Just wondered if anyone has taken decongestants with mucodyne before? I am really struggling at the moment feel constantly blocked up and really want a bit of relief which I know I could get from taking a decongestant for a short time but now sure if I should whilst I'm taking mucodyne?
Many Thanks x
Update:
I used a decongestant spray over the weekend away which was really helpful however I know I can't use this long term so I have managed to track down a sterimar spray today and just tried it for the first time. It does seem to have cleared the congestion for now so fingers crossed if I use it regularly I won't need the decongestant one again. Thank you all for your tips don't know what I do without this forum!!
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Knicho
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I don't know the answer to your question but in case it's any help.... my consultant has told me to take Sterimar nasal spray to help keep bugs away. It's totally harmless as just saline. I was taking a steroid nasal spray before that but sterimar is more natural. Anyway my nose is definitely much "drier" ( apart from left nostril when I lie down, had a septoplasty afew years ago which wasn't done very well.. another story)! Sterimar is expensive but I get it in bulk from Amazon but you can buy from Boots. Called sterimar nasal hygiene but they also do a nasal congestion. Perhaps worth a try. You can take up to 6 doses a day.. I take 3 or 4 permanently. Any news re if you have bronchiectasis since the other consultant said your problem isn't related to the scarring? Xx
Thank you I'll give this a try. No news on my diagnosis.. the scar consultant suggested in his letter to the respiratory consultant that it was bronchiectasis however I've not had another appt with him yet so not been confirmed at the moment.
Well it certainly wont react or cause any harm at all! It says you can give to babies. The consultant I now go to at the Royal Brompton ( as am retired and have the time and was recommended by the asthma society as had got in such a complete mess with it all.. previous consultant generally gave totally different advice, was constantly infected for 18 months, even read CT scans differently!!) is an expert on bronchiectasis and says a lot of bugs start in the nose/ sinuses which can go to lungs. So was told to take this permanently. I even phoned sterimar about the different types! The decongestant sterimar you don't take permanently but while you need to but then the nasal hygiene one take all the time after. Don't expect it will give instant results but long term should help. Good luck xx
They don't normal recommend taken two forms of medication that do similar actions.
Carbocisteine
Carbocisteine (INN), also called carbocysteine (USAN), is a mucolytic that reduces the viscosity of sputum and so can be used to help relieve the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and bronchiectasis by allowing the sufferer to bring up sputum more easily.[1][2] Carbocisteine should not be used with antitussives (cough suppressants) or medicines that dry up bronchial secretions.
Ps me again!! Forgot to say initially the consultant asked me if I'd tried the neil Ned sinus rinse, I had as an ENT consultant suggested it for something else. For me though I have a dysfunctional eustacian tube and the pressure caused my ear to hurt. Told my consultant this and he said that sterimar is gentler so use that. Much easier to use also as you just squirt it up, then let it run out, blow your nose. Neil Ned requires more setting up but can't comment on if it's more thorough cleaning you out. Xx
I have tried the NEIL med before and it dried me out too much so I still might try the spray you've suggested if that isn't enough I'll try the NEIL med again! Thanks again 😊
My advice on this would be to seek the views of your pharmacist. Over the counter medications can have very complex reactions with both over over the counter and prescription medications. Very often different drugs can be used separately to treat the same problem. But if you use both drugs at the same time they can combine to give a totally different action to the one intended. To be safe always seek expert advice first.
I have used Olbus oil on a section of kitchen roll, for years. I find it better than, and more convenient to use than putting decongestant oils in boiling water or sticking things up your nose.
Be careful you don't put the raw oil on the tissue against your skin and definitely don't touch your eyes with Olbus on your fingers.
No I don't.. I have looked at these but I'm still waiting for an appt with a physio to show me how to clear my lungs properly so I've not invested yet.. but it's something to think about thank you 😊
Me again. Definitely don't want to put you off a flutter but personally I've tried one and it didn't help. Also re clearance and Physio... have seen 3 Physio's, all told me slightly different ways so now do a combination of techniques. One mistake I realise now is that I've probably done it too aggressively in the past and then perhaps inflamed my upper airways. All food for thought! Xxx
I don't think you should,Mucodyne(Carbositien) was originally created for cystic fibrosis sufferers but wasn't successful in their treatment.Ask you're gp a quick call should answer Youve question,hope you feel better soon
a) If this is allergy, taking a antihistamine may help - citirzine is available otc cheaply.
b) If this an allergy a steroid nasal spray may help - like beconase also available otc
Neither will clash with you Mucodyne, but prob best to see your GP.
c) Answers to your specific question:
Whilst a consumed decongestant (capsule, powder etc) I believe won't cause a clash problem, a decongestant nasal spray (topical) is even less likely to affect your Mucodyne therapy... still, from my own experience I'm a firm advocate of saline rinse. I use a netti pot with Neil Med salt sachets. This is a REAL wash out, not just a little squirt..
I use the sinucleanse pot, nice size, clear plastic & (mine was) dishwasher safe - below offer comes with 30 saline sachets.
I buy Neil Med replacement refill sachets when on offer at Amazon which are usually near half the Boots price.
Finally - if you use the decongestant spray, don't use it for more than 7 days other wise you can get a difficult to cure rebound - rhinitis medicamentosa (google it).
When I had PND long term(& before I'd discovered the sinus wash) I'd use a DS just at the weekend to get a good nights sleep.
Best wishes - I know what a mare congestion & PND is from my own experience... drives you mad.
I did try this a long time ago now when I was first struggling with congestion and did get some relief from it however I stopped as I started to feel too dry in the nose area so maybe I overdid it? I might give it another go at this stage it's worth a try! I'm away this weekend and really would like to be able to breathe to enjoy a nice meal we have booked and a good nights sleep!
Just been reading all the chat related to this post and think I got some good tips. I hope you don't mind me asking as this is totally off subject, but you seem to be getting some good treatment, what with a consultant and physio etc. were you referred by your GP or did you have to go private? Hope this is not too personal a question. All I have had so far is two inhalers prescribed.
I'm on the NHS however I only got referred to a consultant because I insisted on it in the end after 2 and a half years of being back and forth to the GP getting nowhere. The consultant does seem very good although I'm still waiting for a proper diagnosis he is treating my symptoms anyway, hope this helps xx
Thanks very much for getting back to me. Think I'll have to follow your example and keep insisting. Good to know that someone is getting somewhere past the blind diagnosis that GP's dish out.
PS Should you, like many others, be so impressed with the Netti pot relief but find the premixed sachets expensive, you can make your own from bicarb & pure salt - note it MUST be pure - no anti caking chemicals in it to aggravate your nose.
Been on carbocisteine for 4 months now and it's been helping until the last few weeks when I've got congested again Been taking antihistamine but it's not really helped! It's making me annoyed as previously the warmer weather has been the time when I've been wellest!
I make my own nasal spray. Water (distilled) sea salt and bicarb. You'll find quantities on t'internet. Cándido access my notes (don't know how to) from here
I don't know if this is the sort of thing that will help but after several months of looking for a nasal spray that didn't create its own problem with sensitivity and/or yet more breathing problems, I finally found "Arm & Hammer Simply Saline" which is pretty much what the name says; it's water with sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate and it does the job..., for me and several others I've recommended it to.
You give no hint of where you live so I don't know if it's available in your area; however, WalMart sells it and I don't see why it would be a banned international medication. But, these days, you just never can tell.
Same as the neilmed & sinucleanse and what I & some others said for homemade. And if it dries your nose out (which it does for me, too) get a bit of Vaseline up there after you've rinsed.. sorts it in a day or two.
I'm on 2 tablets twice a day and like you say I'm not sure it's enough. Not seen gp for a while been seeing consultant he prescribed them in first place however if none of the suggestions people have made work I might speak to gp about increasing my dose thanks
Yes I have problems with coughing and clearing day and night it varies in severity and timing so sometimes worse in the day sometimes It keeps me awake. My problems started around 2 and a half years ago however until 4 months ago I have been passed from pillar to post with different medical professionals telling me different things.. late onset asthma, sinusitis etc etc eventually I insisted on a referral to a consultant and he prescribed mucodyne. However I still haven't got a clear diagnosis he originally said he thought it was bronchiectasis so ordered a ct scan and lung function test but then decided it was scar tissue from previous radiotherapy and referred me to a specialist who has now refused to see me as he says it's bronchiectasis so not his area!!
So I'm an ongoing mystery at the moment.. however that doesn't help me day to day!
Asking questions is no problem at all I find it is useful to hear other people's stories so happy to share mine 😊
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Slow road to recovery.
Too many antibiotics?...anyone using probiotics?
Very breathless lying down
Nose sprays for colds etc
Just to say thank you everyone.
