My Face Hurts!!
Written: Nov 25 '00 (Updated Nov 30 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Stopped my sneezing and snarfling
Cons: Did not alleviate nasal congestion
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| BunnyJav's Full Review: Sudafed Cold & Allergy 24 Tablets |
I usually try not to write a review when I am tired, cranky, or otherwise impaired, which explains my relative paucity of reviews as of late. However, today I decided to make an exception; Sudafed deserves it.
"So what's wrong with you now??"
I have been sick for the past three weeks. After the final push to get all of my graduate school applications in on time, combined with taking the GMAT, my body decided it had had enough. Ever since I FedEx'ed my last application on November 1st, my immune system decided to pay me back for the months of hell I had put it through. I got the mother of all colds.
At first, I was just achy, tired and sore, as if I had the flu. I could deal with that, and after sleeping for almost 40 hours straight one weekend I seemed to get over it. Not so fast!! As a post-script, my body decided to come down with a terrible head-cold that quickly spread around our household. This is where Sudafed Cold and Allergy comes in.
Unmedicated, I would have spent the last week sneezing out what is left of my brain, sniffling and suffering from sinus pressure. Fortunately, this cold has not settled in my chest (yet), I think in part due to the Claritin D ("D" for decongestant) that I take every day, year-round. However, I can't remember the last time my face hurt this much from a cold, and I certainly can't remember the last time I have sneezed this much. I feel miserable.
"So what are you going to do about it?"
We try to always keep Contact 12-Hour Cold medication on hand in our medicine cabinet. My best friend (who is one of my housemates) and I suffer from terrible allergies, and we have found that Contact works the absolute best when it comes to controlling allergy symptoms. Unfortunately, despite it's name, it didn't help my cold -- I was still sneezing, I was still coughing, and my sinuses were still on fire. Plus, their "12-Hour" caplets (the capsules have been pulled off the shelves since they contained PPA) only lasted 3-4 hours for me. NEW PLAN!!!!
I went on a pathetic, Kleenex-driven shopping spree a few days ago (I could see mother's pulling their children away from me as I shuffled through the aisles, bleary-eyed and sniffly). I wanted to get a sampling of all the major cold medications so I could test them out. Unfortunately, the supermarket shelves were almost picked clean, between the PPA recall and cold/flu season hitting the Philadelphia area.
I stood in the over-the-counter-medication aisle for ten minutes, comparing all of the labels. I could barely see straight, but I was looking for two things: a non-drowsy medication, and something with a LOT of drugs in it!!! Almost all of the cold medications had the same ingredient -- Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride -- and I grabbed the two boxes that seemed to pack the most punch: Tylenol Cold and Sudafed Cold and Allergy.
Why I chose these:
I chose Tylenol Cold because it claimed to stop coughing, nasal congestion, sore throat, and headache. I had the first two symptoms, but not the second two, so I looked at the Sudafed Cold and Allergy. This product claimed to alleviate nasal and sinus congestion due to colds and allergies, sneezing & runny nose, and itchy & watery eyes. Again, I had the first two symptoms, but not the third. Then I checked the ingredients, and found Sudafed had the highest amount of Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride out of all the choices on the shelf. I figured that between the two of them, something had to work!
The Sudafed came in a box of 24 tablets; the dosage is one tablet every 4-6 hours. Unfortunately, I didn't read through the entire list of precautions. When I saw in the first two lines that it may cause "nervousness, dizziness, or sleeplessness...[and] excitability," I naturally assumed that it was a non-drowsy product. Not so. Several lines later it says that it may cause drowsiness. Go figure!!
Well?
Tylenol Cold did not work for me. I will save my rantings for another review, but suffice it to say, I was counting down the hours until I could try out the Sudafed.
I had much better luck with the Sudafed. I have not been sneezing nearly as much as I had been before, and I don't feel like I want to die anymore. I have still been coughing a bit, but Sudafed did not claim to stop coughing so it's forgiven. I don't feel achy or sore, and my nose is not running constantly.
However, as much as I would love to give this product glowing reviews, I can't. Ever since I started taking it, I have been incredibly stuffed up and my sinuses have been killing me. Sinus pressure is not as annoying to me as constant sneezing and dribbling all over the place, so I'll take what I can get. Unfortunately, though, I feel like I have traded one problem for another. It stopped my runny nose, but at the expense of blocking up my sinuses and causing me to get sinus headaches. Even in the blissful half-hour after the medication really kicks in, I am still constantly aware that I am sick. My face hurts, and I can't breathe through my nose. Since we have very dry heat, the constant breathing through my mouth has made me develop a sore throat. Sigh....
Also, it is designed to be taken every four-to-six hours, but it feels like it is only lasting around two or three. Yes, this cold is not only kicking my ass, but also that of Sudafed's.
That's why I only gave a "three-out-of-five" for this product.
What's my recommendation?
Try Sudafed Cold and Allergy. See if it works better for you than it did for me. I can't really complain, because I am not sneezing constantly. But I really would have preferred a longer-lasting medication that did not stuff me up so much. I can always tell when the medication is wearing off: I get a strong tickle in the back of my sinuses, like a sneeze that will never come.
One thing occurred to me: the product claims to alleviate nasal congestion as well as runny nose. How does that work?? I guess not too well...
Ingredients
Active ingredients:
Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride 60 mg
Chlorpheniramine Maleate 4 mg
Descriptions of these ingredients:
http://onhealth.webmd.com/conditions/resource/pharmacy/multum/item,67249.asp
http://onhealth.webmd.com/conditions/resource/pharmacy/multum/item,68320.asp
Inactive Ingredients:
Lactose
Magnesium Stearate
Potato Starch
Povidone
FROM THE BACK OF THE BOX:
Indications
For the temporary relief of runny nose, sneezing and nasal congestion due to the common cold. For the temporary relief of runny nose, sneezing, itching of the nose or throat, itchy, watery eyes, and nasal congestion due to hay fever (allergic rhinitis).
Directions:
To be given every 4 to 6 hours. Do not exceed 4 doses in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor. Adults and children 12 years of age and older: 1 tablet. Children 6 to under 12 years of age: 1/2 tablet. Children under 6: consult a doctor.
Warnings:
Do not exceed recommended dosage. If nervousness, dizziness, or sleeplessness occur, discontinue use and consult a doctor. If symptoms do not improve within 7 days or are accompanied by fever, consult a doctor. Do not take this product, unless directed by a doctor, if you have a breathing problem such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, or if you have glaucoma or difficulty in urination due to enlargement of the prostate gland. May cause excitability especially in children. May cause drowsiness: alcohol, sedatives and tranquilizers may increase the drowsiness effect. Avoid alcoholic beverages while taking this product. Do not take this product if you are taking sedatives or tranquilizers, without first consulting your doctor. Use caution when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery. As with any drug, if you are pregnant or nursing a baby, seek the advice of a health professional before using this product. KEEP THIS AND ALL OTHER DRUGS OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. In case of accidental overdose, seek professional assitance or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.
Drug Interaction Precaution:
Do not use this product if you are now taking a prescription monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (certain drugs for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions, or Parkinson's disease), or for 2 weeks after stopping the MAOI drug. If you are uncertain whether your prescription drug contains an MAOI, consult a health professional before taking this product.
Manufacturer
Warner-Lambert Consumer Healthcare
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
(800) 223-0128
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Thanks for reading, and STAY HEALTHY!!!!
- Jen
Recommended:
Yes
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BunnyJav
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Location: Minneapolos, MN
Reviews written: 34
Trusted by: 59 members
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"You're the true Lord of the Dance, no matter what those idiots at work say"
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