Baba
03-13-2006, 08:30 AM
Hello,

What do you (if on Bipolar meds) take for nasal congestion due to colds?

I went to a different pharmacy over the weekend to get my DH (at his request) something to help relieve his congestion. I asked the pharmacist for a recommendation. Her first question (with a seemingly attitude) was Adult or Child? Then abruptly asked if husband was on any other meds and for what condition. My answer was bipolar and I would have added his other conditions which he takes meds for but didn't get a chance (diabetes, high blood pressure etc.)

Based solely on the fact that he takes meds for bipolar (she didn't even ask which meds) she said he should NOT take ANY decongestants. She suggested, claritin, benedryl, vicks vapor rub, ocean spray nasal saline solution.

Husband has not felt nearly enough relief with the above as he would have with a decongestant. He hates the spray and Vicks rub.

Can you please tell us (DH and me) what you have learned regarding what OTC med is recommended for congestion relief while on bipolar meds? Is the outcome different depending on which bipolar meds a person is on?

Thanks from both of us.
Baba

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Banana2
03-13-2006, 09:27 AM
The pharmacist is right.

You should not take anything other than what she specified.

I usually take benadryl. That is all you are supposed to take.

I can relate to the pain, but sudafed, OTC sinus meds are not for us on bipolar meds. I once had the worst cold of my life when I lived in the North, and I took all sorts of OTC meds, and had a manic relapse.

Be very careful with this one. This was when I was first diagnosed and really did not give a crap b/c I was in so much pain. At the time I was on Zoloft, trazadone, and depakote. I got dizzy, light headed, then mania, and I started the zyprexa due to that.

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mrsdoubtfyre
03-13-2006, 10:31 AM
containing DM (dextromethorphan) cannot be used with MAOI inhibitors (Parnate/Nardil) or SSRI antidepressants (Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft).

It is best to consult with your doctor as well.

Some people find Mucinex plain (not the DM) or Robitussin plain (not the DM), can help with congestion. If taken with alot of water, the congestion can clear itself with this, with little interferance with drugs.

Also very spicey food (like hot Mexican or hot Chinese) can help clear nasal passages for some people.--If you can tolerate it, that is!

Benadryl plain is very drying...and can make congestion worse. When the congestion dries up, then there is risk of sinus infection. Claritin plain does not do this, and is preferable to Benadryl. Benadryl is used by some doctors in conjunction with anti-psychotics...so self medicating with that should be cleared by your doctor first.

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teddiebears
03-13-2006, 12:21 PM
I also have hypertension and know that taking desongestants - like pseudoephedrine - generally increases blood pressure and raises the heart rate. So that's not a good choice. My doctor suggested Chlortrimaton and Loratidine (Claritin).

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bemused
03-13-2006, 08:12 PM
I am going to make a non drug suggestion. This is what I do because I am so sensitive to meds. I irrigate my nasal passages with saline solution with a jalaneti or neti pot.

There's lots of info online if you google neti pot.

The trick is that you pour a proper mixture of salt and water into one side of your nose, the saline travels all through nasal passages, and runs out the other side of your nose. If done correctly, it is very soothing, helps clear up infection or allergies, etc., but if done incorrectly might affect eustachian tubes, so do research. The water is cleared out with very gentle nose blowing while leaning over.

The better pharmacies sell neti pots and premixed solutions. I think they have something called Sinucleanse.

Sometimes I take benadryl to help me sleep, and the next morning I have to use a neti pot because I got so dried out. Good luck!
Lisa

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~bizi~
03-13-2006, 09:49 PM
about 2 times a year..I would get a sinus infection that is before I was given allegra.
I have a whloe bottle of the medication now for back up.
I have a night time dose and a day time dose.
When ever I start to get a sore throat/scratchey eyes, running nose...kind of like a cold ...I know it is from my allergies...
( I used to end up with sinus infections...awful)
then I start taking allegra twice a day till the other symptoms are gone then I stop the allegra...usually only a couple of days some times 3.
I really believe in this...have not been "sick" with a sinus infection for a few years now thank good ness.
I only take it when I start having any symptoms.
I don't take it every day.
I have used theraflu before when I was really sick...did not know that I was not supposed to take it....
I love vicks if I can't breath...they make a cherry kind too....
I have also found that heated up orange juice really feels good on my throat...I like most things heated up... cranberry juice etc.

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Mari
03-14-2006, 02:35 AM
Hi,
I think I have taken a dose or two of the bad OTC stuff. I don't get these colds very often (knock on wood).
I fend them off with sleep, water, zinc lozenges, lots and lots and lots of vit c, and, sometimes, some Symmetrel/Amantadine (a day or two) that my old pdoc gave me. I don't know if the symmetrel works but I get my PA/PCP to write a script or me each year.

Steam (like hot shower or hot soup) breaks up mucus.

Check with your pdoc about what OTC cold meds are ok. He/She might see things differently.

Mari

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Mari
03-14-2006, 02:38 AM
Hi,
At one point I was getting a lot of runny nose kind of problems and complained to the PCP. He gave me a script for Flonase. It settled things.
Again, not sure if that is a good med for us on our meds or not, but that's what I took for a week or so and it worked. I stopped getting the little colds.

mari

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JD3
03-14-2006, 02:29 PM
Baba,

I agree with Bemused . Years ago I was complaining about my sinusitis and was told what to do by a guy who had been hospitilized often for his condition. He "stole" the nasal lavage technique from the hospitial and just used the palm of his hand to hold the saline solution. He hadn't been to a hospital since and by regular application hadn't even had a sinusitis attack.

Generally I try to get by with a few aspirin. But I have sometime used cough drops containing DM. But fortunately I was taking non-conventional anti-depressants.

I believe the pharmacist mishandled your situation and you should contact your doctor or see another pharmacist. I think maybe there is some good information comming here from various people

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Baba
03-14-2006, 09:15 PM
Thank you to all who have responded to me.

I've gathered a WEALTH of information throughout this thread.

I'm trying to get it drilled in my head (and husbands)that we need to stay away from products with DM in them. That is a very, very important detail.

I'm really interested in the Neti Pot and really appreciate you sharing the information with me. As suggested, I researched it and it seems like a real good solution to ridding the allergens. Im planning on buying a Neti Pot.....hope I can buy one from a better pharmacy rather than ordering one online.

MrsDoubfire.......Why does one need to stay away from DM's? What would be the side effects or set backs? Can DM cause mania?

Again, thanks EVERYONE for sharing all your tips.

Baba

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mrsdoubtfyre
03-14-2006, 09:55 PM
used in combination with SSRI drugs or MAOIs can cause serotonin syndrome.
It does not happen with everyone equally, but it is a risk.
The SSRI interaction is "newer" than the MAOI one, and does not appear on labels like the MAOI warning at present.
http://www.mc.uky.edu/Pharmacy/DIC/D...hanMAOIDDI.htm

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N
03-15-2006, 12:13 PM
I take Lamictal, Klonapin, Trazadone and Cymbalta. I never had a problem with OTC cold things. EXCEPT Sudfed......made me feel like I was speeding.

I don't have mania, I am BP II, so I suffer more depression and get hyper, yet I have had some manic experiences.

N

Benedryl and Alka Seltzer Cold and Flu work for me.

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Banana2
03-15-2006, 06:43 PM
I agree with Nanc here, that is what I took that led to my manic episode when I had such a time with a cold, sudafed, and some other OTC sinus stuff that really I had no idea.

I don't want to be contradictory, but most of these cold meds that are OTC, do not JUST advise about MAOI drugs, but they say ANY depressive meds, but say consult your doctor.

In the past I have consulted my doctor and he said take benadryl, which is why I said listen to the pharmacist, sorry she was kinda rude, but most pharmacy people can be unless its a small pharmacy and they know you by name and all that, I have FINALLY found that pharmacy here in the south.

I am sorry BABA to hear, but if its truly allergies instead of a simple cold, why not visit an allergist?? just to see what they have to say, I mean they are an M.D. and can prescribe to what is suited for him. I think others have touched on what can be prescribed by a General Physician, or your Primary Care Doctor, but maybe if its so bad, see an allergist a/k/a Ear, Nose and Throat specialist if this is persistant throughtout the spring, etc..

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bemused
03-15-2006, 11:02 PM
I have a stainless steel large neti pot that I wouldn't get again because it rusted all around the inside of where the spout is welded.
I have a plastic one I got from the pharmacy that is good. There are also ceramic ones.
I just use tap water and noniodized salt, but some people prefer bottled water and premeasured saline packets.
Anybody using a neti pot must be very careful when blowing the nose after so as not to force water into eustachian tubes. The risk of choking is extremely low. I have learned how to take the water in through my nose and let it run out my mouth, so that the area from my nose to my throat gets rinsed, too.
There's a really good book out called Sinus Survival. I learned about the neti pot from the doc who wrote it.
There used to be a little video clip online demonstrating the method, and this was how I learned. I will look for it for you.
Lisa

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N
03-15-2006, 11:08 PM
I use nasal spray - when needed AFRIN they have the drops or spray and never had a problem.

Also, it is so dry here in the desert, you can get just regular saline spray that helps clear your nasal passages.


N

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bemused
03-15-2006, 11:27 PM
There's more than one video online now. Here's one that I think is good because it shows you how to let excess water drain out. One problem is when they use the word forceful about blowing the nose. The nose must be blown as gently as possible at any time, not just when clearing out water from the neti pot. Ask any ear nose throat doc about this.
The website I am linking to has some good FAQs about jalaneti. Find the link to the video on this page. The recipe for saline differs depending on the size of the pot.
Lisa
http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/Va...hoVedaFAQ.aspx

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