Cough remedies - need recommendations

[SuzieP]

Really? Never thought of anihistamines to help treat cold symptoms. Thanks Deb....

[Debbie]

I practically lived on them when I had a cold for the entire month of January. It was the only thing to stop the cough for me

...edited to add, look at the medicines in the antihistamines. Sometimes they combine acetaminophen with the psuedoepidrines. You need to be careful not to take extra Tylenols or Excedrines if that's the case.

[mickey]

Lots contain antihistamines- only trouble is the most effective antihistamines are the ones that also cause drowsiness. I personally avoid them as piriton knocks me out.
Acetaminophen is paracetamol I think.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant (ie sudafed you buy from a pharmacy behind the counter rather than supermarket shelves- package is very similar- different ingredients). Got to be careful as it can cause an increase in blood pressure (hence I wont sell to people with high blood pressure- pet hate "are you on any medication?" reply- "no" do you take anything for blood pressure?" "oh yes, Im on x, y z"- happens to me reguarly!!! Also find it keeps people awake if taken at bedtime.

[Debbie]

I'm so glad you hopped in here Em It makes me feel happier knowing Sue won't be getting the acetaminophen mixed up with anything else.

I looked at the packing of the stuff I used. It was Allergy Capsules Antihistamine. Diphenhydramine HCl 25mg.

This one is the sleepy/nighttime/drowsy version, which was exactly what I needed to be able to breathe and sleep at night without being woke up from the coughing (miserable!) There was also a daytime version that I took during the day, but I tried to keep from taking that one. I wanted to be able to sleep at nights, and body can adapt to the antihistamines, making them less effective.

[mickey]

trade name is benadryl over here. Benylin night capsules contain it along with paracetamol too. The day part of benylin day and night caps doesnt have an antihistamine- its paracetamol and pseudoephedrine which is a decongestant

[JoM]

Have you tried Sudafed? That should decongest you. I read the honey thing as well. I tend to take that Kovonia stuff - or whatever it is! Nasty, but I find it works!

The best cold stuff I ever got was abroad funnily enough. It gave you an orange vitamin c tablet as well to boost your system every so many hours.

But - I swear by Echinasea - you can get it from Holland and Barrett - take it when you feel a bit snuffly or a cold coming on - and it never appears. A girl at work advised me to get it as I was suffering terribly - I blame airconditioning as a heating system personally - but, I dont suffer anymore!

www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=49

[SuzieP]

I'm a great believer in Echinacea too, Jo, and it's got me over loads of colds in the past - but this time it just didn't work. Having said that I've heard of several people who've been off work 2/3 weeks with this virus - and I'll be going back tomorrow (maybe work a shorter day if I can though).

[mickey]

Ive had a fair few people complaining about colds that have lasted longer than usual- getting better at cold advice!!!

[SuzieP]

Em - have you heard of people having bad reactions to pseudoephedrine. I got some today because I'm still so bunged up in my head and felt dreadful after taking it. Had to miss our stables Christmas dinner this evening because I felt so ill - but now I feel much better.

[mickey]

I havent had any people tell me personally but I know it can cause blood pressure to rise (hence I wont sell to people with high BP). Think it can also cause a racing heart type sensation and keeps people awake. Those type symptoms or others?

[dalesponyrider]

I am of the opinion that if you've got a really bad cold then all that you should do is take paracetamol to reduce your temperature, rest, eat good food and just let your body heal itself. Maybe suck something to relieve a cough but I think if you take too many remedies to reduce the symptoms you end up working against you bodies natural defences. The trouble is, a lot of people take these remedies in order to go back to work or do stuff before they are properly healed.

[SuzieP]

LOL Linda - I see you posted that after we'd spoken. Yes folks - I managed (I think) to mess up my system good and proper with too much medication. None of the things I took were contraindicated and none clashed with each other. But I think a combination of taking those so that I could get back to work, and not drinking enough "poisoned" my system.

I felt dreadful on Monday night after taking a decongestant - sick, dizzy, hungover...awful. So I worked from home yesterday, didn't eat anything and drunk loads of water to try and flush out all the toxins.

And it worked....I'm feeling loads better today, am back at work (albeit on a short day) and at last feel a bit more "normal" (whatever that is LOL)

[Debbie]

Ooh, sounds like the decongestant did you no favors, Sue. Sometimes hubby and I get symptoms like that, but its from taking the decongestant or antihistamine on an empty stomach ~ a seriously big no no.

I'm so glad you seem to be stablizing and doing better. Just be very careful not to overdo, okay? No SuperWoman stunts, trying to catch up on your backlog

[SuzieP]

LOL Debbie - Auntie Linda Dalesponyrider gave me a firm talking to yesterday and now I wouldn't DARE overdo it! LOL

Seriously though - this has been awful and I don't want to do anything to jeopardise getting better now.

[Debbie]

Linda's beaten me to the punch! Seriously, though, we want you feeling better Work could care a fig if you up and died tomorrow, just so they could wrangle a last report or squeeze a bit more work out of you. But we want you around!