Sudafed

[Thommo90]

Hi all. I’ve recently quit smoking and my sinuses are a bit inflamed. As is also my chest - last week taking my preventive inhaler physical hurt. I’ve popped to the pharmacy and they recommended Sudafed - he asked if I had taking it before & I said I had, but thinking about it now I’m not sure if that was before my asthma diagnosis. Googling it I can see that some people with asthma have said that the Sudafed has caused an attack. Am I overthinking this or should I swerve the sudafed?

[Cat33]

I am asthmatic and take Sudafed and I have never had any reaction at all So fingers crossed you won't either

Also the pharmacist didn't ask if you were asthmatic and they are usually very hot on that when you buy tablets

All the best

[Thommo90 in reply to Cat33]

Well I was chatting to the pharmacist assistant - who recommend ibuprofen - when I said I was asthmatic he overheard and come over. I’ve taken the one this morning, chest is feeling a bit better today.

I’m going to pop to the doctors this week on my sinuses and I’ll mention the inhaler hurting my chest - I need speak to him anyway as he hates giving my fostair prescription early and my inhaler failed/broke (I had another one) so will need to ask for that to be changed.

[Poobah]

Sudafed is only for very short term use. If you over use it your symptoms will return with avengance.

It can also affect the heart.

Better to try Beconase, a steroid nasal spray. This is now available over the counter. It will take a bit longer to work but you won't get any rebound symptoms as you do with Sudafed.

I would advise your asthma nurse or doctor that you are using Beconase as they can prescribe it for you.

Go to the GP if your chest continues to be sore.

And good for you for giving up smoking - no easy thing.

All the best.

[Thommo90 in reply to Poobah]

I’m going to pop into my doctors anyway as I’ve had some sinus issues before which he gave a prescription for - I think a steroid spray.

I’ve taken just the one Sudafed this morning to avoid using the Otrivine spray that I have been using (only 2 yesterday - and a couple time’s last week)

[Wheezycat in reply to Poobah]

Beconase can also give problems if used long term. It did to my husband, and it was a recognised problem. Basically his stuffy sinuses came back with a vengeance when he stopped using Beconase after one hay fever season having been on it for 3-4 months. As he can get bad hay fever, he has since used Avamys which has worked well.

[Josephone]

Sinus rinse from boots helps immensely

[Thommo90]

That was the sort of thing I was looking for. I have some Sterimar anyway

[Matman]

Believe it’s the Pseudoephedrine in Sudafed Anti-congestant that helps (Sudafed make a few products but it’s the anti-congestant one I imagine you’re referring to).

Going back a lot of years, prior to Inhalers, ephedrine was one the Meds of choice for Asthmatics, and was highly effective, even life-saving for some.

I believe Pseudoephedrine mimics ephedrine in a number of ways.

I use a Sudafed Decongestant tab as part of my step-up procedure when my Asthma takes a turn for the worse.

As already mentioned by Poobah, short term use is probably best (few days only).

I took one yesterday, plus a half-dose (for me) 20mg of Steroid Tabs, rather than a full 40mg Pred Dose. I’m not advocating this, as I’m not medically trained. I don’t like wading in with a full 40mg Dose of steroids at the first sign of a flare-up, but that’s just me experimenting.

[Thommo90 in reply to Matman]

Thank you for your reply, much appreciated. I took the Sudafed and lived to tell the tale

[water_juggler]

I cant answer for the Sudafed, just wanted to say a HUGE well done for quitting smoking! It will be rough going for a while but you honestly will feel so much better and will smell divine! X

[Thommo90]

Thank you. I have switched to Juul vaping so not pedestal worthy yet - but it’s progress! Just want to be smoke free a bit longer before I look to quit that too!