Cold & Flu Remedies

[Spanieldoglover]

Hi everyone

I have open angle glaucoma and I’m just wondering what medication people take for colds or flu symptoms?

I’ve read on here not to use Lemsip and having bought Beechams capsules, I’ve just read that I shouldn’t take them with glaucoma either. Out of interest does anyone know why and what is in these medications that can be harmful to our condition? Just curious.

Anyway, any comments with some knowledge of what I could take would be great 😊

Many thanks

[LyndseyMoo]

Hello, it's the decongestants in cold & flu remedies that mean you should not use them if you have glaucoma. Something to do with the way they work can cause angle closure and and your pressures to spike or something. I asked my consultant and she said not to use them so now its just paracetamol and vicks vaporub and I use sea salt nasal spray if I need to x

[Spanieldoglover in reply to LyndseyMoo]

Thank you LyndseyMoo, I’ll take the paracetamol and Vicks then 😊

[Bluella in reply to LyndseyMoo]

Hi LyndseyMoo - would that be Sterimar nasal spray? or something else? I often get sinusitis so need something to help. Thanks!

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello,

If you have Primary Open Angle Glaucoma, there shouldn't be a problem with using over the counter Medication. It is when you have Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma or narrow angles, that you have to be more cautious. This is because, many over the counter medications have ingredients that can cause the eye to dilate slightly. |If a person has narrow angles the dilation can cause the already narrow drainage angle to become narrower, which can affect the eye pressure.

However, we always say to check with your consultant.

[Spanieldoglover in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

That’s great, thank you very much Trish.

[PeterRabbit62 in reply to Spanieldoglover]

I have the same glaucoma and I don't take any cold remedies not even paracetamol, in the past I have taken just paracetamol for headaches, but because of other medical conditions I cannot take paracetamol anymore, because I take other painkillers, one of my painkillers you cannot take with closed glaucoma, your doctor should know what kind of glaucoma you have and what to prescribe, if you buying over the counter you can ask is it alright to take with your glaucoma, ask the pharmacist.