diazepam with decongestant

[Lilip87]

hi all ,

not sure if any one has any knowledge on medication . I am loaded with cold atm , got some decongestant tabs today with phenylepharine in it and had a couple of Pracetamol wondering if i can take a diazepam tablet to help me sleep as been lying for the past 3 hrs trying to get to sleep but to no avail .

There are no interactions between diazepam and either phenylephrine or paracetamol listed in the British National Formulary.

I wouldn't take a benzodiazepine (like diazepam) with an antihistamine, as both cause central nervous system depression, but with a decongestant like phenylephrine (an alpha adrenoceptor agonist) there shouldn't be a particular problem.

The obvious question, though, is how did you come to be in possession of diazepam tablets. If they were prescribed, you should only be taking them as and when instructed by the doctor who prescribed them. If they weren't prescribed (for you, not for someone else) you shouldn't be taking them at all.

Why would you assume they weren't prescribed? It's not like s/he could call up the pharmacy at this time to ask about her prescribed meds, whether they are 'naughty' meds or not. Damn, people are judgy about benzos!!

Damn, people are judgy about benzos!!

Because they are dangerous.

I presume they are asking because the op is unsure about whether it will help her.

For future reference though OP, decongestants are best avoided before bed as they do tend to keep you awake.

They are safe if used as prescribed. Probably not safe to mix with other otc meds though.

Why do pharmacists always warn that decongestants make people sleepy? They keep me wired in a horrible way!

It's antihistamines that make people sleepy. Decongestants can cause insomnia: this is more likely with something like pseudoephedrine than with phenylephrine or oxymetazoline (the decongestant in many nasal sprays).

thanks for all your messages ,

they are prescribed yes!!

ended up not taking them and just suffering the lack of sleep thanks

Ok. I take actifed which has both antihistamine and pseudoephedrine so I guess the pharm is right to warn me about sleepiness from the antihistamine component... but for me the pseudoephedrine effect outweighs it by miles!