psuedoephedriphine / sudaphed

slipperyelm · #1 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 08:19 AM

Any info on whether this cold med affects blood glucose?

Took some at bedtime and woke up with BG 64. Most recently my fasting BG runs 90-99.

slipperyelm · #2 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 08:20 AM

Darn it. Psuedoephedrine. We can't go back and correct spelling in titles, can we?

princesslinda · #3 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 08:53 AM

Saw this under side effects on Sudafed website:

"What are the possible side effects of Sudafed?
If you experience any of the following uncommon but serious side effects, stop taking Sudafed and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

liver problems (yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain);

blood problems (easy or unusual bleeding or bruising); or

low blood sugar (fatigue, increased hunger or thirst, dizziness or fainting)."

Hope you're feeling better soon!

shockme · #4 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 09:31 AM

that's interesting,linda....my doc told me that sudafed CAN cause elevated bgs....

i just take 1 tab and it doesn't affect my bgs. trish

notme · #5 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 09:44 AM

My heart races on psuedoephedrine. I might as well drink 12 cups of coffee. My blood sugar is rarely elevated by it. However, with all the running around I do, it probably would go low. It never helps my colds anyhow.

Jan B · #6 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 09:58 AM

I am like Notme.

PLEASE be aware of how it can raise your heart rate -- I went into supra ventricular tachycardia because of a form of ephedrine in cough medicine.

Any type ephedrine is potentially MUCH more dangerous than your blood glucose being a little high or low. I had to have my heart stopped and restarted to get back in normal rhythm (about 8 years ago).

I am currently taking Coricidin -- safe for the heart!

princesslinda · #7 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan B

I am like Notme.

PLEASE be aware of how it can raise your heart rate -- I went into supra ventricular tachycardia because of a form of ephedrine in cough medicine.

Any type ephedrine is potentially MUCH more dangerous than your blood glucose being a little high or low. I had to have my heart stopped and restarted to get back in normal rhythm (about 8 years ago).

I am currently taking Coricidin -- safe for the heart!

This same thing happened to my mother-in-law after taking ephedrine...she, too, had to have her heart stopped and restarted afterwards. I find it pushes my blood pressure to the skin...and makes my heart pound. I avoid most cold meds, though last time I had a cold/sinus problem, I tried Alka-Seltzer severe cold liquid without problems.

slipperyelm · #8 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 05:03 PM

Were both those folks taking REAL ephedrine? I would never....

Psuedoephedrine products help my cold. They do raise my blood pressure a bit, but I have room to spare on that since my usual BP is about 95/65.

I also have talked with both my doctor and pharmacist about this product which I've used for at least a couple decades for colds.

Even during my pregnancy, it was one of few cold symptom relief products my OB was okay with.

The pharmacist and my regular doctor did mention one of the Coricidin products, but I have treid it without noticeable relief, so ther seems to be not point in my taking it.

I also asked my pharmacist if I could just get a shotgun and blow my nose off, but he would not recommend that.

Do all states have laws now where you have to get the psuedoephdrine directly from the pharmacist behind the counter? And show state ID? And sign for it? Good grief....

Oh yeah, Cold Eeze lozenges help me immensely, but I don't need the sugar or the calories. Never tried the Cold Eeze nasal spray. That could be worth a try.

shockme · #9 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 05:15 PM

here in illinois we have to get in from the pharmacist and sign for it....i keep saying that if i WERE a meth cooker,i'd just get all my meth head friends to go to all the pharmacies in the area and stock up that way....

if the morons want alot-they'll find a way and innocent folks like us have to deal with the nonsense...trish

EasyType2 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 05:57 PM

I used to take a lot of pseudoephedrine, and never noted any changes in BG. However, pseudoephedrine is a powerful vaso-constrictor, and any person with any coronary problems should avoid it like the plague.

Cyborg · #11 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 06:31 PM

Being a stimulant, I would guess it raised your metabolism enough to bring your bg down...

grace girl · #12 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 09:14 PM

I take it for sinus headaches, which aren't all that uncommon where I live. The endo told me I could take them all I want, just to be aware that they do suppress the appetite and therefore could potentially mask hunger during a low.
I tried the alternative drug they came out with (the stuff that's in tylenol sinus now) and I thought I was going to have a heart attack...my heart raced for hours.

slipperyelm · #13 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grace girl

The endo told me I could take them all I want, just to be aware that they do suppress the appetite and therefore could potentially mask hunger during a low.

Again, an interesting statement which correlates with my experience yesterday. At 64 I did not feel at all low or hungry, and I usually (though maybe not always) would be feeling low at that point.

Cyborg, yes, that is what I was thinking, too: raise the metabolism-->burn more glucose--> lower the BG.

Took the medicine all day yesterday and again had a lower BG this morning, even though I ate a handful of Christmas candy shortly before bedtime! (I normally low carb.) Wow. This has never happened before when taking Sudaphed.