It Is Your Choice to Make

What will you do without Sudafed on YOUR side of the counter?
Pseudoephedrine is being removed from the isles of your grocery store and pharmacy because of all of potential abuse related to the drug. Yet, as the commercials says, if you have congestion, SUDAFED is on isle 5.
Pseudoephedrine (soo-doe-e-FED-rin) is used to relieve nasal or sinus congestion caused by the common cold, sinusitis, and hay fever and other respiratory irritants. It relieves stuffy nose, opens nasal airways, and drains sinuses. It is also used to relieve ear congestion caused by ear inflammation or infection
What choices do you have? The natural option is a salty nasal wash, the natural decongestant. Sudafed does decongest but comes with risk. See below for instructions BEFORE considering Pseudoephedrine.

Hypertonic buffered saline nose washes such as Nasopure shrinks swollen membranes naturally, through osmosis, without harmful side effects and actually offers additional benefits. The process of washing removes the particles before they cause nasal congestion and swelling. This simply prevents these symptoms. The wash cleans the nose hairs resulting in more effecient body filter. Using nasal washes regularly has been shown to reduce the medications one requires and prevents infections. Finally, hypertoninc buffered saline will change thick tenacious secretions into thin watery discharge which is easier to expell.

The disadvantage of nasal washes is that one has to incorporate the process into their daily hygiene routine. Another downside is that is process is not attractive or sexy. The cost is so low most feel they must not be getting a product as effective as a pill.

The SIDE EFFECTS OF Pseudoephedrine listed below are potentially serious and should be reviewed prior to use.

As a culture and community at large, it is time to rethink how we approach pills. Medications can be life saving and work miracles. The ease of swallowing a pill has caused us to not give the process much thought. The cost is an issue at times but with co-pays, most only consider the ultimate cost as the co-pay amount and not the actuall cost of the drug.
The symptoms of nasal congestion can be treated or reduce with a simple, safe, inexpensive saline nose wash. Its your choice to make.

Be Well,
Dr Hana
Hana R. Solomon, MD
drhana@nasopure.com
www.nasopure.com
August 21, 2005

BEFORE USING Pseudoephedrine
Allergies: Avoid if history of unusual or allergic reaction to pseudoephedrine or similar medicines, such as albuterol, amphetamines, ephedrine, epinephrine, isoproterenol, metaproterenol, norepinephrine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, or terbutaline, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy: Studies in animals have shown that pseudoephedrine causes a reduction in average weight, length, and rate of bone formation in the animal fetus.
Breast-feeding: Pseudoephedrine passes into breast milk and may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies (especially newborn and premature babies).
Children: Pseudoephedrine may be more likely to cause side effects in infants, especially newborn and premature infants.
Older adults: There is no specific information comparing use of pseudoephedrine in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines: When you are taking pseudoephedrine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following: Beta-blockers, Cocaine, Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity.
Other medical problems: The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of pseudoephedrine. Use of pseudoephedrine may cause an increase in blood glucose levels for Diabetics. Complications can occur if the following are present: Enlarged prostate, Glaucoma, or a predisposition to glaucoma, Heart disease or blood vessel disease, High blood pressure, Overactive thyroid.
SIDE EFFECTS OF Pseudoephedrine
Convulsions; hallucinations; irregular or slow heartbeat; shortness of breath or troubled breathing; nervousness; restlessness; trouble in sleeping; difficult or painful urination; dizziness or lightheadedness; fast or pounding heartbeat; headache; increased sweating; nausea or vomiting; trembling; unusual paleness; weakness
References National institute of Health URL page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202489.html