Sudafed while jumping?

[DrunkMonkey 0]

Here's the deal:

I've pretty bad allergies. If I sleep in a tent, (as opposed to an air-conditioned bunkhouse) chances are I'm gonna wake up congested, from plant pollen, mold spores, etc. Sudafed usually works, but I have some friends that say its a bad idea to jump on any antihisthamines...

Opinions?

[OrangeJumper 0]

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Here's the deal:

I've pretty bad allergies. If I sleep in a tent, (as opposed to an air-conditioned bunkhouse) chances are I'm gonna wake up congested, from plant pollen, mold spores, etc. Sudafed usually works, but I have some friends that say its a bad idea to jump on any antihisthamines...

Opinions?

It's not the best idea considering antihistimines cause drowsiness. The severity depends on the person but they usually cause somekind of drowziness in most people.

The Original Cabana Boy!

[AggieDave 6]

I've jumped while using antihisthamines so I would be clear enough to not blow out my ears and it hasn't effected me too much. However, I find that I don't want to swoop while using them due to having to concentrate harder on what I'm doing to keep safe.

Would I recommend it? Not really, but its a choice you're going to have to make. I will say, if you're in the plane and you're feeling light headed or intoxicated the higher you go, ride the plane down.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[skymama 37]

I have the same type of allergies. I've found that the non-drowsy Sudafed works well for me to clear me up and I don't get tired while I'm taking it. Take it on a non-jumping day to make sure you don't get drowsy from it. Non-drowsy Claritin-D also works well for me.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[OrangeJumper 0]

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I have the same type of allergies. I've found that the non-drowsy Sudafed works well for me to clear me up and I don't get tired while I'm taking it. Take it on a non-jumping day to make sure you don't get drowsy from it. Non-drowsy Claritin-D also works well for me.

One of the docs I work with recommended the same course of tx for me while I was jumping in Z-Hills...worked like a charm.

The Original Cabana Boy!

[justinb138 0]

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Here's the deal:

I've pretty bad allergies. If I sleep in a tent, (as opposed to an air-conditioned bunkhouse) chances are I'm gonna wake up congested, from plant pollen, mold spores, etc. Sudafed usually works, but I have some friends that say its a bad idea to jump on any antihisthamines...

Opinions?

I use some Afrin decongestant nasal spray that works great for congestion. I get the 12-hour stuff and use it before I go to sleep the night before and then after I wake up in the morning, and it usually works all day.

[eeneR 3]

I have horrible allergies....I have to be on Allegra and nasonex most of the summer to survive, and jump with no worries as Allegra has no side effects on me other they a lil dehydration.

Having said that, each person reacts different then the next. You have to judge how your body reacts to said medication.

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[yoink 321]

Non-drowsy sudafed nasal spray worked wonders for me - cleard out my sinuses really well.

Be aware though that prolonged use (7 days + over) DOES lead to physiological addiction with this form. Seriously. Your nasal passages will become accustomed to having Sudafed sprayed up them and wil contract if you don't keep taking it.

[skymama 37]

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Be aware though that prolonged use (7 days + over) DOES lead to physiological addiction with this form. Seriously. Your nasal passages will become accustomed to having Sudafed sprayed up them and wil contract if you don't keep taking it.

That doesn't happen if you take a steroid nasal spray. Nasonex is available over the counter and works quite well, I use it every night under a doctor's recommendation.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[justinb138 0]

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Non-drowsy sudafed nasal spray worked wonders for me - cleard out my sinuses really well.

Be aware though that prolonged use (7 days + over) DOES lead to physiological addiction with this form. Seriously. Your nasal passages will become accustomed to having Sudafed sprayed up them and wil contract if you don't keep taking it.

I had some kind of sinus stuff going on about two weeks ago, and ended up using the stuff for about 4 or 5 days in a row. After I stopped using it, my nose was screwed up for a day or two. I'm guessing that's what it was.

[tigra 0]

Just plain Sudafed is a decongestent, not an antihistimine and I often use it in the summer when jumping. I'll also use non drowsy prescription antihistimines (Allegra) as needed, and when allregy season kicks into high gear, I usually just need flonase.

Some OTC antihistimines literally trun me into a noodle and there is no way I'd jump after taking them, but plain Sudafed and other prescription allergy meds- no problem!

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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Here's the deal:

I've pretty bad allergies. If I sleep in a tent, (as opposed to an air-conditioned bunkhouse) chances are I'm gonna wake up congested, from plant pollen, mold spores, etc. Sudafed usually works, but I have some friends that say its a bad idea to jump on any antihisthamines...

Opinions?

I get congested from allergies at various points through the year. Was worse as a child.

Sudafed is pseudoephedrine hcl, a mild stimulant. No problem. I eat it prior to skydiving when I have a cold or allegies. Keeping it in my system helps more than just eating some 4-hour pills before jumping.

Benadryl is diphenhydramine hcl. Diphenhydramine is also sold as a sleep aid (like Tylenol PM or Simply Sleep). The 50mg recomended dosage to fix your allegergies is the same as what they say will put you to sleep. Not a good idea. Chlorpheniramine (Chlortrimetron) is less but still sedating - I'll eat it. There are less (non?) sedating anti-hystamines. You should talk to a doctor.

Dramamine is dimenhydrinate which turns into diphenhydramine once in your stomache. A 50mg dosage is like 25 mg of diphenhydramine. My doctor told me 25mg of diphenhydramine is worthless for sleep although it seems to help some for my fiancee (whether as a placebo or her sensitivity).

[flyangel2 2]

I'm such a light weight that I can't even take Sudafed when I'm not jumping.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[Girlfalldown 0]

I have to take a sudephed before I jump or my ears get all screwed up. It used to make me really jittery though so I started taking one in the morning on Monday and every day after so that by the time the weekend rolled around I was used to it. Now I dont feel it at all.

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(Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.)

[Douva 0]

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Here's the deal:

I've pretty bad allergies. If I sleep in a tent, (as opposed to an air-conditioned bunkhouse) chances are I'm gonna wake up congested, from plant pollen, mold spores, etc. Sudafed usually works, but I have some friends that say its a bad idea to jump on any antihisthamines...

Opinions?

It's not the best idea considering antihistimines cause drowsiness. The severity depends on the person but they usually cause somekind of drowziness in most people.

Sudafed is a decongestant, not an antihistamine. There is nothing wrong with taking a decongestant and jumping. Most SCUBA instructors will tell you the same thing about SCUBA diving. Antihistamines are a different story, though. They can cause drowsiness in some people.

I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names.

[sunshine 2]

I think you should try it out on a day you're not jumping to see how your body reacts. You should be fine though.

FYI, when you're back in IL they're trying to pass a law that limits how much OTC sudafed you can buy at one time. Too many meth makers stock up on the stuff.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[Ncrowe 0]

I take non drowsey sudafed almost everytime I jump to make sure my ears clear. If I'm real bad off I'll do the afrin nose spray plus the sudafed and I can't say I've noticed any ill effects.

"Don't Mess Around With the Guy in Shades- Oh No!!! "

[flyclearjohn 0]

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I think you should try it out on a day you're not jumping to see how your body reacts. You should be fine though.

FYI, when you're back in IL they're trying to pass a law that limits how much OTC sudafed you can buy at one time. Too many meth makers stock up on the stuff.

Good advice, Sunny! While Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) is well known as non-sedating (and for many years was the gold standard for treating congestion when alertness was desired) some people do experience drowsiness when taking sudafed.

More common side effects are nervousness and anxiety (and dry mouth!) but can include palpitations, severe hypertension and seizures.

Most of the problems I've seen with sudafed are with people who are also taking MAO inhibitors (a class of anti-depressants), Beta Blockers (a class of blood pressure medication) or chronic antacid takers (alkalinization increses the effect of sudafed).

I suspect you'll be fine, but as Sunny advises, try sudafed on a few days where so much doesn't depend on the outcome.

John

[justinb138 0]

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FYI, when you're back in IL they're trying to pass a law that limits how much OTC sudafed you can buy at one time. Too many meth makers stock up on the stuff.

Down here in TX they've got similar laws, and in Oklahoma it is now considered a Class V controlled drug.

I think there is some kind of meth problem down here.

[AggieDave 6]

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I think there is some kind of meth problem down here.

You *think* its a problem? Its a HUGE problem, a very very large amount of department's budgets are going towards busting meth labs instead of working hard in other avenues within communities.

Its some dangerous dangerous shit. Not only is the drug dangerous but a meth lab could very easily explode, which has happened before. If that's in the garage next door, you could personally have a serious problem.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[HeatherB 0]

Sudafed makes me wonky, but the Walgreens version of it, "Walphed" or something silly like that, doesn't.

[JohnMitchell 16]

I work for the FAA in a safety sensitive position, requiring a class II medical, one up from the Class III you need to be a tandem master. They hand out Sudafed at work, with no restrictions on it. I can't work, though, if I take one of the "drowsy" antihistamines. So I figure Sudafed is okay for skydiving, too, including tandems.

[flyclearjohn 0]

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Sudafed makes me wonky, but the Walgreens version of it, "Walphed" or something silly like that, doesn't.

Interesting. Prescription sudafed is 60mg, OTC is 30mg ...or did you mean OTC sudafed other than walgreens?

[airtwardo 7]

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wonky

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You how much it cost me to
get WONKY these days???!!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[vt1977 0]

I have dreadful problems with allergies etc. all summer. After suffering and at times just not jumping because of them for 10 years, I finally went to see my GP last year.

He suggested that I use Beconase spray with the option to take Sudafed (which in the UK anyway is a decongestant not an antihistamine) as well if I needed it. The Beconase has worked absolute wonders for me and it's now v rare for me to have to sit out a day of jumping due to allergy induced congestion.

hth! Don't know if you guys get Beconase in the US (I can't see why not - I can buy it without prescription in the UK), but PM me if you want to know what is in it as I'm sure you will be able to get something similar even if by a different name.

Vicki