View Full Version : decongestants
Patrick
03-15-2003, 12:42 PM
I was wondering about something. I recently tried taking Claritin to get rid of this throat congestion that I've had forever. The congestion went away, but my GERD got much worse. I have a theory about this, and was hoping to get some feedback to see if it makes any sense.
The decongestant reduces the mucus in your system, including your esophagus. The mucus was originally produced by your body in response to esophagial irritation, so now you leave the sore spots unprotected. As a result, the GERD symptoms get worse.
I have stopped taking Claritin and now my GERD symptoms are going away.
I am now wondering if this is another reason why I have trouble with hot liquids... not just coffee, but even herb tea. The hot liquid probably clears out the throat, exposing the sore spots.
I'm starting to think that the extra slimy stuff may be an inconvenience, but it has a purpose. Ok, so I have to clear my throat a lot now, but at least I feel better.
Anyone else have good or bad luck with decongestants? I seem to recall that GW suggested taking sudafed a while back...
Originally posted by Patrick
I was wondering about something. I recently tried taking Claritin to get rid of this throat congestion that I've had forever. The congestion went away, but my GERD got much worse. I have a theory about this, and was hoping to get some feedback to see if it makes any sense.
The decongestant reduces the mucus in your system, including your esophagus. The mucus was originally produced by your body in response to esophagial irritation, so now you leave the sore spots unprotected. As a result, the GERD symptoms get worse.
I have stopped taking Claritin and now my GERD symptoms are going away.
I am now wondering if this is another reason why I have trouble with hot liquids... not just coffee, but even herb tea. The hot liquid probably clears out the throat, exposing the sore spots.
I'm starting to think that the extra slimy stuff may be an inconvenience, but it has a purpose. Ok, so I have to clear my throat a lot now, but at least I feel better.
Anyone else have good or bad luck with decongestants? I seem to recall that GW suggested taking sudafed a while back...
If I take allegra-D for more than a couple of days, I have a worsening of symptoms. this is my thinking: some of the "sympathetic" allergy medications cause dilitation of the lower esophageal sphincter. Generallly, anything that dilates the bronchial tree will also dilate the lower esophageal sphincter, since these are both composed of smooth muscle. this may apply to anything that dries out the mucosa also--these all tend to be "sympathetic" drying agents, ie, they stimulated the sympathetic nervous system, which may relax the LES. Of course, I could be wrong.
Canyonbabe711
03-15-2003, 06:51 PM
I thought decongestants shrunk the mucous membranes and had no dilation effect and it can't do both.I do believe they dry you out though and as such are not recommended for people with severe lung disease. Even though the new allergy drugs say they don't dry you out they do just not as much as antihistamines.As a person with lung disease I am among many that have GERD and some of it is caused by meds that cause the bronchial tree to open more fully. That is the purpose of the meds so that we breathe easier. Usually only Theophyline is mentioned but many of us feel that other meds we take are causing the LES valve to relax too much. We are caught between a rock an a hard place and I have yet to find a Doctor that will admit that our meds are a big cause of our GERD. We have much more GERD than the general public.
Jennifer007
03-15-2003, 06:59 PM
i'm taking a nasal and sinus decongestant for an ear infection/..this won't affect my stomach will it?
Canyonbabe711
03-15-2003, 07:10 PM
No one can answer that because everyones stomach is different and reacts differently. Normally they do not but be sure and drink a lot of water. If you have an infection I would think you would be on an antibiotic and that can affect your stomach by killing off the good bacteria in you body. Eat yogurt with live cultures and you will be fine. Sometimes it has no effect but if you have a sensitive stomach you need to keep up the good stuff in your stomach and it can't hurt you to eat some yogurt. Antibiotics can cause a yeast infection also. If you are not on and antibiotic and have an infection the decongestants alone could make it worse. I would talk to you Doctor. I hope you are not trying to doctor yourself with a decongestant for an infection.
Originally posted by Canyonbabe711
I thought decongestants shrunk the mucous membranes and had no dilation effect and it can't do both.I do believe they dry you out though and as such are not recommended for people with severe lung disease. Even though the new allergy drugs say they don't dry you out they do just not as much as antihistamines.As a person with lung disease I am among many that have GERD and some of it is caused by meds that cause the bronchial tree to open more fully. That is the purpose of the meds so that we breathe easier. Usually only Theophyline is mentioned but many of us feel that other meds we take are causing the LES valve to relax too much. We are caught between a rock an a hard place and I have yet to find a Doctor that will admit that our meds are a big cause of our GERD. We have much more GERD than the general public.
Most of the drugs that open up breathing passages have some sort of dilating/relaxing effect on smooth muscle, that is how they work. Smooth muscle is found in the lining of the lung passages and the entire GI tract. Ergo, I personally believe that when you relax lung or nasal passages (ie, dilate them), you have a very strong likelihood to get the same effect in the GI tubes to some extent. I don't see how it could be any other way, frankly. It's just logical. Obviously, I could be wrong....
Jennifer007
03-15-2003, 08:59 PM
i am on antibiotics.....i take two probiotic capsules a day..and eat about a huge tub of yogurt a day.....is this bad for my stomach? ? is it possible to be eating too much yogurt...too much live bacteria cultures?? i'm just afraid i might be consuming too much lacidophilius from alll that yogurt i'm eating plus the probiotics....thanks
The Pard
03-15-2003, 09:17 PM
Hi Jennifer,
If you are enjoying the yogurt and you are not
gaining weight while eating it, then you could be doing worse.
The main thing is to separate the antibiotics from the yogurt by about 2 hours to lessen the effect
of the antis on whatever bacteria is in the yogurt. If you are sure that the yogurt contains live bacteria this makes sense. If it doesn't
then the timing is less important.
If you want a yogurt that has life bacteria that
are able to make the journey through the gut
intact, look into Culturelle which contains lactobacillus GG.
Does this make sense to you?
The Pard
Jennifer007
03-15-2003, 11:42 PM
shoot..i always take my antibiotic right after i eat my yogurt..and the yogurt says it contains active bacterial cultures....
whcat kinda effect do antibiotics have with these bacterias? what about probiotics? should i take my antibioitics two hours from the probiotics too? Thanks
The Pard
03-16-2003, 12:03 AM
Hi Jennifer,
That is the usual recommendation from most docs.
Antibiotics are able to neutaralize the good bacteria in the probiotics and this also weakens
the antibiotic for the task it was prescribed
to do. Call any pharamacy if you doubt this.
The Pard
Patrick
03-16-2003, 12:43 AM
af, that's a fascinating theory. So maybe, just maybe, I didn't feel worse because my sore esophagus was "exposed", but because my LES got weak. I wonder if there is any kind of decongestant that would be GERD-friendly. If anyone knows of one, please let me know. I'm not dying here, but getting rid of this frog in my throat would be kinda nice.
Canyonbabe711
03-16-2003, 02:36 AM
Originally posted by af
Most of the drugs that open up breathing passages have some sort of dilating/relaxing effect on smooth muscle, that is how they work. Smooth muscle is found in the lining of the lung passages and the entire GI tract. Ergo, I personally believe that when you relax lung or nasal passages (ie, dilate them), you have a very strong likelihood to get the same effect in the GI tubes to some extent. I don't see how it could be any other way, frankly. It's just logical. Obviously, I could be wrong....
Canyonbabe711
03-16-2003, 02:43 AM
Originally posted by af
Most of the drugs that open up breathing passages have some sort of dilating/relaxing effect on smooth muscle, that is how they work. Smooth muscle is found in the lining of the lung passages and the entire GI tract. Ergo, I personally believe that when you relax lung or nasal passages (ie, dilate them), you have a very strong likelihood to get the same effect in the GI tubes to some extent. I don't see how it could be any other way, frankly. It's just logical. Obviously, I could be wrong....
I agree that anything that dilates would affect the LES and strongly believe that the meds we people with asthma or other lung problems do adversly affect GERD. However, we were originally talking about decongestants and they do not dilate but constrict (shrink) the mucous membranes and therefore I do not believe that they affect the LES but I could be wrong also. I know it feels like they open up the nasal passages but I think it is because the nasal membranes are swollen and the decongestants shrink the membranes. If you have ever used decongestant nose drops it is very noticable because your nose becomes dry and you can actually feel the shrinkage.
Diana
03-21-2003, 10:20 PM
My ENT has just prescribed Guaifen because he saw too much phlegm in my throat in addition to the reflux. I think it may be the same stuff as Robitussen. Has anyone else tried it? I posted previously and got no replies. Thanks. P.S. It is a horse pill.
Diana, Guaifensin is the generic form of Robitussin. It is usually used to loosen and relieve chest congestion but it's mucous thinning properties are also used for sinus problems and phlegm in the throat.
Diana
03-23-2003, 10:15 AM
Thanks. I was wondering what the side effects are to Guaifen?
Originally posted by Diana
Thanks. I was wondering what the side effects are to Guaifen?
According to the PDR Nurse's Drug Handbook, the side effects of Guaifenesin are nausea, vomiting, GI upset, dizziness, headache, rash, urticaria (hives). Under the drug interactions section it mentions that inhibition of platelet adhesiveness by Guaifensin may result in bleeding tendencies.
The Pard
03-23-2003, 02:34 PM
Hi Patrick,
Have you tred gargling with warm salt water as often as needed to dilute the phlegm?
Swallowing a tiny bit wouldn't hurt either.
The PArd
Patrick
03-24-2003, 11:31 PM
Pard,
Good idea! I like that better than taking (yet) more medications.
(ribbet)
The Pard
03-24-2003, 11:51 PM
Hi Patrick,
The only thing that could go wrong is that you might be blessed with a "Saltwater Frog"
Ribbet!!!... Aye, Matey!!
If you were marooned on Gilligan's Island with
the Skipper, Mr and Mrs Howell, Gilligan,
Marianne, Jennifer and the Professor, you would definitely want the professsor to get rid of that frog or the babes would be out of reach.
Now, go swim in that salty lagoon and see if you can rejoin the "troupe".
You have to rescue yourself from your "Island"
in "The Sea of Gerd"
Pard... :) (Dreaming of Marianne)
(Who says that old sitcoms don't have a place in today's world?) Thanks! Marianne... I would like another Coconut Martini.. (It works for me!)
Now where is MY Emmy?.. Oscar?... anything??
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