Hi, everyone! I was told by my MD/DO that since I am taking Pradaxa, I should not be taking NSAIDS or different OTC ("over the counter") stuff. I emailed my EP for clarification since sometimes I get a flare-up with my osteoarthritis, and received the following response: "Usually Tylenol is safest. If that doesn't work, you can take Ibuprofen for a short time, I'd say just a few days for temporary relief, would be okay." Aside: The ibuprofen I have is 800 mg per tablet. Since I question a lot for clarification and knowledge anyway, and realizing that the medical profession's knowledge base may be limited in terms of my specifics (remember the cardiologist who wanted to give me digoxin?), what say you about OTC stuff? Also, every once in a while, before being diagnosed with a-fib, I'd catch a cold. I usually will use a saline sinus rinse a few times a day, and dose myself with Zi-cam, Cold-Eeze and zinc gluconate lozenges, and sometimes all of those help with the severity and length of things, but other times, it's as if I did nothing to the mean nasty mutated rhinovirus setting up house in my head. :S Thanks for any input! Sue https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,161162,161162#msg-161162 Tue, 15 Sep 2026 22:49:24 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,161162,161186#msg-161186 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,161162,161186#msg-161186 Sue]]> SueChef AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 03 Apr 2018 07:56:21 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,161162,161172#msg-161172 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,161162,161172#msg-161172
I would avoid pseudoephedrine entirely until your afib is completely controlled by ablation (found in many cold/flu/allergy meds).

Most other OTC meds are probably harmless but there are a lot of OTC meds out there so it's hard to generalize. Basically, before taking anything I would read the label and look up the active ingredients on drugs.com and check for side effects involving the heart. I would avoid anything that has tachycardia or arrhythmias listed as potential side effects.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 03 Apr 2018 01:36:26 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,161162,161162#msg-161162 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,161162,161162#msg-161162
I was told by my MD/DO that since I am taking Pradaxa, I should not be taking NSAIDS or different OTC ("over the counter") stuff.

I emailed my EP for clarification since sometimes I get a flare-up with my osteoarthritis, and received the following response:
"Usually Tylenol is safest. If that doesn't work, you can take Ibuprofen for a short time, I'd say just a few days for temporary relief, would be okay."
Aside: The ibuprofen I have is 800 mg per tablet.

Since I question a lot for clarification and knowledge anyway, and realizing that the medical profession's knowledge base may be limited in terms of my specifics (remember the cardiologist who wanted to give me digoxin?), what say you about OTC stuff?

Also, every once in a while, before being diagnosed with a-fib, I'd catch a cold. I usually will use a saline sinus rinse a few times a day, and dose myself with Zi-cam, Cold-Eeze and zinc gluconate lozenges, and sometimes all of those help with the severity and length of things, but other times, it's as if I did nothing to the mean nasty mutated rhinovirus setting up house in my head. :S

Thanks for any input!
Sue]]> SueChef AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 02 Apr 2018 23:03:13 +0000