Can you take Cold Medicines when you are on Paxil?????

12-25-2002, 07:39 PM

I am currently at 10mg (after being on 20mg daily for almost 4yrs)
I had a "hellish" withdrawal experience last yr when I went off cold turkey, so I have been weaning VERY SLOWLY now on the liquid paxil...1mg at a time!

Anyway....my Dr told me Sudafed was fine for a cold - then the pharmacy told me absolutely not - that it is not safe!!! Anybody know anything?!

I am at KBBROOK@aol.com

Thanks!

safarigal · 12-25-2002, 07:57 PM

I'd trust the pharmacist before I'd trust a doc to know about medicine interactions.

12-26-2002, 08:07 PM

I've taken sudafed, and even stronger cold medicines while on Paxil, with no problem, and no one warning me not to. I know the old MAOI drugs were SERIOUS problems with drug interactions- is the pharmacist maybe confused? Post the question on web md or get another professional opinion. I'm very curious to know.

Paxil Junkie · 01-04-2003, 04:10 PM

most cold medicines have dxm in it(dextromethorphan) which also is a seratonin enhancing drug, taking 2(paxil with it) can cause sertonin syndrome... thats the interaction with it.

01-04-2003, 08:54 PM

You're probably not supposed to take the cold meds with Paxil, but I did and never had any problem. Since Paxil does nothing for congestion and coughing

I took the cold meds anyway---colds are miserable! I was up to 60 mg Paxil, so it wasn't that it was just a low dose. Of course, to be on the safe side, you probably shouldn't do it.

Ariella · 01-05-2003, 08:47 AM

When I took Nyquil while being on Paxil, I got seriously dizzy and uncomfortable. I may be overly sensitive though. I get a buzz from vitamin B complex supplements heh.

catherineh · 01-20-2003, 08:27 PM

I've been on paxil for 5 yrs and have allegies. I've been prescribed allergy medication while on it, and have told my doctors I take nyquil and sudafed for colds, and they never mentioned problems, and I have had no problems.

01-21-2003, 08:23 AM

I've been on Paxil for 8 years (almost off it, though!) and was on Prozac for 7 years prior to that. Nobody has EVER warned me not to take cold medicines.

I'll tell you something weird, though. Whenever I take decongestives or antihystamines I get a little psycho. Like I get irrational and anxious. If there IS a connection, my little personal mystery is solved.

In the meantime, I just avoid cold medicines unless I'm really sick. Then I just watch myself so I don't go yelling at people or anything :-)

01-21-2003, 05:12 PM

I was just browsing and found a site that warns about mixing cold medicines and Paxil. It's not a medical site... looks like one put together by another withdrawal survivor. Anyway, here's the site:
http://paxil.bizland.com/jbuzzw.htm

Oh, and by the way, I meant "decongestants." Haha..yeah I can spell.

12-25-2002, 07:39 PM	#1
kriggy Posts: n/a	Can you take Cold Medicines when you are on Paxil????? I am currently at 10mg (after being on 20mg daily for almost 4yrs) I had a "hellish" withdrawal experience last yr when I went off cold turkey, so I have been weaning VERY SLOWLY now on the liquid paxil...1mg at a time! Anyway....my Dr told me Sudafed was fine for a cold - then the pharmacy told me absolutely not - that it is not safe!!! Anybody know anything?! I am at KBBROOK@aol.com Thanks!

12-25-2002, 07:57 PM	#2
safarigal Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 4,879	I'd trust the pharmacist before I'd trust a doc to know about medicine interactions. __________________ Julie Paxil free since Nov 2002! Forum Rules Withdrawal FAQ

12-26-2002, 08:07 PM	#3
Anonymous Posts: n/a	cold meds and paxil I've taken sudafed, and even stronger cold medicines while on Paxil, with no problem, and no one warning me not to. I know the old MAOI drugs were SERIOUS problems with drug interactions- is the pharmacist maybe confused? Post the question on web md or get another professional opinion. I'm very curious to know.

01-04-2003, 04:10 PM	#4
Paxil Junkie Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New York Posts: 315	most cold medicines have dxm in it(dextromethorphan) which also is a seratonin enhancing drug, taking 2(paxil with it) can cause sertonin syndrome... thats the interaction with it. __________________ Some of my favorite quotes "April 20th, National Save the Trees day." "Its 4:19...got a minute?" "Life sucks then you die, so spend your time getting high." "Time is never wasted when your wasted all the time."

01-04-2003, 08:54 PM	#5
Anonymous Posts: n/a	Paxil & cold meds You're probably not supposed to take the cold meds with Paxil, but I did and never had any problem. Since Paxil does nothing for congestion and coughing I took the cold meds anyway---colds are miserable! I was up to 60 mg Paxil, so it wasn't that it was just a low dose. Of course, to be on the safe side, you probably shouldn't do it.

01-05-2003, 08:47 AM	#6
Ariella Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 7,100	if I recall... When I took Nyquil while being on Paxil, I got seriously dizzy and uncomfortable. I may be overly sensitive though. I get a buzz from vitamin B complex supplements heh. __________________ Panic attacks started Dec/1996 Zoloft summer 1998 (quit CT after a few days - bad reaction) 10mg Paxil fall 1998 / 20mg Paxil winter 1999 10mg September 2000 / 5mg October 2000 / FREE November 2000 Healed by Anxiety eBook

01-20-2003, 08:27 PM	#7
catherineh Join Date: May 2002 Location: oregon Posts: 73	Cold medicine I've been on paxil for 5 yrs and have allegies. I've been prescribed allergy medication while on it, and have told my doctors I take nyquil and sudafed for colds, and they never mentioned problems, and I have had no problems.

01-21-2003, 08:23 AM	#8
Tara Posts: n/a	That's a new one I've been on Paxil for 8 years (almost off it, though!) and was on Prozac for 7 years prior to that. Nobody has EVER warned me not to take cold medicines. I'll tell you something weird, though. Whenever I take decongestives or antihystamines I get a little psycho. Like I get irrational and anxious. If there IS a connection, my little personal mystery is solved. In the meantime, I just avoid cold medicines unless I'm really sick. Then I just watch myself so I don't go yelling at people or anything :-)

01-21-2003, 05:12 PM	#9
Tara Posts: n/a	Found a warning I was just browsing and found a site that warns about mixing cold medicines and Paxil. It's not a medical site... looks like one put together by another withdrawal survivor. Anyway, here's the site: http://paxil.bizland.com/jbuzzw.htm Oh, and by the way, I meant "decongestants." Haha..yeah I can spell.

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