In the past year–pretty much upon hitting age 20–I have developed two problems: persistant sinus infections and allergies that until now had not existed. As a result, I have become very familiar with the world of over the counter and prescription decongestants.
About three months ago, I was finally prescribed a decongestant that worked: it was pseudoephedrine (that’s all that was in there, though it had a brand name of some sort). It cleared me right up and, praise be, allowed me to freakin’ breathe again. As an additional plus, it killed my appetite, turning me from a “live to eat” to an “eat to live” type of person. It also didn’t knock me out, which pretty much everything else did.
Now it’s allergy season, and I’m getting oodles of postnasal drip. I would also–and this is incredibly superficial, but I’m admitting it here because I feel it may be relevant–like to lose a few pounds. I don’t have health insurance currently, but I know that pseudoephedrine is available OTC as Sudafed. I know I’m going to be miserable for the next few months–I don’t know how my allergic-to-the-world little sister has put up with this since BIRTH–if I don’t take something to clear me up pretty much every day. Taking Sudafed would effectively solve both of my problems (well, solve one, assist with the other).
Alas, being a child of the Age of Cynicism, I know that something that can solve more than one problem–and most things that can just solve one–usually has a few catches. I wonder, therefore, just how dangerous it would be to take pseudoephedrine long term. Is it addictive? Could it adversely affect my health? How much of a risk would it be? I’d likely be taking something along the lines of the 12-hour capsules once a day (when I was on the prescription, it did keep me up at night if I took it too late in the day, but, hell, lately I have that problem with Diet Coke). How dangerous would it be?
(Note that I would ask my doctor, if I had a real “doctor” at this point that I could call without a 50 dollar appointment). Thanks!
If you want to kill the allergies and the sinus, try the Claritin with the decongestant (Claritin-D), which has 240mg of Pseudoephedrine Sulphate in the 24 hour version I take. Kills my allergies and lets me breathe.
My husband has been taking pseudoephedrine daily for several years now. He also tends to develop persistent sinus infections and has opted for this over surgery. You probably had the same thing–it’s a combination of pseudoephedrine and the expectorant guaifenesin, which thins mucus. You can get the same combination over the counter as “non-drying” sudafed.
HOWEVER, my husband is doing this with the knowledge of his doctor–he gets the stuff by prescription and goes in periodically to be checked out. I would not be at all surprised to learn that pseudoephidrine is at least mildly addictive. When I’ve taken it I’ve also noticed the mood/alertness elevation and appetite suppression effects, although, for me, they tend to subside by the second or third day. My husband also experiences “rebound” congestion if he happens to miss a dose or two.
Don’t do it if you have heart problems. I also have severe sinus trouble (happenin as I type atch) but heart trouble runs in my family. The doc keeps me away from anything with Ephedrine in it pseudo or no.
My wife has constant problems with allergies. Her solution: massive doses of pseudoephedrine. At one time, she was taking up to twenty Sudafed (the 12-hour, non-drowsy type) a day. She did this for about three years straight, but has backed off now.
Obviously, this is insane and her liver will probably explode some day. However, to date she has suffered no ill effects as far as I know.
Don’t mistake this for good advice, because I don’t know about the advisability of long term pseudoephedrine use. But it certainly can be addictive - note the name; it’s a stimulant, related to the recently-banned ephedra (note that pseudoephedrine does not have the same dangers as ephedra, but it is a related stimulant.) I’d be cautious.
Oh you lucky people who can take pseudoephdrine! It’s in most allergy medications and gives me a nice red rash. sigh I would love to have normal sinuses.
drip…drip…drip…drip…
You’re treating a symptom pretty far down the chain from the “disease.” I would go see an ENT to see about treating the chronic infection and/or allergies.
I had the same exact problems you have: Chronic sinus infections, 6 to 8 weeks apart from each other, plus seasonal allergies.
I ended up seeing an ENT who ordered a Head CT. Turns out that I had a deviated septum AND an infected cyst. Surgery was the permenant solution for me and I haven’t had a sinus infection since, pluse the allergies don’t bother me nearly so bad as they used to.
I acknowledge that it could be addictive. But is it caffeine-addictive (not very) or is it cigarettes/herion/cocaine/reality TV-addictive (requiring a huge effort to quit that may or may not work)? I guess that’s what I’m trying to figure out.
Also, Dragwyr, due to unrelated circumstances involving big freaking headaches (which turned out to be my jaw muscles protesting the grinding and clenching of my teeth at night), I’m pretty sure that I at least don’t have the former. It’s not a chronic sinus infection, anyway, so much as “whenever I catch a cold, it goes right to the old sinuses,” something that my mom’s suffered from for years.
It’s not that I’m against going to the doctor; it’s that I don’t have health insurance for sure until October, and the doctor is expensive. I’m trying to treat the symptoms just so I can get through the day without sounding like Gross, Incoporated’s midwest regional snot factory.