Friday, April 3, 2009

Questions for My Pharmacist

Okay ninja, I've decided you're my personal pharmacist since I know nothing about drugs and you know everything.

Question 1: I started on a new allergy medication.  I used to take AllerClear -- 10 mg of Loratadine, of course I used to take two -- don't know why, so 20 mg.  I told my doctor it wasn't working well and said I thought I needed a new prescription.   She said it was very difficult to approve allergy medication prescriptions these days and that instead I should try Zyrtec first.

So I started on Zyrtec-D a couple of days ago -- 5 mg of Cetirizine and 120 mg of Pseudoephedrine HCI.  I haven't noticed a change in my symptoms (starting to think maybe I need a prescription nose spray again) but I have noticed something else.  The last two days I took the pill around 8 pm, it's a 12 hour extended release tablet, and both times I've woken up in the middle of the night.  The first night I woke up and had trouble falling asleep, then last night I fell right back asleep but I woke up around 5 times.  Then in the mornings I've felt both gittery and foggy.  Do you think it's related?  I'm going to start taking the pill in the morning instead, see if that helps.

Question 2: I have a dental appointment on Monday.  Ever since my ASD repair in '99 I've had to take antibiotics before the appointment -- something about being susceptible to infections. For the first few years I took it seriously, but then it just became a pain.  After my three year appointment my cardiologist told me the device was healed over and that my heart size had reduced to the smallest it would ever get -- the upper reaches of "normal".  It's been almost 10 years since the procedure, I'm normal now, right?  At least I don't need the antibiotic anymore, right?  They dental office called me yesterday inquiring, I told them it had been 9 years and I only needed the antibiotics during the first 5, but I might have made that up.  What do you think?

1 comment:

  1. Response to Q1: pseudoephedrine is what drug dealers use to make methamphetamines, so yes, that is what is keeping you up at night because it's legal crack disguised as a really good nasal decongestant. You can a) not take it before bed and only take it in the morning (since it's 12 hour relief you are getting a pretty decent dose, or b) switch to Zyrtec Regular without the decongestant (no "D" in the title). Regular Zyrtec will help with "allergy" symptoms (itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose), but if you are still congested (plugged up) you may want to try a nose spray to help clear you our OR regular pseudoephedrine (ie Sudafed). Just make sure it is NOT long acting and avoid taking it within 4 hours or so before bed.

    Response to Q2: I have no idea--ask your doctor. In all likelihood you are probably fine without the antibiotics, but you should ask just so you know for sure and don't have to lie to your dentist.....cringe.

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