Pseudoephedrine and other drugs

[Odetta]

I'm on lamotrigine, trazadone and geodon. My pdoc's office is closed, and allergies have hit big time today, now that the daffodils (and other things) have bloomed. Can I take an allergy med with psuedoephedrine, or should I play it safe with one without it. Problem is, playing it safe won't take care of the problem.

[Eden]

What is the specific chemical name of the allergy med?

What I'm finding seems to imply that it's not a good idea. But I can give you a more concrete answer with the names of each.

[crtclms]

My internist told me to use Claritin (I use the generic), and said it wouldn't interfere with any of my meds. But I see you are on some different meds. I was on risperdal at the time, though.

I personally wouldn't want to take something with pseudoephedrine (sp?). But it makes me feel racy, which may be totally unrelated to any interaction.

[discomposed]

I'd stick with non-pseudoephedrine options first, see if it helps just enough that you can get through until your pdoc's office is open. Pseudoephedrine can cause mania-llike symptoms, one of which is insomnia, leading to the risk of tripping yourself into a hypomanic state.

[weordmyndum]

Pseudoephedrine is Sudafed, I think. If so, I take it quite often. The little red pills. Actually, you're supposed to take two at a time. I only take one. It seems to work for me.

Well, some of what's marketed as Sudafed doesn't have pseudoephedrine anymore because it was being used to make meth. Now it's behind the pharmacy counter even though it's OTC, and I think you have to show ID to buy it.

[crtclms]

Yes, Stephen Colbert said the other medication used in Sudafed is "Jack-Squat-icle." Heh.

And there is a limit as to how much of the Sudafed with pseudophedrine you can buy per month, in CA you have to sign a register. It is nowhere near the amount you would need for just taking the daily recommended dose for the month.

[Velvet Elvis]

try a half dose or a quarter dose to see what happens. There's a small chance of it causing mood instability. If you could take it before, it's most likely safe to take now. The risk is of it triggering mania which the meds make less likely. It won't interact with any of the meds.

[bluelikejazz]

OTC stuff is phenylepherine which SUCKS as a decongestant. What allergy symptoms are bothering you the most? You could try loratadine with a beconase nasal spray first and then try a single tablet of pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine here is pharmacist only and you have to give your license details etc.

[melissaw72]

Taking benadryl with my meds makes me very sleepy. My pdoc told me to take it as a sleep aid once in awhile if needed.

[Odetta]

Thanks for all the input!

Well, allergy season has passed for me, now, thank goodness. Anyway, the problem with the stuff you DON'T have to sign your life away for is that they DON'T work for me, no matter what drug it is. Plain Zyrtec, plain Claritin, plain Sudafed, plain Generic, plain Whatever, I've tried them all. The psuedoephedrine is what does the trick. But now that I'm on all these meds this year, I was worried about drug interactions. Apparently, that's not so much of a worry, more of a mood swing thing.

I made it through this Spring using a nasal spray that was disgusting, left my nose feeling quite unpleasant and a bad taste in my mouth but only if it managed to stay in my nose, and only did a half-***ed job when it did stay in. Fall allergies, I will be armed this time.