cold medicine

[moonmama22]

My ob said it would be okay to take plain Sudafed for the sinus congestion I've been having. So far, for the last 6-8 weeks I've been dealing with it - using a humidifier, wet socks, warm washcloth, etc... and it's been managable, at least. However, last night my headache became a raging migraine - I took a "nap" (though I couldn't fall asleep) for 2 hours and was on the verge of going to the ER because it was affecting my vision and was really mentally messing with me. So I picked up the Sudafed today but I'm still unsure about taking it.. (the pharmacist also said that it would be okay and made sure I had the right thing...) There is no warning on the box either. Anyone else been told NOT to take it, or should it be fine?

[Nanette56]

Coolest website ever:

http://www.safefetus.com/Search.asp

You can search by drug and see what Pregnancy Risk category the drug falls into. A and B are safest, most fall into category C though.

I think they said that Sudafed is contraindicated for the First Tri but ok after that. (It's class C)

[cloe]

Try a netipot. After the raging sinus infection I had last week I tried it and am a total convert. No drugs and no longer any pain. Mine got so bad that my teeth hurt and I had trouble hearing.

I remember my obgyn saying no to sudafed when I was pregnant with my first but that was six years ago. Hope you feel better.

[moonmama22]

OK. Thanks so much - I just read the info, and cannot seem to convince myself that it is worth it. I'll just suffer for now anyway...

[SeattleRain]

I just came off the sinus infection from you-know-where. I literally could.not.breathe and started to feel desperate. I took Tylenol and Sudafed, and now I'm on amoxacillan (which is what ultimately made the infection go away, I had a secondary infection)... and now I'm on Monistat! Lol. In any case, you can take the Sudafed. Ultimately though, I found that the only thing that really worked well was Affrin and saline spray. You have to be careful with Affrin to only use it for 2 days on and 2 days off because you can get rebound congestion if you use it for too long.

Neti pots are only effective if you don't have a ton of sinus pressure. I tried the neti pot but the mucus was so thick it just rolled right back out.

[lunarlady]

I'll admit to clicking on here hoping to read about some wonderful new cold medicine designed for pregnant ladies. A girl can dream, right?

I've had a sinus infection for the past week that is awful. I've humidified, sprayed saline up my nose, used heat packs, napped, showered, bathed...all to survive. I lost my sense of smell several days ago, and my eyes started weeping gunk when I'm sleeping the last couple days. Not great. But I do think I turned a corner today as I find I can (usually) breathe and that I actually can smell a few things faintly that would normally be very strong. Acedominophin (sp?) did help me sleep, but otherwise I've been doing drug free. And I think I just might get better. Hooray!

I can't take Sudafed anyway, even when not pregnant, because it reacts badly with my anxiety levels. So ah well. At least I think I've made it without needing antibiotics.

[SeattleRain]

I've heard that Sudafed can raise your blood pressure (at least, this is what my OB told me when I called to ask about this stuff) so be careful to check in with your HCP about your last BP reading before you take Sudafed.

[Gingercat]

How about a Sinus Buster spray? You can also try the headache formula, it always works for me!

[slgt]

I'm going to put in another vote for the neti. With colds at their worst - unable to breathe nasally, pounding headache causing light- & sound-sensitivity - even though the water couldn't get through the first 1 or 2 times, a day of use is a saving grace. Literally, it takes me from incapacitated to feeling like I have a mild head cold.

Don't give up if the water doesn't go through the first time. Do both nostrils, 3x/day, until it clears. I've never tried saline sprays, but I've had 2 people tell me that they found the sprays useless but the neti pot gave great results. Certainly worth trying before Sudafed!

[CamoShades]

When I'm as congested and swollen as it sounds like you are, not even the neti pot works. It just doesn't flow through.

Have you tried Breathe Right strips? I was congested nonstop a few months ago, and my OB suggested them. I was surprised they actually worked. I suffered through the days, but nighttime was when I really needed the relief so I could selep. I'd also take Benadryl occasionally -- which my OB was fine with -- to clear up the congestion at night.

[newmommy7-08]

Make sure it's sudafed PE... regular sudafed has the fake ephedrine in it that can cause cord blood flow restriction!! I just looked all of this up last night. Also, benadryl, zyrtec and claritin (all w/ no letters after them are supposed to be safe as well)

[ciga]

Originally Posted by cloe

Try a netipot. After the raging sinus infection I had last week I tried it and am a total convert. No drugs and no longer any pain. Mine got so bad that my teeth hurt and I had trouble hearing.

Originally Posted by moonmama22

OK. Thanks so much - I just read the info, and cannot seem to convince myself that it is worth it. I'll just suffer for now anyway...

The neti pot has been my savior through this pregnancy. My experience has been that sudafed tends to make things worse.
Try adding a drop or two of GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract) to the neti pot mix. It really does help.

Oh, also I prop myself up to sleep, and dab a little tiger balm on my chest to help things open up.

[moonmama22]

Originally Posted by newmommy7-08

Make sure it's sudafed PE... regular sudafed has the fake ephedrine in it that can cause cord blood flow restriction!! I just looked all of this up last night. Also, benadryl, zyrtec and claritin (all w/ no letters after them are supposed to be safe as well)

Aargh... both my ob and the pharmacist told me NOT the sudafed PE, and to use the one that has ephedrine...

I give up - I'll suffer...

[SeattleRain]

Originally Posted by moonmama22

Aargh... both my ob and the pharmacist told me NOT the sudafed PE, and to use the one that has ephedrine...

I give up - I'll suffer...

Your OB and pharm are right, its the PE (the one you can buy on the shelf, as opposed to asking the pharmacist) that can be more dangerous. Listen, at the end of the day, if your OB told you something is safe then go with what her recommendation is, not what random people on a message board tell you. We're not your HCP, they are.

[sheriwx]

Originally Posted by SeattleRain

Your OB and pharm are right, its the PE (the one you can buy on the shelf, as opposed to asking the pharmacist) that can be more dangerous. Listen, at the end of the day, if your OB told you something is safe then go with what her recommendation is, not what random people on a message board tell you. We're not your HCP, they are.

Ditto all of this. The ORIGINAL Sudafed is the safe one. (And for me, it's the only one that works at all.) I've had to use it with my two previous pregnancies and have always been told it was the safest thing to take.