Bobble Head! Medicine for congestion?

What are we allowed to have as far as congestion medication is concerned? Are we allowed nyquil? Dayquil?  Tylenol Cold?
What do you take?

My surgeon's notes say no to Nyquil/Dayquil.

You can take Sudafed, Dimetapp, Tylenol Cold & Sinus, Triaminics, Robitussin and Benedryl.

But you should probably check with your doc just in case!

All of the brands you mention are combo all-in-one cold medicines and contain acetaminophen as a pain reliever as well as an antihistamine and an oral decongestant (anything available off the shelf and not behind the pharmacist's bench contains phenylephrine, which really isn't effective orally.)

Anyhoo, if you're simply congested, taking any of these nostrums exposes you to drugs you don't need.  The only oral decongestant for sale in the US is pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), but as of a few years ago, any drug containing it requires a signature and is sold behind-the-counter (it's a precursor for the synthesis of methamphetamine).  Pseudoephedrine is fine if you don't have high blood pressure, but if you do, it should be avoided, since it can raise BP.

A better choice is a nasal inhaler or nasal spray.  Benzedrex (propylhexedrine) or Vicks Inhaler (levmetamphetamine aka levo-methamphetamine) both work well, and Afrin (oxymetazoline) nasal spray and its drug-store generic equivalents are also good choices.

/Steve

I took Mucinex and it worked great.  It loosened the pghelm(SP?) really well.  It is basically a large dose of Robitussin in a pill (Guaffinasin).  I find Sudafed makes my blood pressure go way up and my heart rate soars = the last time I took it they had to give me valium to bring it down.