Decongestants

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
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Blah. So I went to the store and realized they replaced all the PDE (pseudoephedrine) drugs with PE (phenylephrine). So I got a sinus PE one. What have been your experiences with PDE vs PE sinus drugs?
 

Gibsons

Lifer
Aug 14, 2001
12,530
35
91
Phenylephrine sucks imo.

When I have a major sinus attack, I might, might need two pseudoephedrines to clear it up.

Over the holidays I had a bad attack and all I had was phenylephrine. I got up to 6 tablets over a 4 hour period :eek: before I quit taking them. I was still clogged up. :(
 

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
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So can you still get pseudofed via prescription?

Not that I've tried any of the PE yet but I don't have real I hopes for it. Even the PDE didn't seem to do that much. Coulda just been the acetominophen making me feel a little less stuffed.

What I don't understand is how PE is any safer. Main side effect hypertension, great.
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
haha, America sucks ;)

Didn't fark run an article on you taking all the pseudo out of these meds to 'stop druggies' recently? ;)

Surprise! They don't work when you take it out! :p
 

Gibsons

Lifer
Aug 14, 2001
12,530
35
91
Originally posted by: xtknight
So can you still get pseudofed via prescription?

Not that I've tried any of the PE yet but I don't have real I hopes for it. Even the PDE didn't seem to do that much. Coulda just been the acetominophen making me feel a little less stuffed.

What I don't understand is how PE is any safer. Main side effect hypertension, great.

Pseudoephedrine availability depends on the state. Here in TX you have to get it otc from a pharmacy and show your drivers license - you can't get it in the kwik e mart.

PE isn't necessarily safer, it's just not easily used as a starting point for synthesizing meth.
 

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
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71
You can make meth out of batteries and alcohol or something according to National Geo, so why did it have to be pseudo? :laugh:

Originally posted by: Gibsons
PE isn't necessarily safer, it's just not easily used as a starting point for synthesizing meth.

Interesting. Well I'll just have to see how it works.
 

SVT Cobra

Lifer
Mar 29, 2005
13,264
2
0
Wow, you can't get it behind the pharmacy there anymore? That sucks, I used to live off it (but it also almost gave me a stroke).
 

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
12,974
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71
And from what I'm reading, CNS side effects are actually worse with PE even though it's less effective.

I'm probably just going to use a spray then. A friend recommended Vicks Sinex 12 hour metered spray.
 

SacrosanctFiend

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2004
4,269
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Originally posted by: xtknight
And from what I'm reading, CNS side effects are actually worse with PE even though it's less effective.

I'm probably just going to use a spray then. A friend recommended Vicks Sinex 12 hour metered spray.

Don't get Vicks, it has an added antibiotic to it. Use Afrin.
 

spacelord

Platinum Member
Oct 11, 2002
2,127
0
76
I miss the days when I could buy a bottle of Sudaphed pills. Now I have to ask for it from behind the counter and pop them all out of the foil wrap. I guess we can thank the guys that make meth...
 

Enfer Singe

Senior member
Apr 24, 2005
265
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0
If pseudoephedrine is your drug of choice, just ask for it at the counter. Laws vary by state but they usually keep it back there and you just have to show some id. There are actually many otc drugs that are kept behind the counters of pharmacies.
 

vetteguy

Diamond Member
Sep 12, 2001
3,183
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Originally posted by: Enfer Singe
If pseudoephedrine is your drug of choice, just ask for it at the counter. Laws vary by state but they usually keep it back there and you just have to show some id. There are actually many otc drugs that are kept behind the counters of pharmacies.

Here, I have to swipe my driver's license...fill out a form and sign stating that I am over 18 and will not use it for any illicit purposes, and sign a permanent register with my name, address, and telephone number (a register that other people who walk into the pharmacy can see, by the way) just to buy a single box of pills with PDE in them. And they limit how many you can buy at a time (no more than 2 24 count boxes) and those records can be used against you should you ever be suspected of running a meth lab. So, during cold and flu season, they could go "uh-oh, someone's bought 3 boxes this month...time to make a raid".

Just another example of a completely insane law that does nothing to stop what it's supposed to, and all it accomplishes is making life more difficult for everyone else.
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
pseudoephedrine works the best. Unfortunately, it can give you heart palpitations.
 

oboeguy

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 1999
3,907
0
76
It bothers me that Big Brother knows every time I go for the real stuff (pseudoephedrine) behind the counter but I'm glad that at least it is still available.
 

AlienCraft

Lifer
Nov 23, 2002
10,539
0
0
Originally posted by: Gibsons
Phenylephrine sucks imo.

When I have a major sinus attack, I might, might need two pseudoephedrines to clear it up.

Over the holidays I had a bad attack and all I had was phenylephrine. I got up to 6 tablets over a 4 hour period :eek: before I quit taking them. I was still clogged up. :(

agreed.
I've been taking PDE for years and it's the only thing that still works.

All this new crap is just a straight line to the companies bottom line , imo.
 

doze

Platinum Member
Jul 26, 2005
2,786
0
0
The PE stuff does not work nearly as well. Go the pharmacy counter and get the real stuff
 

AgentJean

Banned
Jun 7, 2006
1,280
0
0
Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend
It's not effective at all. Use oxymetazoline instead.

Only use oxymetazoline when extremely congested and do NOT i repeat. DO NOT USE for more than 3 days. oxymetazoline will make your congestion worse when it starts to wear off.
 

AgentJean

Banned
Jun 7, 2006
1,280
0
0
Originally posted by: vetteguy
Originally posted by: Enfer Singe
If pseudoephedrine is your drug of choice, just ask for it at the counter. Laws vary by state but they usually keep it back there and you just have to show some id. There are actually many otc drugs that are kept behind the counters of pharmacies.

Here, I have to swipe my driver's license...fill out a form and sign stating that I am over 18 and will not use it for any illicit purposes, and sign a permanent register with my name, address, and telephone number (a register that other people who walk into the pharmacy can see, by the way) just to buy a single box of pills with PDE in them. And they limit how many you can buy at a time (no more than 2 24 count boxes) and those records can be used against you should you ever be suspected of running a meth lab. So, during cold and flu season, they could go "uh-oh, someone's bought 3 boxes this month...time to make a raid".

Just another example of a completely insane law that does nothing to stop what it's supposed to, and all it accomplishes is making life more difficult for everyone else.


It's only a matter of time till you have to start showing ID and filling out forms for a box of rubbers. :p
 

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
12,974
0
71
I'll definitely make a visit to the doc if this doesn't fix itself up soon. Just feeling really stuffed in the head at this time of year. Only third day of PDE here. It makes me feel awesome though. I hope it's because it's decongesting me, not because it's similar to meth. ;) I only have one dose left and after that if it continues I am not going to take any more drugs for awhile but instead see the doc. Actually I haven't really been able to completely breathe through my nose in what feels like years. I had no idea I had a sinus problem until recently when it really hit me.