Dear Doctor K: Mixing cold remedies is risky
DEAR DOCTOR K: I’m in my 60s. Whenever I have a cold, I reach for whichever medication treats the most symptoms. My wife says that’s not safe, even if the medication is available over the counter. Is she right?
DEAR READER: Your wife is correct. Painkillers, decongestants, antihistamines and combination remedies – even those available over the counter – can sometimes cause health problems. They can interact with other drugs and can interfere with existing conditions.
• DECONGESTANTS narrow blood vessels, which can help reduce inflammation in your nasal passages. Decongestants are also stimulants, which means they can increase your blood pressure. They can increase your heart rate and cause anxiety or insomnia. These drugs can cause problems for people with heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes.
• ACETAMINOPHEN relieves pain and reduces fevers. Too much acetaminophen (more than 3,000 to 4,000 milligrams per day) can harm your liver. Alcohol can increase the harmful effect.
Do not take more than the recommended dose listed on the product. Also, don’t take high doses for several days. If you’re taking a combination drug, check the ingredients for acetaminophen. If it’s listed, don’t take any other drugs that contain acetaminophen.
• ANTIHISTAMINES decrease the production of histamine, a substance that leads to runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. They can make you sleepy and are frequently found in nighttime cold remedies to help you sleep. Older adults don’t break down this medication well. If you take it at night, you might feel groggy and confused even hours later. This can lead to falls and injuries when you get up to urinate in the middle of the night, or in the morning on awakening.
Finally, a word about combination medicines. These drugs contain several medications in one dose. But you may not need all of the medications. Treating symptoms you don’t have exposes you to medicine you don’t need. That unnecessarily puts you at risk for side effects.