altered states

[offbalance]

Apparently, Claritin D is no longer an option for me.

All day long, I've had heart palpitations, nausea and a racing pulse, the room's been spinning around, concentration has been next to impossible, I'm anxious and dizzy and just plain out of it. All the lights are brighter than they should be and my computer screen has gotten wavy on occassion. top it off with the fact that I am thirsty as hell, despite drinking water like crazy all day. argh.

and yet I know that people actually do this on purpose. take a pill and wind up in some kind of altered state for hours on end.

I'd shake my head in disgust, but it would make me dizzier.

Comments

[zyll.livejournal.com]

There had to be an advantage having to a friend in med school somewhere...

I read up on Claritin D (I take it myself sometimes) and it looks like those side effects aren't out of the range of possibility. But are you sure you didn't have anything else that could have affected you that way? What did you eat today? Believe it or not, some foods can lead to a release of norepinephrine (a body chemical a lot like adrenaline that can in fact increase heart rate and blood pressure) and maybe it was that that interacting with the pseudoephedrine in the Claritin D. Check with the allergist, or even call a pharmacist who might know. This could be an isolated occurrence. Don't give up on the Claritin just yet.

However, just as an aside, I've been told that Allegra causes less drowsiness side effects. And Benadryl works too and is dirt cheap, it just makes you tireder. (but you'd have to take the pseudoephedrine separately, since you can't buy Benadryl D anywhere)

Re:

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

Well, having you for a friend has far greater benefits than the mere fact that you're in med school. ;) But I appreciate the advice!

well, the thing is, I stopped taking Claritin D at night, because I kept waking up with a racing heart/pulse, in full 'fight or flight' panic mode. I tried the allegra D before, and the way I feel right now is the way it made me feel, with an added headache and irritability for good measure. The only thing I can figure (and any guy reading this may want to stop now) is that I am expecting my period within the next couple of days. Do you think that could cause I problem? I do get *some* PMS symptoms.

Or maybe I should just use a nosespray for the congestion and switch to regular claritin? Or could this be my body's way of telling me I don't need this stuff anymore?

(and I may try the benedryl yet, just at night. I know a lot of people who swear on it for a good night's sleep, it just takes an hour or so to let the grogginess wear off).