decongestiants with anti d's

[Guest Guest_wiggles67_*]

and I have a huge sinus thing happening.  My face is inpain.  I have heard you cannot take decongestiant meds if your on an antidepressant.  Anyone have an alternative..I am desperate to get rid of this pain behind my eyes

[Dee]

The pharmacist told me that pseudoephedrine has a seretonin effect and therefore interacts with ADs, so I wouldnt risk it.  You can use Otravin, but it's harsh on your sinuses and shouldn't be used for more than 3 or 4  days.  It'll blast out your sinus congestion though.

I hope you feel better soon.

Dee

[gretl]

??  The thing about pseudoephedrine is news to me.  The only thing contraindicated with SSRI's, as far as I know, is dextromethorphan (as in Robitussin cough syrup).  And even then, it's not automatically a problem.  Depends on dosages involved, what other meds you're on, and your personal body chemistry.  Personally I use both Robitussin and Sudafed sparingly, as needed, and haven't had any real problems.

From Sinus pressure is often not a sinus infection:  "People taking the older antidepressant drugs Nardil, Parnate (MAO inhibitors) should not take pseudoephedrine. Decongestants are safe with all other antidepressant drugs."

From Interaction checker for Lexapro and dextromethorphan:  "Concomitant use of agents with serotonergic activity such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, 5-HT1 receptor agonists, ergot alkaloids, lithium, St. John's wort, phenylpiperidine opioids, dextromethorphan, and 5-hydroxytryptophan may potentiate the risk of serotonin syndrome, which is a rare but serious and potentially fatal condition thought to result from hyperstimulation of brainstem 5-HT1A receptors."

I hope you feel better soon!  I have a nasty chest cold right now myself, and I expect to need cough syrup at bedtime tonight (I tough it out during the day usually)  B)

[Dee]

I did find some online articles supporting what the pharmacist told me.  It's probably not a huge risk, but I'd use with caution nonetheless.

http://www.fairview.org/healthlibrary/cont...exchpse__ma.htm

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/articles/69360-4.asp

Take care,

Dee

[brandymac29]

and I have a huge sinus thing happening.

[Dee]

Really?  I have allergies and have taken Benadryl (antihistamine/diphenhydramine) with Effexor a few times and that was no problem. 

Was it the daytime version (decongestant/pseudoephedrine) you took?

Dee

[brandymac29]

Really?

[ldo]

If you're really hurting, see a doc and get something that works. I've had sinus problems and they are not fun. Especially if it progresses to a burst ear drum.

Other things that open sinuses:

Adderall (a bit)

really spicy food: curry, fresh salsa made very hot, etc.

hot drinks and soup, or even just drinking hot water

exercise

sex (especially orgasm)

snorting salt water while lying down and tilting your head back. This can be fairly effective. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup warm water. Lie on the floor, tilt your head back, and drip it into your nose with a spoon. You don't have to snort if you do it this way. Then, a few minutes later, gargle with warm salt water mixed 4 times as strong or your throat will kill you. Kinda gross, but it often helps.

a humidifier

[berelain326]

My GP gave me something with pseudoephedrine  in it...omg...it.was.bad. It brought out one of my worst manic phases ever. (This was before I even knew I was BP.)

I literally didn't sleep, but for maybe two hours a night. The rest of the day was spent in class (3-5 huors a day), the rest of the day was me running (running in the dorm, running around the dorm, running around campus, and not a little one), and when the kids came back drunk from the bars, I'd play ping pong until they passed out. I became the dorm ping pong pro though (if you want to consider that a positive side of things), my friends thought I was acting like Forest Gump...hated that movie...but yes, I can do the shit he does...well, used to be able to.

I lost over 20 pounds in three weeks because I couldn't stop moving. My GP laughed. AHH! "Berelain, you have such funny reactions to medicines...take half." Well, at least somebody was amused, unfortunately it wasn't me. BUT it did clear up my sinus' damn well.

So please please please check with your doctor. If nothing else, it'll give you a piece of mind that it is ok. (The only thing I was on with this was birth control like I said, I hadn't been dx'd yet.)

[Dee]

I don't understand why your doctor was so shocked by your reaction.  I have always been sensitive to pseudoephedrine.  It makes my heart race and gives me panic attacks.  I have been forced to take it when I have had a sinus infection and for me a quarter of a pill is all I can handle. 

I have a friend that was taking Sudafed and went to the emergency because her heart was racing so fast she thought she was having a heart attack.

I don't think it's that uncommon to be sensitive to that drug.  Hell, they make crystal meth out of it.  It's not exactly benign.

[skidoo]

I've never heard of "sex (especially orgasm)" opening your sinuses - but hey - if it works for you.....

A good dose of wasabi might do the trick, (not whilst having sex though) or maybe....

Also the beach is pretty good for that, and yes you could have sex at the beach whilst eating wasabi, triple impact....

:-)

[chimpmaster]

There is a known interaction between the SSRIs and pseudoephredine.

However this is not to say that the interaction is dangerous by any means.

My psychiatrist is comfortable with me taking sudafed as required, especially as the seroquel i am on can give you a stuffy nose.

I'd say the biggest concerns are :

- potential allergic reaction

- increased anxiety from the stimulant

- blood pressure issues (if you have them).

Having said that, its probably fine for most people.My advice would be to check with your treating dr.