Health & Fitness Snapshots Nov 11, 2008
And don't take decongestants with pseudoephredine before galloping through your run. It's hard on the heart. (Montana Standard, MT)
Did your doctor get it right? Nov 3, 2008
Solve the case: Symptoms of an anxiety attack and arrhythmia are nearly identical, and whats worse, stress, anxiety or fear can also cause an arrhythmiaas can overdosing on stimulants such as caffeine or decongestants. You need an electrocardiogram, a diagnostic test that records electrical currents in the heart, to detect abnormal rhythm, says Nieca Goldberg, M.D., medical director of New York University Womens Heart Program in New York City. (MSNBC -- Health)
FDA waiting to regulate OTC cough and cold medicines Oct 6, 2008
In January, the FDA already updated its health advisory that cold and cough preparations including decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines, and cough suppressants, should not be used in children younger than 2 years ... The report was cited as saying that at least 54 young children died after taking decongestants and 69 died after taking antihistamines since 1969. (Food Consumer)
FDA Wants More Time to Study Cold Meds for Kids Oct 4, 2008
These products include decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines and cough suppressants. Just prior to that advisory, the makers of dozens of cough and cold remedies marketed for infants voluntarily recalled the products. (MEDLINEplus)
10 infant deaths tied to cold meds Aug 7, 2008
Serious side effects in the very youngCold and cough medications typically contain a combination of decongestants, antihistamines and cough suppressants all of which can have serious side effects in young children, including increased blood pressure, heart rate disturbance, and depressed breathing. While these dangers are now recognized, until now no study had examined the possible role of cough and cold medications in unexplained infant deaths. (MSNBC -- Health)
Infant Deaths Linked to Cold Meds Aug 7, 2008
Cold and cough medications typically contain a combination of decongestants, antihistamines and cough suppressants -- all of which can have serious side effects in young children, including increased blood pressure, heart rate disturbance, and depressed breathing. While these dangers are now recognized, until now no study had examined the possible role of cough and cold medications in unexplained infant deaths. (Newsmax)
Your Health This Week Jul 15, 2008
Decongestants before flying don't seem to help. Doctors disagree about whether a recent ear infection is reason to postpone a trip. (Slate)
Hard to swallow? The truth about toddlers' cough medicines Apr 1, 2008
Other compounds suppressants, expectorants and decongestants have different actions ... Decongestants, found in some cough medicines, include pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine ... The medicines contain decongestants, cough suppressants, expectorants and antihistamines. (Independent)
The Real Skinny On Nutrition Myths Mar 22, 2008
And most obstetricians will give you the green light when it comes to certain cough syrups, decongestants, antihistamines, and nasal sprays. So, if you're coughing and stuffed up, don't continue to suffer. (CBS News -- 60 minutes II)
A boost...but at a cost? Mar 8, 2008
According to an article in the Associated Press, Dr. Michael Hirt, a California physician, is more worried about the smaller number of drinks that contain the drug ephedrine, a stimulant occasionally used in energy drinks that is also included in decongestants. Combined with caffeine, he says, ephedrine has been proven to cause deadly heart problems. (Andalusia Star News, AL)
Journal SLEEP: Children with OSA have abnormal respiratory-related evoked potentials Mar 2, 2008
This includes cough medicines and decongestants. It is important to make sure that your child gets enough sleep and sleeps well. (EurekAlert!)
Crystal meth: A menace that's crystal clear Feb 18, 2008
Crystal meth is a type of amphetamine, made from pseudo-ephedrine, an active ingredient in decongestants, and is smoked or injected. The Japanese and Germans used it during the Second World War to increase stamina, and Hitler is said to have injected it daily. (Telegraph.co.uk)
Salt Water Spray Cures Children's Colds Jan 22, 2008
Some of the children were given standard treatments such as nasal decongestants ... Fewer children in the saline group had to use fever-reducing drugs, nasal decongestants and mucus-dissolving medications or antibiotics, the researchers said. (Newsmax)
Busts challenge meth's reach Jan 20, 2008
The men, authorities allege, were set up to "cook" small amounts of a controlled drug, methamphetamine, from a toxic mix of chemical solvents and pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient in some over-the-counter decongestants. Chartier and Almada, arraigned separately in Natick District Court, have pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of and intent to distribute methamphetamine. (Boston Globe)
FDA to Parents: Do Not Give Tots Cough and Cold Meds Jan 19, 2008
The Food and Drug Administration this week issued a stern health advisory once again warning parents not to give babies under two years of age over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medicine because of potentially "serious and life-threatening side effects." This includes decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines and antitussives (cough suppressants) that you can pick up at pharmacies and supermarkets, including Wyeth's Robitussin, Novartis, AG's Triaminic and Johnson & Johnson's Tylenol Plus... (Scientific American)
FDA: No OTC cough syrup for little ones Jan 18, 2008
The advisory cited decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines and antitussives, or cough suppressants ... And in 2007, the FDA completed a review that found there were 54 reported child deaths from decongestants and 69 from antihistamines from 1969 and fall 2006. (CNN)
A Cold Winter for Kids' Drugs Dec 29, 2007
Doling out too much cough medicine can be fatal: From 1969 through 2006, the FDA received 54 reports of deaths with decongestants and 69 reports of deaths with antihistamines. One such death occurred in October, 2001, in Illinois, when Dimitria Alvarez found her infant son dead in his crib. (Yahoo News -- Pharmaceutical Industry News)
Decongestant in OTC Cold Remedies Effective: FDA Panel Dec 18, 2007
On the academics' side, according to the AP, was drug maker Schering-Plough, which had decided not to reformulate its Claritin line of decongestants, which contain pseudoephedrine ... Hendeles had led the review, which was published in the July 2006 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, and he had petitioned the FDA to boost the maximum allowable dose of phenylephrine in oral decongestants to 25 milligrams, which he believes may be more effective ... "The main problem with... (MEDLINEplus)
Balloon procedure clearing sinusitis Dec 12, 2007
Often the immune system will knock out sinusitis while steam, fluids and over-the-counter decongestants and pain relievers can ease symptoms. But it may be time to call a specialist if there s no improvement, symptoms worsen or you have a persistent fever, thick mucus discharge or nose bleeds. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
Cold drugs for kids under 6 not advised Oct 21, 2007
Cold drugs for kids under 6 not advised / Hundreds of common remedies could be ineffective or unsafe, FDA committee concludes. " The vote against use by children younger than 6, and an earlier vote that the products should be banned for those younger than 2, are likely to have a significant impact on dozens of products that have been mainstays for millions of parents. Americans spend more than $300 million a year on such products, marketed under well-known brands such as Robitussin, Dimetapp and... (San Francisco Chronicle)
Some cold medicine questions, answers Oct 15, 2007
The decongestants in the medicines pose the greatest risks and are especially concentrated in infant medicines. There are certain babies who might be very sensitive to these types of medications. (Journal and Courier)
A lot of grunt work Aug 27, 2007
"It reminded me of movies that I love from the '70s like Shampoo or Blume in Love, where they are adult sex comedies," he says in his trailer between scenes, decongestants and tissues at the ready. "I hate to say that because I'm already going to combat that kind of very easy tag people will have for the show. I'm sure there's going to be people calling it Triple X Files and all that. "But when I say adult," he continues, "I mean more like a grown-up view of life, family and the kind of stuff,... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Chairside: When A Dry Mouth Is a Health Problem Aug 22, 2007
Dry mouth is often a side effect from the use of antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, painkillers, muscle relaxants, anti-hypertensives, inhalers and antidepressants. Radiation treatment in the neck and facial area can also damage salivary gland function, leading to dry mouth. (Hillsdale Independent, NY)
Blood pressure: Winning numbers Aug 15, 2007
Some medications and supplements, including various pain relievers, antidepressants, decongestants and certain herbal supplements (ginseng and Saint-John's-wort) may increase blood pressure. Tell your doctor about all medications and supplements you take. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Community Voice May 31, 2007
Nasal strips such as 'Breathe Right' might provide some relief or talk to your doctor about using nasal decongestants or antihistamines. Savvy Resource: For more information, the American Sleep Apnea Association offers a wide variety of free publications that are very helpful and a national directory of apnea support groups. (Marshall County Journal, SD)
Walter Schirra Jr., an original astronaut, dies at 84 May 4, 2007
They took decongestants and returned without bursting their eardrums, as NASA had feared might happen. Schirra's. (International Herald Tribune)
Weight-loss drugs May 3, 2007
Meridia should not be used by people with cardiac risk factors and those who use bronchodilators, take decongestants or use MAO inhibitors or SSRI's for depression. A number of products called sympathomimetics are approved for short-term use. (The Daily Reflector)
Sinusitis Treatment Utilizes Balloon Catheter Device In Minimally Invasive Procedure Apr 20, 2007
Patients are treated with antibiotics, decongestants or steroid-containing nasal sprays, but about a quarter of them do not respond to these treatments. More than 350,000 Americans undergo surgery each year for treatment of this problem. (Science Daily)
Baseball's bane Apr 16, 2007
They were developed in the late 1800s and have been most commonly used in decongestants and appetite suppressants. Before Congress made most stimulants illegal without a prescription in 1970, they were popular among truck drivers and college students who used them to stay awake. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
Woman receives new liver and new life Apr 8, 2007
She can t drink any alcohol, take decongestants, drink grapefruit juice or eat raw shellfish or rare meat. If she s around people who are sick she wears a mask, but she s alive and doing well. (Crystal River Citrus County Chronicle, FL)
The Time of the (Allergy) Season Mar 30, 2007
The next type of over-the-counter treatment recommended for seasonal allergy sufferers is nasal decongestants. Decongestants make blood vessels narrow, which reduces the blood flow to the mucous membranes that line the inside of the nose. (Fox News)
Crying for relief: Dry spell adds to headache Mar 28, 2007
For a stuffy nose, oral decongestants with pseudoephedrine work well, but Marshall said they should be taken early in the day because they can keep people awake. And people with high blood pressure or heart disease should check with their doctor before taking this medicine. (The Clarion-Ledger)
Allergies leave many itchy, sneezy, wheezy Mar 22, 2007
To relieve symptoms, use decongestants and antihistamines, nasal sprays, eye drops and creams ... TOPICAL AND ORAL DECONGESTANTS ... Oral decongestants (such as pseudoephedrine) reduce nasal blood flow and may improve sinus pressure/headaches. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Cold medicine can hurt younger kids Mar 21, 2007
Decongestants, for example, are stimulants that can raise the heart rate and cause insomnia, loss of appetite or irritability, says Dr. Joel Steinberg, professor of pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Antihistamines, often found in cold medicines, can cause drowsiness, but children can also have a paradoxical reaction and become hyper, says Dr. Maria Fisher, an Arlington, Texas, pediatrician. (Orlando Sentinel)
Regulators Examine Safety of Children's Cold Drugs After Doctor Complaints Mar 5, 2007
The FDA said the review has been under way since last year and is focusing on common decongestants, antihistamines and expectorants. The agency may conclude its examination in several months. (Bloomberg -- Canada)
Cugh, cold medications can kill young children Mar 3, 2007
Cough and cold medications that contain nasal decongestants, antihistamines, cough suppressants, and expectorants commonly are used alone or in combination in attempts to temporarily relieve symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in children aged <2 years ... Because of this act, pseudoephedrine has been removed as an ingredient in many cough and cold medications and replaced with other nasal decongestants ... As an alternative to pseudoephedrine and other nasal decongestants, caregivers... (Food Consumer)
FDA to test safety of kid's medicines Mar 3, 2007
The CDC study cited cough and cold medicines that contain nasal decongestants, antihistamines and cough suppressants, among other remedies ... The FDA said it would look at the safety and effectiveness of decongestants, antihistamines, cough suppressants and expectorants on children 6 and under ... "Current FDA assessment of the safety and efficacy of approved children's over-the-counter antitussives, expectorants, nasal decongestants, antihistamines, and combination cough cold products is based... (Chicago Tribune)
State official: Meth manufacturing down, personal use up Feb 24, 2007
Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are used mainly in decongestants, such as Claritin D, Nyquil and Sudafed. An individual customer may not buy more than two packages of medicine containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine as an active ingredient. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
Second Death Linked To Tainted Peanut Butter Feb 23, 2007
"They gave me prescriptions for antibiotics, and decongestants for my lungs which did not help at all, since I did not have a sinus infection," she said. Patricia of Spirit Lake, Fla. (Consumer Affairs)
Drug Cocktails Sneaky, Deadly Feb 20, 2007
Other possible interactions people should be aware of include decongestants ... Decongestants also increase serotonin, which could be problematic for those on drugs called SSRIs, such as Prozac or Zoloft. (The Ledger)
Drug-mixing deaths rise Feb 18, 2007
Pocatello Idaho State Journal. But coming on the same day last week, they illustrated a deadly, growing problem with prescription and over-the-counter medications. (Pocatello Idaho State Journal, ID)
Deaths up as more mix drugs Feb 17, 2007
Decongestants also increase serotonin, which could be problematic for those on SSRIs like Prozac or Zoloft. Mixing SSRIs with a decongestant can cause flulike symptoms, which can lead to death, Brown said. (Akron Beacon Journal, OH -- Living)
Cold comfort: Drugs that help Feb 6, 2007
Topical decongestants: Afrin, Neo-Synephrine, Vicks Sinex all oxymetazoline ... Oral decongestants: Dimetapp; Drixoral; PediaRelief; Sudafed; Triaminic all pseudophedrine. (Mail Tribune, OR)
Diabetics should check cold products for sugar Jan 26, 2007
The point is that many cold medicines contain decongestants that can raise your blood pressure ... "Always check the label of over-the-counter medicines before you buy them to see if they have sugar. Decongestants and some products for treating colds raise blood sugar levels. "Decongestants to clear your stuffy nose, and cough syrups, can make your blood glucose (sugar) go up. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Cold, Cough Medicines Can Be Deadly for Babies Jan 13, 2007
which is commonly used in over-the-counter nasal decongestants, is part of a class of drugs known as. Sympathomimetics mimic a stimulated sympathetic nervous system. (Fox News)
Drug Linked To Increase In Brain Hemorrhage Cases Jan 10, 2007
The rate of brain hemorrhages associated with blood thinning drugs quintupled during the 1990s, according to a study published in the January 9, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. In people over age 80, the rate increased more than tenfold. (Science Daily)
