OTC Cold Meds

[Jed]

Hi Guys,
I am 3 1/2 months removed from my double valve replacement, Mitrol and Aortic. All is going pretty well besides my shortness of breath. My question is seeing that it is cold season and i am battling a cold what over the counter medicines can i take with my heart situation and also being on coumadin? I don't take well to being sick. I will fight it tooth and nail but i don't want to kill myself in the process. Right now i have a scratchy throat, runny nose and a slight cough. Occaisonally a sneeze that hurts like the devil too. Please help out a fellow valver. Thanks, Jed

 

[Harpoon]

First off, it's best to stay away from anything that has aspirin in it. Generally the ONLY pain reliever I use is Tylenol.

Generally most cardiologists will advise patients to steer clear of medications with something called pseudoephedrine in it such as pretty much all common cold remedies on the store shelf... Oy.

The safe list is nice and short:

Robutussin DM
Coricidin HBP

Robutussin has been around for years and there are a few "knock off" brands that are usually just as effective. It doesn't contain psuedoephedrine.

Coricidin HBP is specifically marketed for people with high blood pressure (the "HBP" part) and or hypertension. You have to be a little careful because there are other medicines under the Coricidin brand that have the "evil" pseudoephedrine in it.


And since I know you're asking yourself...

Pseudoephedrine is a wonderful sinus decongestant that has the unfortunate side-effect of making your heart race pretty much out of control for as long as the medication is in your system. While most healthy people tolerate this fairly well, anyone that has a heart condition (or diabetes, thyroid disease, stomach, and/or prostate concerns) should probably avoid it.

I used to be a staunch proponent of NyQuil before my heart started acting up. It was great stuff that essentially cleared away all the symptoms I had and let me go through the day as if I never caught a cold. Then my doctor warned me away from it and I haven't touched the stuff since, as much as I've wanted to now and then....

By the way, the root name, ephedrine, is what killed off a number of college and high school atheletes a few years ago before it was banned from the face of the Earth by a few states. It's a strong stimulant that was used a lot as a performance enhancing drug. It was also used for dieting, speeding up metabolism, and a few other things. The pseudoephedrine is a slightly tamer cousin, it hasn't killed anyone (heart healthy at least) yet, but it's not somehting to mess with either.


A lot of places keep Coricidin HBP behind the pharmacist's counter now because some enterprizing amatuer chemist discovered you could "boil it down" to make LSD, or something to that effect. It was getting stolen a lot from drug stores until they figured out why.



I've been suffering through a cold now for a few days. A fair amount of tea, Coricidin, and occassionally Robutussin (when I'm really desperate) have been keeping me going so far.

I'll also admit to an old fashioned remedy on rare occassion (when I'm beyond desperation...):

A half a shot of whiskey.

 

[tommy]

Jed,

Sorry to hear that you are under the weather. Harpoon's comment about Pseudoephedrine is well taken, but I don't think that it is an issue with Coumadin.

At 3 1/2 months after double VR, I'd call the doctor, even get an appointment. Don't feel like you are crying "wolf". You are still tender (especially that sternum - sneezes). There's absolutley no reason to suffer if you can get some relief.

In the meantime, drink lots of fluids (hot ones to help clear you out) and get plenty of rest.

Let us know how you are doing.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Jed -

Just to be safe CHECK ALL MEDICATIONS with your Doctor (PCP and / or Cardiologist). It would also be wise to talk with your Pharmacist.

FWIW, I just got over the worst Sore Throat with congestion that I've experienced in at least a decade.

After taking ONE shot of FLONASE and ONE slow release expectorant tablet ('supposedly' both OK for heart patients) I developed the weirdest sounding arrhythmia (sounded like the 'double beat' typical of PAC's but EVERY BEAT that lasted for at least and hour.

My PCP said: "Don't do that again".
Yes, stimulants seem to trigger arrhythmias in me...

My Coumadin Clinic CRNP told me that it was OK to take extra vitamin C and to check all meds with my doctor.

'AL'

 

[hensylee]

Jed - simple answer is 'go to or call your doctor'. Don't mess around this year because of the flu going around and the lack of vaccine. An antibiotic might be the best thing to help you. But only your doctor can tell.

 

[Karlynn]

Stay away from anything that claims to be a decongestant. Decongestants are bad!!!!

Before I began having valve problems I was a big cold medication junkie. Anytime I got the sniffels I started popping OTC remedies. I can honestly say that now that I stay away from most thing when I get a cold, my colds don't seem to be any worse or last any longer.

 

[Les]

Cold Remedies

Cold Remedies

Seven days with medication...One week without.

 

[Ross]

There is a whole list of no no's. When I'm miserable and want relief, I take whatever gets the job done, no no or not.

 

[JimChicago]

I've had a cold for a week now and hoefully am almost over it -

Being on coumadin is a hassle as we all know -

As far as OTC remedies -
some on vr.com have recommended Zicam - which is zinc nasal spray - there are also zinc lozenges - the only intereaction I could find is to take them 2 or 3 hours apart from coumadin as zinc can bind with coumadin and make it less effective.

Personally I've been taking Sambucol - Black elderberry extract syrup - I personally haven't found any websites that said it was an interaction with coumadin so I'm hoping it doesn't - some say it is high in vitamin C - whether that will cause an interaction or not I do not know.

So those are the two OTC ones I've been taking.

The other natural remedies are of course rest and chicken soup (homemade to get some without sodium). And a clove of garlic - though some say garlic might make the INR higher though some say perhaps a clove a day may not matter that much.

 

[Jed]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks Guys,
You all never let me down. I did try the Robitussin DM and it seemed to help along with Tylenol and lots of orange juice. I called my doctor and wasn't real happy with her response. She said just try it and see how you react to it. No big deal. What if it killed me? I wish the doctors had to have the disorders they are supposed to be experts on. They make light of things so often. Its so nice to have a place like here with intelligent, informed and experienced people to ask questions like this. Thanks again, Jed

 

[geebee]

To your comment about wishing the doctors had the diseases. One of the best movies I have ever seen is one called "The Doctor" with William Hurt. He plays, of all things, a heart surgeon. Of course he plays the doctor as emotionally removed from his patients and somewhat cold.
He ends up with throat cancer and becomes a patient. It is very interesting to see the changes he goes through and how, ultimately, ends up being a "nicer" doctor.
This movies should be required watching in med school.
BTW - I take tylenol, benadryl and use 12 hour nasal spray when I have a cold. None of them affect my coumadin nor my heart rate.
Smiles,
Gina

 

[Bryan B]

That was a great movie Gina!

 

[skimomck]

I haven't seen that movie-may have to check out it. I am a major Zicam fan. It shortness the course of a cold by a half or a third. They are using Zinc(adding to IV fluid) in hospital inpatient units for those with massive infections to boost their immmune systems. It doesn't treat the symptoms it just shortnesses the virus so you take it in addition to whatever you normally take. Works great for me.
Cindy