Useless, useless, useless!!!
Written: Nov 25 '00 (Updated Nov 30 '00)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: I also bought Sudafed.
Cons: No side effects (including effectiveness)
|
|
|
| BunnyJav's Full Review: Tylenol Cold Non Drowsy Caplets 24 Caplets |
I have always considered Tylenol to be a very wimpy drug. When I have a headache, I reach for Excedrin, when I have a fever, I reach for aspirin, and when my entire body aches, I reach for Advil. I know that there are many people who will swear by Tylenol as their over-the-counter drug-of-choice; I am not one of those people.
However, despite my best judgement, I always buy Tylenol, thinking it will be milder on my stomach. It is, but it is also usually milder on my symptoms as well. Time and time again, I have bought various incarnations of Tylenol (pain relievers, allergy relievers, sinus medications, et al.) and time and time again I have been disappointed.
So why did I buy Tylenol Cold Non-Drowsy?
Well, I am stupid, for one. In my sickness-enhanced mental fog, I saw Tylenol on the shelves of cold products, and I instinctively reached for it. It will work this time, it has to! It's Tylenol -- the brand you can trust!
If you read my earlier review of Sudafed Cold and Allergy, you learned that I am in the throes of one of the worst colds I can remember in a while. I have had a stuffy head, sneezing, coughing, body-aching cold for the past three weeks, and I feel awful. I walk around looking like the "Before"-shot of the people in the cold medication commercials, and I look about as good as I feel. In the past few days, my nasal congestion has worsened significantly, and I have developed something that feels like it might turn into a sinus infection if I am not careful.
Stop complaining and get to the point!!!
A few days ago, dragged out of the house at an ungodly hour to get my car inspected, I staggered into the cold-medication aisle of the local supermarket. Hazy-eyed, I began to compare all of the medications they had available on the shelves. Due to the PPA-recall and the Thanksgiving-enhanced cold season here in Philly, there were not many choices. However, all of the cold meds seemed to share the same basic ingredients: Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine. Acetaminophen, of course, is the basis for Tylenol -- a pain reliever. Pseudoephedrine, from what I could find out, is a decongestant (see links below for further info).
I grabbed Tylenol Cold Non-Drowsy Multi-Symptom from the shelves and saw that it promised to relieve nasal congestion, coughing, sore throat and headache. I have the first two symptoms, but not the second two, however I liked the fact that it had a cough suppressant and it was a non-drowsy formula. It had more Pseudoephedrine than any other product except for Sudafed Cold and Allergy, which was a much better choice (see my much happier review earlier today). However, the Sudafed promised it would take care of sneezing, while the Tylenol Cold assured me that it would relieve coughing. Since I had both symptoms, I decided to purchase both and do a comparison trial.
How did the Tylenol Cold medication work?
Did it work? No. I took my first dose as soon as I got home from the car dealership, and waited. And waited. And waited. I was still sneezing, still sniffling, still coughing, still blowing my nose constantly! Why did I try this again?
Giving the medicine the benefit of the doubt, I took a second dose just four hours later, still not feeling any better than I had when I first came home. Still, no effect. I think the second dose might have reduced my coughing a bit, but it was hard to tell whether it was due to the medication or if it was due to the fact that it was later in the day and my lungs had expelled most of the gunk accumulated while sleeping.
In other words, it was as if I had taken a placebo -- except I paid $5.29 for the sugar pill. No effect, no alleviation of symptoms, nothing.
What happened?
I have no idea. I don't know if McNeil Consumer Healthcare has it in for me or not, but I think I will add this product to the list of Tylenol products that do absolutely nothing for me. Will it work for you? I have no idea. However, I would more highly recommend you try Sudafed Cold and Allergy if you are suffering from the same symptoms as I. However, if you have a cough, go to the experts -- Robitussen. Don't waste your money on this hodgepodge of medicines. Sudafed has the same dosage of nasal decongestant as Tylenol and you only have to take one tablet, instead of the two gelcaps Tylenol Cold requires. Plus, each box contains 24 pills, so the Sudafed will last you twice as long.
Any good news?
Well, true to Tylenol form, there were no noticeable side effects. My nose was not overly dried out, and I didn't detect any other side effects to speak of. A medication that worked might have been a nice side effect, but I wasn't that lucky.
******************************************************
Ingredients
Active ingredients (per gelcap):
Acetaminophen 325 mg - Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer
Dextromorphan HBr 15 mg - Cough Suppressant
Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride 30 mg - Nasal Decongestant
Descriptions of these ingredients:
http://my.webmd.com/content/asset/uspdi.203003
http://my.webmd.com/content/asset/uspdi.202187
http://onhealth.webmd.com/conditions/resource/pharmacy/multum/item,67249.asp
Inactive Ingredients:
Benzyl Alcohol, Butylparaben, Castor Oil, Cellulose, Corn Starch, D&C Yellow #10, Edetate Calcium Disodium, FD&C Red #40, Gelatin, Hydroxpropyl Methylcellulose, Iron Oxide, Magnesium Stearate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Propionate, Sodium Starch Glycolate, Titanium Dioxide
FROM THE BACK OF THE BOX:
Uses
For the temporary relief of these symptoms:
- minor aches and pains
- nasal congestion
- headaches
- coughs
- sore throat
- For the reduction of fever
Warnings:
Alcohol Warning: If you consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, ask your doctor whether you should take acetaminophen or other pain relievers/fever reducers. Acetaminophen may cause liver damage.
Warnings:Do not take for pain for more than 7 days or for fever for more than 3 days unless directed by a doctor. If pain or fever persists, or gets worse, if new symptoms occur, or if redness or swelling is present, consult a doctor because these could be signs of a serious condition. If sore throat is severe, persists for more than two days, is accompanied or followed by fever, headache, rash, nausea or vomiting, consult a doctor promptly. A persistent cough may be a sign of a serious condition. If cough persists for more than one week, tends to recur or is accompanied by fever, rash or persistent headache, consult a doctor. Do not take this product for persistent or chronic cough such as occurs with smoking, asthma, emphysema or if cough is accompanied by excessive phlegm (mucus) unless directed by a doctor.
Do not exceed recommended dosage. If nervousness, dizziness or sleeplessness occur, discontinue use and consult a doctor. Do not take this product if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes or difficulty in urination die to enlargement of the prostate gland unless directed by a doctor. KEEP THIS AND ALL OTHER DRUGS OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. In case of accidental overdose, seek professional assistance or contact a Poison Control Center immediately. Prompt medical attention is critical for adults as well as for children even if you don't notice any signs or symptoms. As with any drug, if you are pregnant or nursing a baby, seek the advice of a health professional before using this product. Do not use with other products containing acetaminophen.
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.
Directions:
Adults and children 12 years of age and older: Take 2 gelcaps every 6 hours. Do not take more than 8 gelcaps in 24 hours or as directed by a doctor.
Children 6-11 years of age: Take 1 gelcap every 6 hours. Do not take more than 4 gelcaps in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor.
Children under 6 years of age: Do not use this product in children under 6 years of age. This will provide more than the recommended dose (overdose) and could cause serious health problems.
*********************************************
Thanks for reading, and STAY HEALTHY!!!!
- Jen
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
BunnyJav
|
|
Location: Minneapolos, MN
Reviews written: 34
Trusted by: 59 members
About Me:
"You're the true Lord of the Dance, no matter what those idiots at work say"
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.