kind of urgent drug question

[DerekWilson]

Hi guys ... some people suggested I post here cause I kinda get sick a lot.

So the current issue is this:

(BACK STORY -- you can skip this if you don't care)

I have a sinus infection / flu right now. I went to the doc yesterday and they prescribed biaxin, nasonex, mucinex-D and darvocet (weak opiate + tylenol). The darvocet isn't a drug I've ever had before, but I was prescribed the pain med because I had trouble sleeping due to the sinus pressure and headaches that follow therefrom.

So I took a darvocet earlier this evening as I wanted to get some afternoon sleep -- I didn't get much thursday night. I slept pretty well for a few hours, but I think that was due more to exhaustion combined with the nasonex and mucinex-d: they made it so I could actually breathe through my nose.

So I took another darvocet before bed (it had been enough time and then some to take another), and I went to bed a half hour later. But instead of falling asleep easily, I got really dizzy and felt nauseated. It took me a long time to fall asleep. I was really tired and very uncomfortable. My strong suspicion is that the problem was the darvocet, as its the only med I'm taking that looks to warn of possible dizzyness. Luckily I didn't vomit, but I was very close.

I woke up like an hour or an hour and a half ago in pain, cold sweats, and shaking so hard from shivering that I could barely breathe. On top of that, I must have been shivering or clenching my jaw while I was asleep because my teeth and jaw ache soooooo much and it hurts my teeth to drink cold water. I took a hot bath and some ibuprofen (which the doc said I should take to help keep the fever down), even now I'm still really cold and my temp is in the 101-102 range. Right now I'm feeling like ass shit and it's all I can do to type coherently. My eyes hurt looking at the screen and I'm almost in zombie mode (get it jean? heh).

I'm afraid to take more darvocet because the last thing I need right now is to feel dizzy on top of all this.

So here's the thing:

(QUESTION -- hello for all you uncaring people )

My doc's office is open from 9am to 3pm today, and I'm planning on calling and letting them know about this situation and asking if they can prescribe something else.

This wouldn't be an issue in and of itself, but I'm afraid they might prescribe hydrocodone or vicodin. While it would help with the pain, it also tends to make me dizzy, nauseated, constipated and very foggy. Oxycodone/percocet tend to have no side effects when I take it and it does a better job of releaving my pain and helping me sleep.

But I'm deathly afraid that if I ask for what I want (oxycontin 20mg) or even what would help me better than what I have (percocet 5/325) that I'll be flagged for drug seeking behavior. On that note, please vote for Ron Paul. But I digress ...

I feel so shitty right now and I really need to sleep. I'm afraid of getting worse and needing to go to the hospital, but without solid sleep ...

How can I ask my doc for the medicine I need (or if, I'm lucky, medicine that would make me comfortable) without fear of being thought of as a drug addict? Even if I can avoid being flagged, it would be better if I actually achieve the result of getting the medicine I know would help.

Please help me guys ... I really need you.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Never ask for stuff by name to a Doctor, (althought with some Doctors it may work). Explain to your Doctor the symptons you are having and tell them you have had the same issue with other types of pain meds and ask if they would suggest any alternatives and see where that gets you.

 

[DerekWilson]

Thanks for the suggestion ... I just wish there was some way it'd be less of a random outcome.

 

[wwswimming]

one option is Ultram, Tramadol HCl is the generic. it's an opioid mimick, binds
with the same neuro-receptors as the opioids in Darvocet. (actually, aspirin
might be an opioid mimick, i don't know all the details.) about 50 mg per 200
pound body weight.

 

[DerekWilson]

Originally posted by: wwswimming
one option is Ultram, Tramadol HCl is the generic. it's an opioid mimick, binds
with the same neuro-receptors as the opioids in Darvocet. (actually, aspirin
might be an opioid mimick, i don't know all the details.) about 50 mg per 200
pound body weight.

does tramadol have fewer side effects? it is less restricted than opioids?

also, isn't aspirin just a cox inhibitor and blood thinner?

 

[wwswimming]

does tramadol have fewer side effects?

yes. on the wrapper it has language about making
you drowsy & dizzy.

it is less restricted than opioids?

yes, tramadol is less restricted.

also, isn't aspirin just a cox inhibitor and blood thinner?

i don't know much about aspirin.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: DerekWilson


How can I ask my doc for the medicine I need (or if, I'm lucky, medicine that would make me comfortable) without fear of being thought of as a drug addict?.

oxycontin 20mg for the Flu? Perhaps you do have, or are developing, a drug problem. I had that Flu, worst one I suffered through in close to 15yrs, beat it *except the congestion/discharge* in 4 days with Advil, mega-dosing Vitamin C, warm green tea with honey, and Zircam nose swabs. Just the idea of taking oxycontin or another script only pain reliever for flu related symptoms is a red flag raiser in my mind. Not judging you, just pointing out you are looking for major overkill. The whole make you comfortable part, well in my experience, the flu ain't comfortable.

As to meds, I'd probably give you Xanax because you seem like you are a bit of a hypochondriac/very low pain tolerance, and stressed out too. That'll calm your nerves and help you sleep. The discomfort shouldn't require anything beyond OTC. I knwo this sounds harsh Derek, but you are worrying me with the way this post sounds, and I don't really even know you.

 

[jiggahertz]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: DerekWilson


How can I ask my doc for the medicine I need (or if, I'm lucky, medicine that would make me comfortable) without fear of being thought of as a drug addict?.

oxycontin 20mg for the Flu? Perhaps you do have, or are developing, a drug problem. I had that Flu, worst one I suffered through in close to 15yrs, beat it *except the congestion/discharge* in 4 days with Advil, mega-dosing Vitamin C, warm green tea with honey, and Zircam nose swabs. Just the idea of taking oxycontin or another script only pain reliever for flu related symptoms is a red flag raiser in my mind. Not judging you, just pointing out you are looking for major overkill. The whole make you comfortable part, well in my experience, the flu ain't comfortable.

As to meds, I'd probably give you Xanax because you seem like you are a bit of a hypochondriac/very low pain tolerance, and stressed out too. That'll calm your nerves and help you sleep. The discomfort shouldn't require anything beyond OTC. I knwo this sounds harsh Derek, but you are worrying me with the way this post sounds, and I don't really even know you.

Yeah, I'm not sure when oxycontin started being prescribed for cold/flu. One of my friends doctors writes him oxycontin scripts for similar symptoms. What ever happened to lots of fluids and rest? Last weekend I was as sick as I've been for the last ~10 years. Sat on my ass, slept a lot, drank tons of water and took some OTC medicine for congestion.

 

[DerekWilson]

So here's what happened.


I spoke with a doc at the office I go to, though not the doc who saw me yesterday. All I said was that I tried the darvocet I was prescribed and it made me feel very dizzy and didn't do much for my pain. I asked if there was any way they could call something else in for me.

I didn't ask for anything specific and I didn't even say anything stronger -- I just said I needed something else.

He said it's illegal for them to call in narcotics so I would have to come by the office to get a prescription for anything stronger. But, he said he would not prescribe narcotics for me without a sinus X-ray. And it just so happens that their X-ray tech was not around today. He said the best they could do is high dose motrin even if I came down there (it's a 20 minute drive and I feel like ass) which is ridiculous.

It's clear the guy didn't even look at my chart, because he suggested I try ibuprofen which I'm already taking (800mg every 6hours) and affrin nasal spray which doesn't make any sense if I'm already using nasonex and taking a decongestant.

I asked if there was anything else they could do at all and he said I should go to the hospital. Problem there is that I've got no insurance and no money. I'm not going to the hospital unless I feel like I'm about to die (like I did back in November). He said don't worry they'll bill you later. What an ass.

So now I'm in crazy pain with nothing I can reasonably do about it.

 

[DerekWilson]

Originally posted by: jiggahertz

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: DerekWilson


How can I ask my doc for the medicine I need (or if, I'm lucky, medicine that would make me comfortable) without fear of being thought of as a drug addict?.

oxycontin 20mg for the Flu? Perhaps you do have, or are developing, a drug problem. I had that Flu, worst one I suffered through in close to 15yrs, beat it *except the congestion/discharge* in 4 days with Advil, mega-dosing Vitamin C, warm green tea with honey, and Zircam nose swabs. Just the idea of taking oxycontin or another script only pain reliever for flu related symptoms is a red flag raiser in my mind. Not judging you, just pointing out you are looking for major overkill. The whole make you comfortable part, well in my experience, the flu ain't comfortable.

As to meds, I'd probably give you Xanax because you seem like you are a bit of a hypochondriac/very low pain tolerance, and stressed out too. That'll calm your nerves and help you sleep. The discomfort shouldn't require anything beyond OTC. I knwo this sounds harsh Derek, but you are worrying me with the way this post sounds, and I don't really even know you.

Yeah, I'm not sure when oxycontin started being prescribed for cold/flu. One of my friends doctors writes him oxycontin scripts for similar symptoms. What ever happened to lots of fluids and rest? Last weekend I was as sick as I've been for the last ~10 years. Sat on my ass, slept a lot, drank tons of water and took some OTC medicine for congestion.

wow. first of all, you must have skipped the part where I said sinus infection and flu. or you've never had a sinus infection. They're much worse than just the flu, but add flu on top of it and I'm in really bad shape.

If you think I don't use everything over the counter I possibly can before going to the doctor and turning to prescription drugs you'd be wrong -- like I said, no money + no insurance.

I usually take about 12g of vitamin C daily. Currently (due to stomach issues) I'm only taking ~4 grams (what counts as a megadose these days? 1 or 2 grams?). For about 4 or 5 days before I went to the doc I'd been taking 800mb ibuprofen every 6 hours and 1000mg tylenol every 4 hours for fever and flu like symptoms. I've also been taking zicam and irrigating my sinuses (make shift netti pot). I drink hot tea and lots of water all the time and spend plenty of time in the bathroom with a warm shower running. When that didn't work, I added psudoephedrine and mucinex. A day or two later when I still wasn't feeling any better and I couldn't get much sleep from the pain I went to the doctor. My fever was still ~102 even on tylenol and ibuprofen. My sinuses were killing me and I was getting severe headaches. By the way I have chronic migraines. They can be triggered by sinus pressure and other pain... luckily I haven't gotten one yet, but I'm not in the clear til this is done.

I was afraid I'd end up with pneumonia again because I had flu like symptoms before that happened too. I had only been sick for 6 or 7 days back then before I ended up in the hospital for a week barely able to breathe.

I never take any medication when I'm not sick. I do take vitamin supplements. I try to eat an alkaline diet though I'm not strict about it (I like meat a lot). I do have a high natural tolerance for drugs.

I drink alcohol occasionally. On weekends (though not every weekend or even every other weekend) my wife and I will have some drinks, and we don't drink to the point of being drunk. Of course, I've been either way too sick or way too busy lately for any recreation.

My grandmother is a hypochondriac. She's always worried she's got some ridiculous disease and spends way too much time with her merck manual. She's also always worried that everyone else has some crazy disease, but I'm not sure if that's part of the same thing or a whole other problem.

I'm not a hypochondriac. I usually get the flu in the spring or late winter in spite of getting a flu shot. I do have chrnoic migraines and was on topomax and maxalt for that. However since I've changed my diet I've been much better able to manage that situation. I now only get a few migraines a year -- which is awesome. I also used to get very bad debilitating stomach aches every day. But again my diet has helped quite a bit with that. I have constant post-nasal drip that I don't feel but is apparently so bad doctors tell me my throat always looks very red/irritated even when I'm well. I've been tested for allergies but haven't found any even though that's all the doctors say it could be. I had gallstones and thus have had my gall bladder removed. I had my tonsils and adenoids removed when I was a kid as I had chronic strep infections. I tend to have an abnormally high white cell count when I get sick (but normal when I'm well).

My family gets very frustrated with me for not looking into why I get sick. I tried for a while to figure out why I got stomach aches, but people treated me like I was crazy. Doctors only seem to want to treat something that's actually happening and not the underlying causes. I stopped pursuing it because I felt like I was getting no where and no one was helping. Just decided to deal with it as on my own as possible.

Some times some people actually do get sick more than others. People who do get sick a lot aren't hypochondriacs and aren't making shit up. Everyone experiences pain differently and it's ridiculous that anyone but the person experiencing the pain should be able to assess what is "overkill". There are drugs that are available that can provide relief and comfort for people in pain and it's stupid to think that those drugs shouldn't be freely used when needed.

I can certainly understand caution when it comes to prescribing opiates for long term pain management because of their potential for dependency (marijuana would be a good solution in many of those cases because of its very low potential for dependency). But as a short term solution oxycodone is ideal for someone like me who does not have addictive tendencies and has had bad reactions to other opiates. Unlike some other people in my extended family who are addicted to everything from alcohol to cocaine to pain killers, I'm not an addict. I know addiction. I know it all too well. It's killed family members and friends of mine. And I know they could have been or could be helped better by decriminalizing drugs and putting all that money from the drug war into medical attention for addicts. Drug addiction is a medical problem and shouldn't be a criminal issue.

And fuck anyone who thinks relief from severe pain isn't something people should want.

In my experience part of the problem stems from lack of experience. Before I had migraines I had no idea why my mom and sister (who both have migraines) and my dad (who gets cluster headaches) were in so much pain with a headache. I wondered how such a thing could make someone stay in bed for days. I wondered how someone could throw up just from the sheer pain of a headache. I don't wonder any more and I felt ashamed when I found out first hand what they were experiencing. But I certainly wasn't enough of a douche to accuse them of "overkill" when they were prescribed everything from opiates to heavy muscle relaxers before they finally found out about triptans. I trusted them to know what they needed and what worked for them in spite of my lack of understanding of their pain.

Apparently some people are less courteous.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Gillbot]

Recent studies show that Vitimin C has little to no effect on colds. Honestly, what works best for me is usually a mixture of activity and rest. Activity to get the blood flowing and keep your mind occupied and rest to allow the bodies immune system time to recharge and fight off the cold. I try to avoid taking medication as much as feasibly possible since colds and ailments are becoming more and more drug resistant.

 

[DerekWilson]

I take the vitamin c for a few reasons but mostly to reduce the acidity of my body, and to keep me regular. It works much better on both counts than anything else. I've not seen an appreciable positive effect on my immune system since I started taking C. It may work well for some people if they were already deficient in their C intake before they were sick. Of course, there's also the placebo effect for others.

My point in mentioning how much I take was just to underline the fact that simple cold/flu remedies or regimens thought to improve the immune system are not what I need and they don't work for those purposes for me. My diet and vitamin intake absolutely helps with other things like migraines and stomach problems.

 

[rezinn]

I think you're taking too much medication. People get by with OTCs with the same problems. I have. You don't need to take grams of vitamin C per day either, it didn't prevent you from getting sick and I'm not sure why it would reduce the acidity of your body since its an acid itself. Taking it as a laxative shouldn't be necessary if you eat a proper diet, either.

I wouldn't sit in a hot bath if you have a fever. But sitting in a hot shower for 20 minutes two times a day can help with the sinus infection, as can a humidifier with vicks. It might help just to take some nyquil and try to go to sleep after a shower to improve your sinus symptoms.

If you have some underlying health problem that is making common illnesses so bad, you need to find a way to get health insurance and get to a doctor who can help you.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: DerekWilson


Apparently some people are less courteous.

You are right that I could have been more polite and civil. The reason I reacted so harshly, is that I've also seen what drug addiction does, the lives it ruins, and the way the post read for me, struck a proverbial raw nerve. You have explained your history more extensively, and aside from some decidely uncivil language, understandable due to being ill and indignant, made it obvious you have serious on going medical issues, and are not just under the weather.

I still don't agree with you on several points contained in the response you made, but doubt anything productive would emerge from further discussion. So I will conclude by stating, I do hope you get to feeling better, and not just from the present virus and infection, but from whatever malady it is you suffer from. It is a most lamentable thing, to be chronically ill, because as Virgil observed- The greatest wealth is health.

 

[maluckey]

Derek WIlson,

I can say this with utter certainty. Unless you show an abcess with the sinus infection, or it just happens to be MRS, you won't likely get anything stronger than propoxyphene. A doctor can and will lose his DEA Registration for prescribing a schedule II drug for Flu and nasal infection.

Vitamin C in large doses is hazardous to your health. 12 G is waaaaaaayyyyy over the limit, and could in fact BE what you are calling the "flu" the symptoms of overdose is similar to the flu. Other symptoms include:

Diarrhea, iron poisoning, abdominal cramps, high stomach acid, insomnia, irritability, reduced estrogen levels, joint pains, headaches, hypoglycemia, anemia, increased risk of infections through reducing copper levels, lowered progesterone, reduced prolactin, osteoporosis.

I truly hope that you seek both medical, but also counseling. Your situation isn't adding up on several levels. You sound like a smart person, but really should leave health advice to the professionals.

 

[wwswimming]

a GP i know uses a "sinus wash" thing to clean out
his nose & sinuses every time he goes swimming.

he has a sinus infection that apparently never goes
away. i flinch every time i see him use it, because
i associate "water up nose" with near-drowning
experiences.

i have a tendency to blow my nose, REALLY loud,
in the morning, to clear it out. i asked him if his
sinus flush is similar. he said yes, but that blowing
his nose won't clear out all the crap, or resolve the
infection.

 

[Safeway]

My girlfriend is a pharmacist, so here is what we know:

1) Afrin would be helpful in your situation, but you cannot take it for more than 3 days in a row. You will form a physical dependence on the product if you do not follow the directions exactly. Afrin 'turns off' mucus production in your sinus for roughly 6 hours. If you can use a sinus rinse (netti pot, etc.) to clear your sinus, then spray Afrin, you will be able to sleep for about 5 hours.
2) You don't need a C2 painkiller for the flu. I just got over a 2 week bout of the flu, and took only Mucinex, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, NyQuil, DayQuil, and Afrin.
3) A megadose of Vitamin-C will NOT cause any problems. Your body will eliminate any excess Vitamin-C through your urine, without any damage to your body. It is better to have a constantly overage of Vitamin-C than to not have enough.

 

[maluckey]

3) A megadose of Vitamin-C will NOT cause any problems. Your body will eliminate any excess Vitamin-C through your urine, without any damage to your body. It is better to have a constantly overage of Vitamin-C than to not have enough.

The FDA calls 2000mg as the upper limit for sustained intake for a healthy 25 YO male. 12G is far and away in excess of that. My guess is that without knowing someones medical history in the least, it would be reckless to assume that it's OK to go out on a limb and disregard common sense and widely accepted intake limits. I'm not trying to be argumentative, but just fact checking via a quick internet search of side effects for vitamin C "megadose" yielded this:

shows deleterious effect of megadosing

Where no history is known, health problems are obvious, and 2 plus 2 equals 6, I just wouldn't self-medicate, or recommend that someone else do so.

 

[DerekWilson]

Originally posted by: maluckey

3) A megadose of Vitamin-C will NOT cause any problems. Your body will eliminate any excess Vitamin-C through your urine, without any damage to your body. It is better to have a constantly overage of Vitamin-C than to not have enough.

The FDA calls 2000mg as the upper limit for sustained intake for a healthy 25 YO male. 12G is far and away in excess of that. My guess is that without knowing someones medical history in the least, it would be reckless to assume that it's OK to go out on a limb and disregard common sense and widely accepted intake limits. I'm not trying to be argumentative, but just fact checking via a quick internet search of side effects for vitamin C "megadose" yielded this:

shows deleterious effect of megadosing

Where no history is known, health problems are obvious, and 2 plus 2 equals 6, I just wouldn't self-medicate, or recommend that someone else do so.

When I looked it up on the FDA supplement info last year, the TUL for vitamin C was 30g ... I can't find the page any more -- infact, I can't find the fda supplement info for vitamin c at all -- can anyone point us to it?

From recent searches I see people saying the TUL was set at 2g because of possible stomach issues. I can get that, but in fact the real TUL is different for different people. Your body will excrete what it doesn't need through urine, and if it can't you'll end up with bad diarrhea/gas.

I certainly also would not recommend anyone self medicate with supplements either. I do not. I take all my supplements on doctors recommendation. In fact, the reason I take so much C is because I have gout. Drinking lots of water is the first line of defense because it helps your body flush uric acid. In some people (like me) drinking more water alone doesn't help. High daily doses of vitamin C reduce the acidity of your body to the point where uric acid crystal cannot form. This is also why I'm on as much of an alkaline diet as I can manage.

I have not had a flare up of gout since I started taking C and drinking lots of water (maybe 7 monthsish? can't remember exactly). It just so happened that it also helped with some other issues. BTW, when I had a gout flare up I would need to take indomethacin with percocet. I'm VERY happy I was able to manage my gout some other way. It is also nice that I'm still able to occasionally drink and not have a flare up.

Originally posted by: Safeway
My girlfriend is a pharmacist, so here is what we know:

1) Afrin would be helpful in your situation, but you cannot take it for more than 3 days in a row. You will form a physical dependence on the product if you do not follow the directions exactly. Afrin 'turns off' mucus production in your sinus for roughly 6 hours. If you can use a sinus rinse (netti pot, etc.) to clear your sinus, then spray Afrin, you will be able to sleep for about 5 hours.
2) You don't need a C2 painkiller for the flu. I just got over a 2 week bout of the flu, and took only Mucinex, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, NyQuil, DayQuil, and Afrin.

1) would afrin be better than nasonex? could I use them in combination? I already use a make shift netti pot when I get a cold.

2) one more time, say it with me, I have the flu AND A SINUS INFECTION. I haven't been able to open my eyes for most of the day because it hurt my head so much. It's not a migraine -- it's the most intense sinus headache I've ever had. Even moving my eyes hurts my sinuses. My whole upper half of my face feels badly bruised. The pressure is so intense it feels like my head could pop open. I feel a little better right now because I just sat in the bathroom with a hot shower running and took my nasonex. It won't last.

beyond that, let me clarify -- I don't care if I get something stronger -- I care if I get something that works. I know oxy works with little to no side effects for me. I know hydrocodone works but also makes me dizzy. I know darvocet doesn't work for shit and makes me dizzy.

I appreciate those who suggested tramadol -- which is not a schedule II drug like oxycodone -- and hopefully it will work and not have the same side effects for me that hydrocodone does.

... Okay, I feel bad again ... I'm gonna go get some sleep.

 

[imported_sandman]

Ha Derek when I was in the Navy and stationed in Calif I had a bad air fluid level infection in my head and I now the pain i could not even take a step without being in pain i finall y was turned upside down and they drained the worst looking stuff from my head and i was on an IV for 21 days in the Balboa Navel Hospitol this is serious stuff. The gave me MS Contin for the pain and this was in the 1970's. good Luck and stay away from the Oxycontin it is worse than herion I have sever back pain and was on it like 280 mg a day and the withdrawal was hell.

 

[preCRT]

Are you sure its a sinus infection? I know the death grip of its pain, something I wouldn't wish on anyone.

A few years ago, I was sure the hellish pain I was suffering was from yet another sinus infection. Horrendous pain, stuff that even tylenol #3, sudafed, afrin, antibiotics, steam & chicken soup couldn't touch. My doc took X-rays & a CAT scan because of the unending suffering. He told me to see a dentist, but I insisted that my teeth were fine & it was sinus. Turns out that I did have a small sinus infection, BUT the majority of the pain & problem was a very nasty abscessed tooth. I hadn't even felt a dental twinge, nothing. As soon as the dentist started the root canal, the pain was relieved. The RC cured the suffering. It never crossed my mind to check with my dentist.

So when was the last time you saw your dentist?




Hope you'll be feeling better soon.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Nasonex (Mometasone) is a corticosteroid, which should reduce the inflammation.

Afrin (oxymetazoline) is a decongestant, which should decrease nasal oedema. Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant and would have similar effects.

Different drugs therefore depending on what your doctor says you may want to take both.

A megadose of Vitamin-C will NOT cause any problems. Your body will eliminate any excess Vitamin-C through your urine, without any damage to your body.

This is the problem with not having a medical history. You have made assumed that his kidneys are working perfectly, and in patients with gout, this may not be the case. Ascorbic acid toxicity can develop at doses as low as 600mg daily with prolonged use.

As for gout, I have only seen recommendations (papers) suggesting 500mg daily, which has been shown to lower uric acid levels by ~10%, which is achievable by eating a healthy diet rich in fruit and veg (which should also reduce purine intake). The reduced purine intake will have a greater effect...

For that matter we don't know what his uric acid level in his blood is, the target level is 6mg/dL in men. Some people who have gout don't even have abnormal
levels of uric acid.

It is better to have a constantly overage of Vitamin-C than to not have enough.

There is a reason why doctors say everything in moderation, large doses of anything will kill you...

IMHO 12g is too much? PS. What is the regimen for the Vitamin C?

 

[MiataPaul]

Originally posted by: rezinn
I think you're taking too much medication. People get by with OTCs with the same problems. I have. You don't need to take grams of vitamin C per day either, it didn't prevent you from getting sick and I'm not sure why it would reduce the acidity of your body since its an acid itself. Taking it as a laxative shouldn't be necessary if you eat a proper diet, either.

I wouldn't sit in a hot bath if you have a fever. But sitting in a hot shower for 20 minutes two times a day can help with the sinus infection, as can a humidifier with vicks. It might help just to take some nyquil and try to go to sleep after a shower to improve your sinus symptoms.

If you have some underlying health problem that is making common illnesses so bad, you need to find a way to get health insurance and get to a doctor who can help you.

I have to agree it sounds like way to much medication to me. I have stopped the use of all medications for about 5 years now and my health as never been better! I do take a natural source multivitamin. It seems to me that you are fighting your own natural healing ability and likely causing some of the issues by taking the body out balance. I am not some hippy nature freak, just trying to bring balance into my life and it seems to be working, as I have not had the flu or cold for several years now. I do have a bit of sinus congestion and post nasal drip seasonally. (fall and spring) My job is very stressful and I can feel myself get a bit run down at times, but a bit of mindless exercise or yoga seems to help me re-energize. Not going to help in the short term.

 

[DerekWilson]

i don't take "medication" on a normal basis. I'm not taking any more than biaxin that's not otc right now. I take vitamin C and a few other supplements. The vitamin C is the only thing that's well beyond RDA.

I mix powdered magnesium ascorbate + calcium ascorbate with 48oz water. I drink it slowly throughout the day and I try to eat 6 small meals rather than 3 large ones.

My kidneys are in good health. I do have high uric acid levels, and an alkaline diet is inherently low purine. But like I said, I like meat. I'm under doctor supervision with the C. And like I said, no issues since I started.