Do you also have a cold, a headache, a stuffy nose, and aches in your body? At times like these, we seek quick relief, don't we? Some medicines you can buy at the pharmacy have ingredients that provide relief for several of these symptoms. Today we are talking about a medicine that combines a commonly used painkiller and a medicine for nasal congestion.
What is this medicine? Simply put...
This is actually a combination of two types of medication.
1. Naproxen: This is a painkiller. Medically speaking, it belongs to the category of (NSAID - Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug) . Just like Ibuprofen. It is used to control body aches, headaches, and fever that come with colds.
2. Pseudoephedrine: This is used to relieve nasal congestion. Doctors call it a decongestant . Nasal congestion occurs when the blood vessels inside the nose become swollen. This medicine reduces that swelling and helps you breathe more easily again.
The most important thing: This medicine only controls symptoms. It does not kill the virus that causes the cold in your body. That is something that our body's immune system has to cure itself.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
This medicine is not suitable for everyone. If you have any of the following medical conditions, you should definitely tell your doctor before taking this medicine.
| Do you have these conditions? |
|---|
| Heart disease, high blood pressure, or previous heart surgery. |
| Diabetes. |
| Kidney disease. |
| Having stomach inflammation, gastritis, or stomach ulcers. |
| Bleeding problems or diseases that prevent blood from clotting easily. |
| Thyroid disease. |
| Difficulty urinating. |
| If you are a regular drinker. |
| If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or are a breastfeeding mother. |
| If you have an allergy to naproxen, pseudoephedrine, aspirin, or any other medicine or food. |
| If you have taken medication for depression (MAOI) within the past 14 days. |
How exactly do you use this medicine?
- Take this pill with a glass of water .
- If you experience stomach upset or heartburn after taking the medicine, take it after a meal . Or you can take it with food.
- Do not break, crush, or chew these tablets. Swallow them whole.
- Drink only the amount prescribed by your doctor, at the time prescribed. Don't drink too much.
If giving this medicine to children, especially children under 12 years of age, do not give it without consulting a pediatrician .
What to do if you take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much medicine, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice. Treat this as an emergency.
Be especially careful about these things when taking medication!
If symptoms do not subside...
If your pain or nasal congestion lasts more than 7 days , or if you have a fever for more than 3 days , see your doctor right away. This could mean there is an underlying infection or problem.
Risk of stomach inflammation and bleeding
The painkiller Naproxen carries a risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding. This can happen without any warning .
Be careful: If you have severe stomach pain, vomit blood, or notice black (tarry) stools, seek medical advice immediately. Smoking, drinking alcohol, aging, and poor health increase this risk.
Heart attack and stroke risk
Long-term use of NSAIDs can slightly increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. This risk is higher if you already have heart disease. So if you are taking this medicine for more than a few days, talk to your doctor about it.
Serious skin reactions
Very rarely, this medicine can cause a serious skin reaction. If you develop a red rash, blisters, or peeling skin along with fever and body aches, see a doctor immediately.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are a pregnant woman, avoid taking this medicine. Taking this medicine, especially after 20 weeks of pregnancy, may harm the unborn baby. Therefore, it is essential to tell your doctor that you are pregnant before taking this medicine.
Drowsiness and dizziness
Some people may feel drowsy or dizzy after taking this medicine. Therefore, avoid activities that require alertness, such as driving or operating heavy machinery, until you know how this medicine affects you.
Side effects that may occur due to medication
| Classification of side effects | |
|---|---|
| Side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Serious allergies | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Symptoms of bleeding | Black or bloody stools, vomiting blood. |
| Heart-related symptoms | Chest pain, tightness, rapid or irregular heartbeat. |
| Other serious symptoms | Severe dizziness, feeling faint, changes in vision or hearing, difficulty urinating, swelling of the legs and ankles, and red, blistered skin. |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Digestive system | Stomach upset, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite. |
| Other | Dry mouth and eyes. |
Can this medicine interact with other medications?
Yes, absolutely. This is very important. If you are taking any other medication, vitamin, herbal medicine, or dietary supplement, you should tell your doctor about it. This medicine is especially not recommended if you are taking any of the following medications:
- Other (NSAID) painkillers (e.g. Ketorolac, Ibuprofen)
- Medicines that prevent blood clotting (e.g. Warfarin, Aspirin)
- Some high blood pressure medications
- Medications for some mental illnesses
- (MAOI) class of medications
This list is not complete, so it is very important for your own safety to inform your doctor about all medications you are taking.
Take-Home Message
- Before taking a combination medicine like this, especially if you have other medical conditions (heart disease, diabetes, gastritis), be sure to consult a doctor .
- Do not take this medicine with other painkillers (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen). Doing so will greatly increase the risk of side effects such as stomach ulcers.
- If you experience severe stomach pain or black stools, seek medical advice immediately.
- Pregnant women and those trying to get pregnant should be very careful when taking this medicine. Avoid taking it without medical advice.
- This medicine will only give you temporary relief. Getting enough rest, eating nutritious foods, and drinking plenty of fluids will help you recover from a cold quickly.
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