clearing sinuses!
 

does anyone know of any effective products for clearing tubes after a cold?? :eek:

Sudafed! However, don't keep taking the maximum permitted dose, wean yourself off it and be prepared for rebound sniffles before the next dose is due. Worked very well for me. Don't know where you stand re flying regulations so if you are a pilot you will need to check.
PS: Get the syrup, it's easier to take deceasing doses as tablets are hard to chop up accurately. :)

Just a note to say Sudafed is very good, but it is specifically mentioned in an AIC, can't remember exactly which one, but it's talking about flying and drugs.

HTH

I've just been looking, as I'm taking Sudofed - works wonders - and I'm flying at the weekend (Spamcans, rather than something bigger). I haven't managed to find anything CAA related, but it appears that the FAA don't mind it. Specifically,
http://www.aviationmedicine.com/allergy.htm

says that

Seems OK over there, so it is probably is over hear. Anyone know for sure?

Otrovine nasal spray was recommended by the doc when I was in the Army Air Corps

Sorry for the delay in replying.

I've looked and the AIC is Pink 143/1998 entitled Medication and Air Traffic Control. While it is talking about air traffic controllers, it does indeed specifically mention Sudafed at paragraph 4(i) concluding that "Sudafed is not a preparation to be taken when performing licensed duties".

I still maintain it is very good, but must be used very, very sparingly.

Sudafed is clearly controversial.
I took it under the direction of my GP but when I mentioned it to my AME he got shirty and said it could have made me dizzy.
It didn't. Apart from clearing my tubes it had no further noticeable effect.
If you read the notes included with any medication, the possible side effects often look worse than the disease.
I will of course heed the directions of the CAA.
If in doubt these days I will normally call my AME and ask his advice.

PB

Thanks for checking that.

I agree, sudafed works well. But I would also agree with the note of caution struck in some of the posts. Ephedrine or pseudoephedrine a drug that athletes regularly get banned for, it is a banned stimulant in many fields.

For what it's worth, I take a sudafed (or two) during the day and if I am still suffering blocked sinuses, I will pop to the chemist and buy a small tub of menthol chrystals (about £1) and breathe them in over some hot water.

And if that doesn't work, I don't go to work.

I too can recommend Otrovine. It's like magic.
If you have a blocked nose these little drops
will make clear instantly and stay clear for upto 12 hours. You can buy it from most supermarkets,
I know Tesco sell it.

This may sound a little gross but if sinuses are blocked then hot steam is good and.....if you make a saline solution and sniff it up + blowing out (into tissues!!) then system seems to clear too, without drugs and possible side effects.

:)

Straight from the AME's mouth (just had a Class 2 exam).

Pilots shouldn't fly having taken Pseudofed (as PeterBruh said). However, it works its way out of the body quickly - which is why you have to take it every 8 hours - and so it is fine to stop taking it 12 hours or so before flying.

FWIW, he suggested Otrovine, but said that you shouldn't use it for more than about a week at a time.

Howdy folks,

Try not to get too caught up in all the 'drugs are REALLY bad' hype. If it's in the rules, stick to them, but if your doc says that one sudafed may make you dizzy (in a healthy individual), or some such dibble, don't take his/her word quite as gospel.

To help solidify my point, consider me... stands and waves for all to see
To aid my bodybuilding endeavours, I sometimes take a mixture of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to aid in thermogenisis. The stack I usually use (which I started after thorough study) consists of 2 Sudafed, 2 No-Doz (total 200mg caffeine), and one Aspirin. After a couple of days I realised that I could function perfectly normally (although I had to go the bathroom every 20 mintues...), and so if I had to fly then I didn't think twice about being on this stack of drugs. If anything it helped, as I was totally wired ALL DAY (but don't abuse this combination for this purpose), and felt no effects of fatigue.
My sinuses also remained completely unblocked for the entire time.

My point is that while your doctors rant and rave about how this might happen, or that might happen, or how your head may explode when passing through the transition layer with a dose of Sudafed in you, providing you're otherwise (even half) healthy, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

(Disclaimer - I'm not advocating the use of the drug stack above, if you want to learn more just ask, if you take it and die, well, I guess I told you so... )

While I'm writing, I've found the best thing (in Australia) is a product called 'Spray-tish'. A couple of sprays in the nose has it cleared better than if it was perfectly normal. Not sure if it's still available as I haven't bought any for about 2 years.

That's all, I'm off to bed.
Cheers,

Turbofan

I am rather concerned about the reply given by Turbofan as I feel it is at least irresponsible if not downright dangerous. He (or she) is not, according to the profile, a pharmacist or doctor, nor does he appear to have any medical training. To openly state that he flies after taking such a combination of drugs without prior medical advice is frightening, as is his cavalier attitude to advice given by doctors. Doctors have a duty to inform patients of ANY possible side effects of medication which they are prescribing and if dizziness is a reported side effect then they have to tell the person. A person may or may not experience the side effects, the unfortunate will get them all, the lucky will be fine. Most people will be fine but they need to know what MAY happen. I am not sure what he considers "thorough study" but it is probably safe to assume that it is not the years of university training required for a person to become a qualified doctor or pharmacist. I was hoping to have been able to contact our Pharmacy at the hospital where I work (I'm a nurse) but I'm stuck at home with a ruptured knee-joint capsule and haven't been able to get through to them. By the way, I don't think that doctors are gods, we are all part of a team - which is how it works on our unit. Advocating combinations of drugs when you are not a doctor is dangerous.We have to deal with the results of misplaced advice and drug abuse, some of which can be lethal even when they are used in the correct dosages but dangerous combinations. <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

The one that most scuba divers use is Boots decongestant.

It has the advantage that it dosn't have any pain killers or other stuff mixed in with it. It has wads of caffine though. Dosn't make you sleepy and lasts 3-4 hours.

Its in pill form and at 4 quid for 24 is alot cheaper than others.

As for it being legal to use on duty i presume not for flight crew but ATC who knows.

MJ

CS gas works wonders too...a mate of mine was doing his annual stint on NBC training in the "gas chamber" - he got a huge sniff of the cs gas used in the trainer, came outside and sneezed noodles, thus totally clearing his sinuses and removing the need for an operation (for which he had been scheduled)

[ 29 December 2001: Message edited by: Floppy Link ]</p>

Squire - I would highly recommend that you NOT fly as a crewmember with a bad cold or the aftermath. If you've even seen someone with a sinus block or talked with them, you wouldn't do it. Imagine if you will a cabin pressurization problem to boot. A sinus block is likely to become completely incapacitating and impossible to "gut out" - it hurts THAT much. If you can fly with the pain of someone shoving a knitting needle up your nose, you're a better man that I Gunga Din. If you do blow a sinus, it'll ground you for a very, very long time.

Bottom line -- it's not worth it. Go on the sick list and don't take a chance on endangering yourself or others. I know when another crewmember reports for duty with a URI, it pisses me off that they might give it to the rest of the crew and/or cause a physiological incident to boot.
In general, it's been my experience that antihistimins relieve some symptoms, but prolong the full recovery time.

That being said, I do carry a small spray bottle of AFRIN (I don't know what the UK equivelent it)for emergencies. I've never had to use it myself, but just the other day I gave it to the captain who was having trouble on the descent. I would say that it's only marginally effective.

Don't fly with a URI and you won't have problems.

[ 30 December 2001: Message edited by: Roadtrip ]</p>

Try Acupuncture...works well for short and long term effect. Once you have had treatment, the inflammation goes away and the body will heal itself and return to normal.
A dose of vitamin C and a B group complex vitamin tablet once or twice a day for a week or so to get you over the hurdle. Lot's of liquids, prefer water or a nice cup of tea,(leave the coffee alone) and as much rest as possible all help to alleviate the symptoms and get your body back on track.

For the once off's Sudafed is good, but I would not advise taking at least a few hours before commencing duty.

Otravive is also good FOR VERY SHORT PERIODS ONLY.
Can do all sorts of bad things to the inside lining of the nasal passages and is a dependacy increased doseage drug....you get hooked on it and become too reliant.


Hope this helps&gt; <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="cool.gif" border="0"> <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

Hi DX Wombat,

Your concern is warranted, although I feel a bit misplaced. I wasn't advocating the use of anything except the product 'Spray-tish' which has worked well for me in the past.

And I'm not a doctor. Although I might add that the combination I use from time to time (actually quite rarely) has been proven effective and safe in hundreds, if not thousands, of controlled lab studies, and I have consulted doctors about it in the past.

My point while I was dribbling on about OTC drugs was exactly as you stated...

[quote]By the way, I don't think that doctors are gods, we are all part of a team<hr></blockquote>

It is the nature of doctors to be overly cautious. I've learnt this from a number of years of having worked in the fitness industry, talking to sports doctors (some who have work with pro bodybuilders and use obscene amounts of drugs), and talking to users of legal and illegal drugs (who also use large quantities).

The main issue I've seen with these drug users is long term side effects from long term heavy use, not a one of use as this thread is implying.

So while you were exactly correct in stating that it's a doctors duty to advise patients about any and all side effects, I'd hate to see someone remain in obvious discomfort simply because they think there's a slim chance they may get a minor side effect. (Again, if it's not cleared for use in the company ops or regs, don't touch it.)

At least try a regular dose under a doctors guidance, and for those that are interested, take the initiative to get out there and learn about the drugs that doctors prescribe. Talk to those that have used the substances.
The human body is gifted in that it can tolerate an awful lot of drug abuse and still function quite normally (up to a point of course).


If I haven't addressed your concern feel free to pull me up again.

Regards,
Turbofan

[ 01 January 2002: Message edited by: Turbofan ]</p>

A good Vasocontrictor like AFRIN works well.