You’ve heard it before but it bears repeating – there are no stupid questions. We thought it would be fun to post random questions that we are asked throughout our work days and from this site. So, if you have any random questions -please leave us a comment or send us an email – nova@getpharmacyadvice.com or cate@getpharmacyadvice.com . We will talk about whatever you are interested in!
We received this question in our Submit Your Question page:
Question: I am taking xanax it is really messing with my stomach and am having trouble sleeping and looking for the purest form of benedryl liquid to aid me in sleeping?
Thank you for contacting us! Xanax can be rough on the belly. Benadryl is available in multiple forms, including liquid and tablet form. The actual drug is diphenhydramine. If you are interested in the liquid form -the “purest” from what is available commercially, would be Children’s Benadryl Dye Free Allergy Liquid. Although, all liquids It still contains additives and flavoring but is at least free of dye. It may be “more pure” to take the Dye Free Benadryl gelcaps -they are flavor and color free.
As you probably know, Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an antihistamine and is used for allergies. So, it comes along with some side effects, such as dry mouth, dry eyes, possible “hangover” in the morning… Having said that, up to 90% of Benadryl is used by people to help fall asleep! If you are new to Benadryl, I would recommend using 12.5mg -25mg 15-30 minutes before bedtime. You can build from there up to 50mg before bedtime. Benadryl is not physically addicting. Take care about the possible “hangover” feeling the next morning and drink lots of extra water!
Can I take Prozac with Coricidin?
Yes and no. Prozac is okay to take with Coricidin Cold and Flu only. The rest of the Coricidins contain dextromethorphan which can interact with Prozac and cause serotonin syndrome.
I ate my Chia Pet’s sprouts on a dare -is that bad?
Not at all! Actually Chia sprouts and chia seeds are edible and good for your health! If you want to learn more -please read Chia for Your Health.
Is there a substitute for Xyzal 5mg?
Currently, there is not a generic available for Xyzal 5mg but there are some alternatives. Xyzal works similarly to Allegra (fexofenadine) which is a prescription antihistamine (available in generic). OTC generics include Claritin (loratadine) or Zyrtec (cetirizine). There are also some antihistamine eye drops and nose spray that often are used along with an oral antihistamine.
A woman asked via email, “I read your article on the Neti Pot. I’ve always had low blood pressure but just found I am now borderline (140/80). Only change in life is using the Neti Pot daily for 1 year -could that cause it?”
No, there is no known link between use of the Neti Pot and high blood pressure. Your question does make me wonder what led you to use the Neti Pot daily for the last year -perhaps it is related to the bump in blood pressure…?
Sometimes people are concerned with the “salt water” used in the Neti Pot being able to raise blood pressure. This is a false concern because 1. Very little of the irrigation solution is absorbed into the body and 2. The salt level in the irrigation solution is equal to the body’s salt level so the salt can not pass into the body due to osmotic pressure.
A mom wrote in a recent email, “Can I give my daughter Mucinex for Kids and Children’s Motrin at the same time?”
Yes -it is okay to give the Mucinex and Motrin at the same time. There are different medications in each. It is good to ask and be cautious, especially with combination products.
A patient came into the pharmacy this morning and asked, “My doctor told me once I take Nexium for a few weeks, I no longer need to take it on an empty stomach…is that right?”
First, a little background info -Nexium along with Prilosec (omprazole), Aciphex and Prevacid (lansoprazole) -and a couple others- are in a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitor (PPI). PPIs are used to treat issues related to acid in the stomach (like GERD or heartburn).
A popular false rumor was started that once a PPI is taken for a few weeks, timing doesn’t matter.
Untrue! Just remember, PPIs are most effective if taken on an empty stomach 30 to 6o minutes before eating.
A dad wrote, “I’ve been surfing (and surfing), looking for an answer to (what I thought) was a simple question, so I’m hoping you can advise: My daughter had an upset stomach (vomiting), so I gave her some Pepto. I then discovered it had expired by about a year. Is there any danger in this? I’ve since thrown it out once I realised, but just wanted some reassurance that there was no serious danger.”
Taking expired Pepto is not known to cause any issues -so I would not worry. However, Pepto is not good to give to kids under 12 years of age. Pepto contains bismuth salicylate which is like aspirin. Aspirin (and Pepto) can cause Reye’s Syndrome in children -it is a very small but serious risk. There is Children’s Pepto that contains calcium carbonate (like Tums) -and does not have any risk of causing Reye’s.
If you want some more info on expired meds please read Expired Medications.
To see more random questions and answers, please visit the Question of the Day page. If you want to ask a random question -please visit our Submit Your Question page.