[Anonymous December 18, 1997 at 1:37 am Post count: 93172]

#1153979

THIS ADVICE WAS GIVEN TO ME FOR MY CASE.

I asked my Doctor if I could take cold meds and she said that it was ok. I also asked the nurse at my endo’s office she said it was ok too. When I got an antihistamine for the hives (from my ATDs) I asked the pharmacist if it was ok because of the heart stuff and he said it was ok too. Go figure!

[Anonymous December 18, 1997 at 5:28 am Post count: 93172]

#1052469

Here is lotsa info on these cold meds—

First, it seems that all the fuss about these meds and tyroid disease means hyperthyroidism.— [the locations are followed after the info]

“Other medical problems — The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of antihistamine and decongestant combinations. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
o Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) — The decongestant in this medicine may put diabetic patients at a greater risk of having heart or blood vessel disease
o Enlarged prostate or
o Urinary tract blockage or difficult urination — Some of the effects of antihistamines may make urinary problems worse
o Glaucoma — A slight increase in inner eye pressure may occur
o Heart or blood vessel disease or
o High blood pressure — The decongestant in this medicine may cause the blood pressure to increase and may also speed up the heart rate
o Liver disease — Higher blood levels of terfenadine may result, which may increase the chance of heart problems (for terfenadine-containing combination only)
o OVERACTIVE THYROID — If the overactive thyroid has caused a fast heart rate, the decongestant in this medicine may cause the heart rate to speed up further.”

http://www.mediconsult.com/noframes/allergies/drugs/automation/0002061.html

“Most of the non-prescription nasal decongestants available (pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine) are sympathomimetic amines with alpha-adrenergic receptor action which causes marked vasoconstriction of nasal and pharyngeal mucosal surfaces. The dose of oral decongestants required to constrict nasal blood vessels will also constrict other blood vessels because of systemic action (increase in cardiac rate and output, increase in blood pressure, increase in peripheral circulation, increase in oxygen consumption, increase in blood sugar, increase in respiration rate). These effects parallel adrenalin’s action and are due to alpha and beta stimulation. The use of oral decongestant products is safe in healthy persons but systemic effects may occur in persons with heart disease, hypertension, diabetes or HYPERTHYROIDISM. Topical decongestant products can be used with caution by persons with these disease conditions.”

http://www.vimy-park.mb.ca/dccinfb.shtml

Now, those of you who are euthyroid or hypothyroid shouldn’t have aproblem with these meds according to this. Again check with your doctor.
Now here’s more—

“In the clinical medicine of the Western hemisphere, it has been used most commonly as a stimulant to the sympathetic nervous system, as support for asthma, hayfever, allergies, and arthritis, and to help the body break fevers, clear blocked sinuses, raise blood pressure, and increase alertness and perception. Primatene mist© is an over-the counter (OTC) drug which contains ephedrine, the major active chemical from Ma huang. Millions of Americans use this every day to treat asthma. Sudafed© contains another stimulant alkaloid from Ma huang, pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine, a nasal decongestant, has a less potent effect on the heart than ephedrine, but is still contraindicated in those with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, or prostate enlargement.”

http://www.isc.tamu.edu/FLORA/medbot/history.htm

Now here are some nasty side effects that have been labeled, and after reading these, you can understand why someone with hyperactive symptoms would want to stay away from these.—
“ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ANTIHISTAMINES
Antihistamines are one of the most frequently used medications and many are available over-the-counter, without prescription. A study of adverse effects of antihistamines listed nearly 100 side-effects including high blood pressure, insomnia, coma, delirium, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, delusions, hallucinations, paralysis, ringing in the ears, lack of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, irritability, headache, muscle twitching, nervousness, rapid heart rate, tremor, fatigue, lassitude, weakness, hysteria, depression, nightmares, blurred vision, double vision, heart murmur, vomiting, nausea, cerebral edema, electrocardiographic changes, low blood pressure, palpitations, nasal stuffiness, bronchial spasm, urinary frequency, painful urination, dermatitis, dryness of the mouth and respiratory passages, bone marrow depression, hemolytic anemia, early menses, breast enlargement, hypoglycemia, birth defects, syncope, urinary retention and skin rashes. (Postgraduate Medicine 79(2)75-86, February 1, 1986) No doubt many other side effects are yet to be discovered. A 1964 study, not included in this study, reported changes in brain waves as measured by the electroencephalogram.”

http://www.tagnet.org/abstracts/v5n3.htm

The ingredients to stay away from when hyper are:
[Ephedrine, Phenylephrine, Pseudoephedrine, Phenylpropanolamine]

Most pharmacist when approached and told “I have grave’s, or a thyroid disease” conclude that it is active. For those that are hypo Grave’s or euthyroid, this is different. For those of you who are hyper, then this probably applies. This is where consulting your doctor is important because he or she will know where you exactly fall in the whole thyroid thing.

Perhaps the FDA will require more specific labels as they reorg the labeling process currently.

I hope this helps.

Ron

[Anonymous December 18, 1997 at 8:16 am Post count: 93172]

#1153980

I would recommend talking with your endo or GP about this. I HAVE been able to take certain cold medications. Typically, they are prescription, though. Nose drops, other than the saline type, have been a definite “no”, but some decongestants and antihistimines have been OKed. It depends on where you are in the “Graves experience”, what treatment you are on, and what specific med you are considering. While a pharmacist may not be willing to risk a recommendation, your doctor might be able to suggest something to provide relief.

And check with your doctor about the herbs, minerals, too. My allergist recommended taking some zinc tablets at the first sign of cold, and it has been madly adopted by the entire family as a good way of keeping colds in check. Something about zinc being important to a healthy immune system.

Bobbi — typing through the sneezes, but on a decongestant.

[Anonymous December 19, 1997 at 7:10 am Post count: 93172]

#1153981

My dr said I could take cold medicine since I was in the normal rangge and not hyper any longer. In fact, they gave me a sample prescription of a cold medicine the C one.

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