Does anyone know what some symptoms of pseudoephedrine withdrawal might be?

Pseudoephedrine, as in the ingredient found in decongestants? What did you do, overdose on it? Or have you just been on a decongestant so long that now that you have stopped you are wondering what to expect?

Depression is the main withdrawal symptom that comes from suddenly stopping a long term dosage of Pseudoephedrine.

I have been taking it every day for literally years. I checked with my doctor when I was in once and she said it was fine to take every day. But we've farmed out our cat and it's not pollen season so I was thinking that maybe I don't need to be taking an allergy med every single day. So I stopped. And I had a major headache that wouldn't go away and upset stomach for two days. I've been feeling pretty sluggish, too. I took a pill yesterday, but I'm off again today.
I just figured I'd see if these symptoms were due to the lack of meds in my system, or if I should be looking elsewhere for a cause.

Thanks!

If your doc said it was fine to take every day I'd be going to see a new doc. There are allergy medications (mainly anti-histamines) that are prescribed for daily usage, but pseudoephedrine (which is found in some OTC decongestants) should not be taken for more than 7 days straight. Pseudoephedrine is used to narrow the blood vessels in swollen nasal mucous membranes. It also is used to relieve sinus congestion and pressure. Results are seen quickly thus making it unecessary to take for extended periods of time...but then again, I'm not the one with the degree and if your doc said to take it every day...

Anyway, it's no wonder you have a head-ache. Your sinuses have been regulated for so long they probably are going hay-wire experiencing new pressures - lol.

As for the other symptoms you mentioned, I listed the only withdrawal side-effect I knew that came from Pseudoephedrine but I don't know what type of medication you were taking. If you were taking something that also contained Chlorpheniramine and Hydrocodone (Tussend Tablets) then your withdrawal symptoms would be severe and could include anxiety; diarrhea; fever; runny nose or sneezing; goose bumps and abnormal skin sensations; nausea; vomiting; pain; rigid muscles; rapid heartbeat; seeing, hearing or feeling things that are not there; shivering or tremors; sweating; trouble sleeping.

Yikes!! Maybe I'll just go back on the drug!
I've been taking Drixoral, which is the only thing I found that eliminated my cat/pollen/hayfever etc. allergies. I tried other things without pseudoephedrine but they just didn't work as well, and things like Claritin are really expensive.
Thanks for the info, Georgia. Maybe I'll go to taking it every other day for a while and ween myself off it. I should be free and clear by the time my spring allergies kick in and I need it every day again. ...stupid drugs.

Drixoral is only suppose to be taken for 7 days...
I suspect it's not the pseudoephedrine that you need but rather a good antihistamine. Can you see an allergist for this?

I have been taking a pseudoephedrine drug since childhood for sinus/hay fever problems. Since the crackheads decided to make crystal meth with it, Actifed was reformulated and it doesn't work!

I have no withdrawl symptoms at all. I do have sinus problems where pseudophedrine greatly helped me, but these other sinus medications do not.

No, you can't get addicted to pseudophedrine.

Thanks, Wildflower, but it doesn't seem like you're having the same problems that I have had when I stopped taking the drug.

Georgia, I had tried drugs without pseudoepherdrine when they started making it so hard to get, but nothing else really worked. Luckily, my major allergen (the cat) is no longer an issue so I can stop taking allergy pills so much -at least until pollen season really hits.

yeah, when i used to do meth Elexina, after I quit
my withdrawal symptoms were, nausea, I couldn't hold down anything barely even water. I tried to eat because i know it's good so I ate mostly fruit.
I'm not sure about pseudo ephredine plain for legit reasons, but mine was kept pretty under control, I've always been able to handle my drugs.
Basically, I had mild shakes, halucinations, cold sweats, dizziness, heavy mood swings, and
mild paranoia.
I"m sure yours won't be like that though.
Goodluck, and drink lots of water.

I'm not entirely certain that your experience with meth is equivalent to my slight discomfort involving my allergy pills. I was really just curious. But thanks for your info.

I had to call my doc today about something else and figured I'd run this by him...He likened it to dropping a serious caffiene habit, uncomfortable, but fairly short lived- predictable symptoms might include- Headaches, appetite changes, diarrhea/constipation, drowsiness/sleeplessness and irritability for a few days to possibly 2 weeks.
He said these symptoms should be mild to moderate and if they are severe or if someone were still having trouble after two weeks, they should consult their health care provider.

Thank you, MrsS! That sounds about right: uncomfortable, but not disastrous.

No problem... I'm just grateful that I live somewhere you can actually get a doctor on the phone and be able to ask things like this.
If the headaches and sleeplessness are an issue, I HIGHLY recommend a cup of Celestial Seasonings "Tension Tamer" herbal tea in the evening... but don't operate any heavy equipment!

quote:

... but don't operate any heavy equipment!

I try to avoid that at all costs.

Don't worry about pseudophedrine at all. It was only used to make crystal meth by drug abusers as one ingredient.

I have taken a pseudophedrine drug since a kid for hay fever/sinus problems. I find it completely annoying that a pseudophedrine drug that has helped my real sinus problem, but now is difficult to obtain because some wish to abuse drugs.

You are mistaken. The addictive drug is crystal meth. Pseudophedrine is just one of the ingredients. Otherwise, the rest of us use this over the counter drug for genuine sinus/allergy problems.

There is no reason to fear addiction of psuedphedrine. It isn't addictive. It is only a singular ingredient to an addictive drug, crystal meth by drug abusers.

Wildflower, I’m sorry if I mislead you or anyone in anyway. I am NOT worried about crystal meth or pseudoephedrine or anything. I really was simply curious. Thank you.

Anyhow, there's dependence and then there's addiction.

Dependence can happen with any substance that affects your physiology. For example, two products, lip balm for dry lips and artificial tears for dry eyes, can cause the natural supplier (skin oil glands or tear ducts) to get 'lazy', and when you quit using the product, you get a rebound! Symptoms worse than ever!

So you either start using the med again, or not. If you don't, then your body starts producing again, although perhaps still not at a satisfactory level.

And everyone knows that we can become dependent on laxatives; so its best to eat right, fruits and vegetables and whole grains, no refined grains or over-processed food, so that laxatives aren't necessary.

It's perhaps best to use all over-the-counter meds sparingly!

This is not addiction per se , because there is no psychological component. But it's a physical dependence.

Topic: Withdrawal

quote:

Originally posted by Elexina:
Does anyone know what some symptoms of pseudoephedrine withdrawal might be?

quote:

Originally posted by Elexina:
Wildflower, I’m sorry if I mislead you or anyone in anyway. I am NOT worried about crystal meth or pseudoephedrine or anything. I really was simply curious. Thank you.

The topic is 'Withdrawal', correct? I answered you question. What makes you feel 'misled'? I believe that I gave you a medically correct answer.

She didn't say that SHE felt misled, she thought her question had misled. And I agree with Babs...basically a drug is a drug is a drug - whether it's an OTC med or a highly addictive one and all will affect a person in some way, however small, when they stop using it.

I'm also annoyed that I can no longer get allergy & sinus OTC meds that relieve the symptoms - although I'm sure with the challenge presented to them resulting in lower sales, the drug companies will develop more liqui-caps etc., that the drug-cooks won't be able to extract the pseudoephedrine from. I hope it's soon!

Wildflower, what is the matter with you?

Elexina asked:
Does anyone know what some symptoms of pseudoephedrine withdrawal might be?

Wildflower responded:
You are mistaken. The addictive drug is crystal meth. Pseudophedrine is just one of the ingredients. Otherwise, the rest of us use this over the counter drug for genuine sinus/allergy problems. There is no reason to fear addiction of psuedphedrine. It isn't addictive.

Elexina responded to Wildflower:
Wildflower, I’m sorry if I mislead you or anyone in anyway. I am NOT worried about crystal meth or pseudoephedrine or anything. I really was simply curious.

Wildflower responded as follows to this very mild and apologetic post:
"The topic is 'Withdrawal', correct? I answered you question. What makes you feel 'misled'? I believe that I gave you a medically correct answer."

SHE DID NOT CLAIM SHE WAS MISLED. SHE APOLOGIZED TO YOU FOR POSSIBLY HAVING MISLED YOU.

Can't you read? Or do you just enjoy being tiresome?