Pseudoephedrine side affects anyone?

[ColonelRhubarbBikini]

Massively suffering right now with a nasty head cold, it always goes straight to my sinuses and leaves me feeling awful.

The only thing that brings relief is something with pseudoephedrine in like Actifed or Sudafed Sinus Relief but god does it make me suffer with side effects. One tablet early in the morning and I can’t sleep that night which makes me feel awful in a different way.

I haven’t taken any this time around but it’s been nearly a week and I’m struggling like hell. Can’t afford any more days off work and I’ve so much to do.

Has anyone suffered like this and found an alternative product or a way of mitigating the side effects? I did think of buying some Nytol to see if that would cancel it out.

I just want to be able to feel like my head isn’t exploding but also manage to sleep at night

Have your tried Night nurse?

Try something with guafenisin..its a mucus thinner and piriton at night. You can also add a nasal spray once things are moving a bit

I take Actifed pills if I want to get to sleep. 🤣 I have chronic sinusitis and anything with either phenylalanine or pseudoephedrine has me spaced (in a nice way) and asleep in minutes. Can't touch them in the day for this reason.
Isn't it weird how we react differently.
Have you tried things like a neti pot/steam inhaling? I often find my head over hot water is more efficient than pills.

I know you said you're feeling awful but I wasn't sure in which way. Definitely rinse out your sinuses witha spray like Sterimar. Holding a hot water bottle to your sinuses is also helpful.

You might try a different Sudafed, ie the Sinus Max (red) one. Definitely Guafenesin which is also in some cough medicine.

decongestant nose spray.

warm milk & honey. natural melatonin plus makes mucus more 'wet' so you can cough it up better.

I can take guaifenesin or pseudoepherine separately but together gives me palpations and makes me vomit. I read a lot of packets very carefully!

I would go nasal spray - otravine and some proper painkillers for the headache.

Night Nurse doesn’t touch it sadly.

Guaifenesin is a bloody good shout. I knew it was a mucus thinner but I’d labelled it ‘for coughs’ in my head and hadn’t thought to try it.

Nasal sprays I’m cautious of as I’ve had rebound congestion before but I do use a saline one and hang my head over a bowl of steam.

Painkillers aren’t touching it. I’ve maxed out. It’s the pressure in my head that’s making me really suffer.

@PAFMO Ha it’s funny isn’t it. I’d kill to have them make me feel like that

Sudafed would keep me awake, too.

In Australia, garlic and horseradish tablets are a good thing and are very good at reducing the pressure and making my nose run. naturesown.com.au/products/immunity-wellbeing/triple-strength-garlic-c-horseradish/

Also, I found that gluten gave me sinusitis. It would take a normal winter cold and turn it into the sinus beast from hell. I gave up gluten for other reasons 30 years ago and got my life back. I’ve only had a few episodes since and not as bad.

A hot water bottle over the painful areas really helps with the pain and can get the mucous to drain.