FDA Panel Says Common Over-the-counter Decongestant Phenylephrine Doesnt Work

Which Decongestants Are Safe For High Blood Pressure:

The AHA notes this risk to be higher for those suffering from a common cold and taking NSAIDs. Most importantly, hypertensive patients should heed this warning. NSAIDs can increase blood pressure by reducing sodium excretion into the urine, exacerbating fluid retention. Rather, you should seek care from a legitimate health care professional (e.g., MD, doctor of osteopathy [DO], nurse practitioner, or pharmacist). There is a possibility that the naphazoline might be absorbed to a sufficient extent to exert vasoactive effects.

If you have high blood pressure, check cough, cold, flu and sinus medicine labels carefully. Some of these medicines have warning labels for people who have high blood pressure or who take blood pressure medicine. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve), reduce inflammation and secretions in the nose. Nasal sprays containing corticosteroids, such as over-the-counter fluticasone (Flonase) or triamcinolone (Nasacort), can also reduce inflammation in the nose. They are most commonly used for nasal congestion due to allergies.

If you’re on blood pressure medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking a nasal decongestant. When at the pharmacy, a person should look for medications that do not contain decongestants or NSAIDs other than aspirin. A person should read the product label carefully and look at the active ingredients list. This is where drug manufacturers typically list the drugs and their effects. However, people with high blood pressure, or hypertension, should be cautious when selecting cold medications. Certain cold medications can cause blood pressure to rise to a dangerously high level.

And remember that calories add up during Ramadan the same as any other month. Many people will fit in a third meal at night, he said, “so their caloric intake for the day is about the same, if not more, than during a normal day. And this is really problematic for many patients.” Qureshi said Muslims and their doctors need to understand who can be exempt from Ramadan fasting, which may also apply to children, older adults and pregnant women, among others. “The most important thing is making sure that we are healthy and it’s safe,” she said. One big difference, she said, is that Ramadan fasting requires abstaining from water and other beverages. “This is a dry fast,” said Qureshi, who co-runs a consulting business aimed at providing culturally tailored health advice for Muslims.

Some over-the-counter medications are high in sodium, which can also raise blood pressure. Look at the active and inactive ingredients lists for words like ‘sodium’ or ‘soda.’ Note the amount of sodium in the medication. People with high blood pressure should consume less than 1,500 mg of sodium per day from all sources ‘ one dose of some over-the-counter medications can contain more than a whole day’s allowance. There are some cold and flu medications designed for people with hypertension.

Muldoon suggests talking to a pharmacist before venturing down the cold and flu aisle. Tell them your symptoms and let them know if you have high blood pressure and are taking any other medications. They’ll be able to help you select something safe for the heart and helpful for your stuffy nose or headache. Next time you have sinus or nasal congestion, ask your physician before using pseudoephedrine if you have high blood pressure.

A person can ask their doctor or pharmacist for more information about these medications. Many OTC cold and flu medicines now have a version formulated specifically for those sell with high blood pressure. Allergy medicines can also relieve stuffy or runny noses without adverse side effects, just as cough medicines and expectorants to help clear mucus.

It will also discuss safer options for people with high blood pressure. Generally, the meds listed in the following table are considered safe for high blood pressure. As you can see, Coricidin HBP uses the ‘HBP’ add-on to its product name to call attention see to its safer nature for high blood pressure. There are several safe cough medicines for high blood pressure patients as well as antihistamines, fever, and pain relievers. Talk with your health care team about the best type of treatment for you.

If you take antidepressants, have your blood pressure checked regularly. If your blood pressure goes up or isn’t well controlled, ask your health care navigate here provider about other medicines you could take. All warn patients to ask a physician before use if they have hypertension not controlled by medication.

To get started, fill your bottle or neti pot with warm, salty, purified water. Tilt your head to one side over the sink and gently pour the water through your top nostril. Putting drugs in the garbage or flushing them down the toilet has risks.