Cold and Flu medication

[Flitwick66]

Hi is there any cold and flu medication I should avoid while suffering Micro Vascular Angina.I have been told that decongestant affects my condition

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello Flitwick66,

I live with coronary vasospastic angina.

Any substance that causes contrictions of the blood vessels need to be avoided if you live with Microvascular or vasospastic angina.

This includes over the counter cold remedies containing pseudoephedrine.

Ephedrine/ adrenaline cause vasoconstriction too.

My dentist uses local anaesthetic without adrenaline.

Some chemotherapy drugs and some general anesthesia medications can also cause vasospasms.

Beta blockers can make vasospasms worse as well so best avoided if your Microvascular angina is caused by vasospasms rather than Microvascular dysfunction.

I have problems with artificial sweeteners, caffeine and chorizo sausage.

I have a medical alert bracelet giving my diagnosis and the instruction to avoid giving me adrenaline or beta blockers.

For colds, I take paracetamol, and make a hot water drink with a slice of lemon, cloves, some honey and a small drop of whiskey.

[Flitwick66 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you very much for the information much appreciated

[JennyRx]

Most cold and flu remedies are relatively useless anyway. A triumph of marketing over clinical effectiveness Avoid anything called decongestants. And ibuprofen. Just take paracetamol and hot lemon drinks and rest. If you have proper flu you need to monitor yourself to ensure it’s not escalating but the advice is still the same - paracetamol, fluids, bed rest.

[Fluffybee]

Hi Flitwick66

I have the same condition as you and had no idea cold and flu meds can affect this condition.

Believe it or not I’m still waiting for a tooth extraction that has an abscess for around 18 months or more, 2 dentists, 1 hospital wouldn’t do the procedure but several months ago I was approved by another hospital to have it done, and was told I was tip of the list when things get more normalised with the coronavirus.

That was around 6-8 months ago, everyday it’s painful, there’s people out there with much more important and serious conditions to help with.

I have a fear of dentists so they want to sedate me, at this point a door and string still is more tempting !!!!!

How are you getting on !!

[080311 in reply to Fluffybee]

Morning,

So good to hear from you, seems ages since I saw anything. Can’t believe you are still waiting for this dental appointment it just isn’t right. Hope apart from that you are doing ok.

Best wishes Pauline

[Fluffybee in reply to 080311]

Hi there,

Life has been busy but some good news I’ve finally been referred into a consultant who specialises in micro vascular angina at the Royal Brompton, just waiting for an appointment to come through, I’m not expecting miracles at all but just help manage, advice and maybe adjust meds if need be.

How are you ? 😃

[080311 in reply to Fluffybee]

That’s really good news, fingers crossed they will be able to help you control your micro vascular angina. I am not too bad, had a letter a couple of weeks ago, an appointment for my 5 year review of my replacement valve with the cardiologist, read the date as 1-6 thought that’s no good that date as gone will have to phone and then the year registered 2022 😂 They are really booking appointments into the future, last paragraph read if this appointment can’t be kept please phone in the 7 days from the date of this letter 😂You have to laugh or you would cry.

Best wishes Pauline