Are any cold medicines okay to take?

[nervouslady]

My dr told me to stay away from cold medicines as they will aggrivate my arrhythmia.  Does this mean ALL cold medicines?  Do any of you know if there is a certain kind or brand that does not aggrivate arrhythmia?  Seems like I caught my husband's cold :-(

[nervouslady]

Thanks all, sounds like I should just stay away completely.  I thought I was getting my husband's cold, but just have a sore throat, no stuffiness like he has.  I'm wondering if it's acid reflux - sometimes when it gets really bad my throat gets raw and sore.  Eew.  This happened to me last time I was pregnant...If it's not improved by tomorrow I'm going to go in for a throat culture to rule out strep.  Thanks again!

[Rob202]

I have year-round colds, "allergies".  My doc said the nose sprays I was using were "stimulants", and could be aggravating my arrhythmia, so I have been looking for more natural remedies.  I found the "Breathe Right" nose strips work great. Aside from pulling them off (their sticky) or wearing them during the day (they look like a band-aid),  they do as promised...bringing in more air.    Of course this doesn't handle all the symptoms of a cold, but it's a start.
Balancing Humidity in your home, I think is also important, not just for breathing, but for aches and pain.  Check your humidity level in your home.
I also Meditate, but this is tricky to do correct.  Check out some reading.
Basically, I think, any cold medicine, that would be considered a "stimulant" is a probable irritant and some things that are not labeled as stimulants, but may be a stimulant or irritant, just to you specifically, could to be looked at.  This is an area that I am looking into myself.
Good Luck and Hope You Feel Better.

[MAB22]

I recently have gotten over a cold (hopefully, knock on wood).  I take atenolol and stayed away from all medication, just a little tylenol.  I called my cardiologist to ask them if I could take any meds.  They said only mucinex.  I never took it.  I looked up cold and fever on Mayo clinic and wen't with their recommendations.  Plenty of rest, fluids, and chicken soup.  My heart rate did get high, but fortunately the fever broke and heart rate went back down.  Also, put humidifier in room to help with congestion (don't know if this worked so much, as pretty cheap model).  But the rest and fluids seemed to help.  Hope you get over cold soon, very soon.

[Wisconsin2007]

I thought the problem with them was that they were brain depressants but heart stimulants.  

[Jerry_NJ]

Well, give it back to him, you don't need it (the cold) :>)

Benadryl or similar may be good, it tends to make most people sleepy...seems to be the opposite from what would aggravate arrhythmia problems.