Over-the-counter medications in pharmacies, such as Dolirhume, Actifed, and Humex, are problematic because they contain pseudoephedrine. This substance reduces the diameter of blood vesselswhich helps reduce runny nose, inflammation and provides a feeling of an unblocked nose.
However, pseudoephedrine not only acts on the blood vessels in the nose, but also on other arteries in the body, including those in the brain. In certain cases, probably underestimated, it can cause seizures, myocardial infarctions, and even strokes in young, healthy patients.
These cases are probably underestimated because, when a young patient suffers a heart attack or stroke, they are asked questions about tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, family history, and current treatments. However, we don’t always think to ask if he has taken medications like Dolirhumeand these are so commonplace that the patient will not necessarily mention it to their doctor.
What are the real risks?
Although these side effects are rare, they are still very serious. In medicine, we always evaluate the benefit-risk balance: what benefits does a medication provide in relation to the risks involved?
The benefit here is to reduce a runny nose, but the risks are so great that if you or a loved one experiences a serious complication in breathing better with a cold, you will regret it.
What to do if you have a runny nose and sore throat?
Rinse your nose with saline. You can use a pipette of physiological serum like for babies, a nasal spray, or even an enema bulb. Maybe take a little paracetamol, a little broth, a herbal tea, a suppository, and rest!
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