't know. I do know that Nyquil knocks me right out. I took some at 8:45 PM last night and felt like I was still under its effects when I got to work this morning. Or maybe it's just the lingering effects of the cold. I do know another thing, never ever take DayQuil when you are still under the effects of NyQuil. I did that once. I went for about the first five hours of my shift going back and forth every 10 minutes between drowsy as hell and hyperactive. I didn't like it at all. I'd rather just feel drowsy.

[Ex-zombie]

After googling pseudoephedrine and anti-histamines it seems what I experience are side effects of the medications. Except for the racing heart thing. That seems to preclude taking the meds at all. Now that I know it's most likely the pseudoephedrine that is causing the problem I will take your tip, Roland and look for meds without it.

[Ex-zombie]

I do know that Nyquil knocks me right out.

It knocks my spouse out completely. In fact most cold meds put her to sleep. That is one of the reasons I couldn't understand why they amped me up so. Most of the warning labels I've read give drowsiness as a side effect.

[Dragoon]

...
It knocks my spouse out completely. In fact most cold meds put her to sleep. That is one of the reasons I couldn't understand why they amped me up so. Most of the warning labels I've read give drowsiness as a side effect.

I'd strongly suggest you read the ENTIRE fine print on ALL medications, OTC and prescription BEFORE taking anything. Racing heart (tachycardia) is one of the possible side effects you will see listed. Most pharmacists are pretty smart and it doesn't hurt to ask them their opinion about a warning label while you are at the store.

Just want to say one more thing, just because it is OTC doesn't mean it is always safe or wise for YOU (and many others too) to take it. Everyone is a unique organism and responds differently to the same drug.

[viscousmemories]

I look forward to getting sick so I can take NyQuil. :yup:

[Dingfod]

Tom, I'd gladly give you my cold, I've had enough of it.

[viscousmemories]

Are you coming on to me?

[Dingfod]

First, let me get you drunk and drowsy on NyQuil. ;)

[viscousmemories]

:laugh:

[Dingfod]

Believe me, you'd have to be really really drunk and drowsy.

[Crumb]

I look forward to getting sick so I can take NyQuil.

I used to be like this, but recently my doctor prescribed my Hycodan. :homdrool: Hycodan makes NyQuil seem like warm milk.

[viscousmemories]

I used to be like this, but recently my doctor prescribed my Hycodan. :homdrool: Hycodan makes NyQuil seem like warm milk.
Ah, the good ole days of wine and drug abuse... I miss 'em.

[Ex-zombie]

After feeling much better yesterday, I'm not doing so good today. I woke up this morning coughing up mucus. It hurts between my shoulder blades when I breathe and my temperature is 103.1 and I am exhausted. It looks like the flu has come back for round two. I haven't had the chance to go to the store and look for pseudoepherine free meds either. Damn it!

[Crumb]

103.1! :afraid: Get thee to a doctor! (Seriously, have you seen a doctor about this?)

[Dingfod]

After feeling much better yesterday, I'm not doing so good today. I woke up this morning coughing up mucus. It hurts between my shoulder blades when I breathe and my temperature is 103.1 and I am exhausted. It looks like the flu has come back for round two. I haven't had the chance to go to the store and look for pseudoepherine free meds either. Damn it!You and me both, pal. I don't quite have the fever to that extent, but the bronchial crud is back, goddammit.

[livius drusus]

Um, yes, doctor please. Stat. Meanwhile, do you have plain ol' Tylenol to try and bring that temperature down? :worry:

[LadyShea]

Lots of people are super sensitive to the pseudoephedrine (decongestant). I was once a tweaker (way back when), and I feel the speed in cold medicines to this day.

[lisarea]

Ex-zombie, you really should get to a doctor. That's a pretty high temp to be running, and whatever's wrong with you probably isn't going to go away by treating the symptoms. Even if it is just the flu without any of the nasty side illnesses, you could at least get some better advice on what to do about it.

Lots of people are super sensitive to the pseudoephedrine (decongestant). I was once a tweaker (way back when), and I feel the speed in cold medicines to this day.

My pseudoephedrine sensitivity came about pretty suddenly after one bout of the flu when I accidentally took way too much NyQuil. (I kept waking up feeling like shit, assuming it'd been four hours, and taking another big swig. I didn't realize I was actually doing this about every half an hour until it was too late, and I'd almost finished off two huge bottles of the green fairy. Yes, I am that stupid.)

How the hell does that work, anyway? I'd think, if anything, overexposure to something would make it less effective.

[viscousmemories]

Don't try to be a manly man, go to a doctor. Unless you've already gone and come back by now, in which case you probably shouldn't go again lest she think you're stalking her.

[LadyShea]

Frankie gets those scary high fevers, and the docotr always tells me ibuprofin is the key. As for the cough, yes, it sucks but you want to get that shit up. Try to find an expectorant cough medicine rather than a decongestant "all in one" cold medicine.

[Shake]

Many OTC meds do little for me. The few exceptions are NyQuil and Benadryl, each of which make me drowsy. Sudafed never did shit for me; it was like eating candy.

I recently confirmed that a potential aspirin allergy was in fact, real. Last year, when my bout with sciatica was starting -- and I thought it was just a pulled leg muscle -- I took 3 Bayer tablets before going to bed. I awoke very early all itchy and feeling somewhat congested. Took myself to the ER where the doc said it might be an aspirin allergy and he gave me some liquid Benadryl to take after I got home. Well, that did the trick, and made me groggy as hell. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I bashed the shit out of my upper shin after slipping and landing on the edge of my cellar stairs. A week or so later, there was some bruising lower in the shin, and the wife said maybe I should take some aspirin. I reminded her of the possible allergy, and the next night I tried -- after ensuring I had some Benadryl in the house -- taking just one Bayer aspirin. Sure enough, within an hour or so, I was feeling a little itchy, etc. Waited 1/2 hour, then took a good dose of the Benadryl and felt better after a while.

Oh, back to other OTC meds: I've got seasonal allergies and I remember in HS, one thing that did kind of work was Chlor-Trimeton. Another student saw me taking one of those and said that he had to cut them up because more than 1/4 of one made him all drowsy. I said I take a full one and it sort of works. Generally for me, if it ain't prescription, it's probably not quite strong enough.

[Ensign Steve]

Shake, I am also alergic to asprin. Are you alergic to ibuprophin, too? I react to that entire class of anti-inflamatories. I get all swollen up around my face and neck. So whenever I need pain meds I get percoset, darvoset, or vicodin! :D The army docs always want to fling around "Motrin" and I tell them "ah-ah-ah! not today!" Wheee!

[Shake]

No, I'm good with ibuprophin, but again, it doesn't do much for me, either. Aspirin always worked well on my headaches and muscle pains. And yes, military doctors seem to think Motrin is a good treatment for practically anything.

I got percocet when they took my wisdom teeth out. That's also something which makes me groggy. But then, it's not exactly OTC.

[Ensign Steve]

Oh, right, this is an OTC thread. I swear by Tylenol. In my cabinet right now I have Extra-Strength Tylenol, Tylenol PM, Tylenol for Women, and Tylenol Cold and Sinus. I use them as needed, and they are all pretty effective. The thing is, I HATE having a fever. I just want to DIE! So I will take as much acetomenophine as I need to get the fever down. I'll chase Tylenol with Nyquil. I'd love to get a look at my liver. Anywho, I'm glad the big T works for me, since that's about the only OTC thing I can have.

Except Claritin. I take Claritin, and it's usually good for about the first week of alergy season before I become tolerant of it.

[Shake]

Oh yeah, Tylenol Cold and Sinus works pretty well for me too.