This was originally sent to the people on the Floxie Hope Email List. If you would like posts like this sent to you, please sign up for the list HERE. Thank you!  I’ve had a cold for the last month. It’s obnoxious, and I’m sick of it, and I wish it would go away. This long-lingering cold seems to be going around though, and I don’t think that it has anything to do with my fluoroquinolone toxicity episode.

However, getting sick, even with the common cold, is a bit more stressful post-flox than it was prior to getting floxed. I worry about needing antibiotics (I realize that I don’t need antibiotics for the common cold, but for a second I thought I had strep, and antibiotics would have been necessary had the strep test come out positive). I worry about the interactions I may have with the medications that may make me feel better. I worry about whether or not I should take medications. I worry about the health of my immune system. I worry about whether or not my immune system will react appropriately to the stimulus of a virus. I didn’t worry about these things before I got floxed. I worry about them now though. I miss my blissful ignorance, but, at the same time, having these worries may save me from pain and suffering in the future. Maybe it’s actually a good thing to think twice about these issues.

I have taken some over-the-counter medications to treat this cold. People often ask whether or not they can take certain medications post-flox, so I thought I’d share my experiences with a few over-the-counter cold medications. Please keep in mind that I am not a doctor or medical professional of any type. This information is based solely on my personal experiences. If you have questions regarding whether or not you should take any of the medications mentioned, please consult your doctor or other trusted medical professional.

 

  • Antihistamines – I have taken several OTC antihistamines post-flox, and have been okay with each of them. Claratin, Zyrtek, Allegra, and their generic versions seem to be fine in my body. I have taken an occasional Benadryl post-flox. It has made me feel as Benadryl makes most people feel – drowsy and lethargic. I don’t like to take Benadryl because it is anticholnergic and linked to dementia. I have only taken a couple pills of Benadryl post-flox.
  • Cold medications – I have been okay with Mucinex (and its generic), as well as Nyquil (and its generic version). I took Theraflu to help me sleep one night, and though it helped me sleep, it made me feel lethargic for days, and my brain also felt hot and inflamed after taking it.
  • Cough drops – I have taken zinc cough drops, as well as Ricolla drops. They have both been fine.
  • Painkillers – I will occasionally take a Tylenol/acetaminophen, and several of the cold medications noted above contain acetaminophen. It’s hard on the liver though, so I try to avoid it.

I have also had tons of ginger tea, lemon water, garlic soup, and other natural cold remedies. I have gargled with salt water and colloidal silver.

I’m not sure what is helping most or least. This stupid cold keeps lingering. However, I haven’t felt as if any of the medications I have taken have triggered old flox symptoms. The only medication that made me feel distinctly lousy was the Theraflu.

Again, this is my personal experience, and it shouldn’t be generalized to anyone else. But people often ask in the support groups whether or not it’s okay to take some of these medications post-flox. In my experience, yes, it has been. I hope that helps.

Best regards,

Lisa

*****