My mother is about 55 years old and she is constantly claiming that she has this sinus pressure that causes her headaches. So she takes Sudafed everyday and she has been doing this for the last 20 years as far as I can remember. She used to take an Excedrin & Sudafed combo everyday but in recent years has cut out the Excedrin and just keeps taking the Sudafed. Is there something in the Sudafed she is addicted to? What are the effects that Sudafed could have on a person who took them everyday for 20 Years?
2007-04-04 08:25:00 · 5 answers · asked by Shay 3 in Health ➔ Other - Health
The sudafed is not addiciting but she is abviously dependent on it just like some of us are dependent on soda or coffee. If she has constant sinus pressure and pain though she needs to get this checked out at the docs to find out what is causing it and what can be done for it. Letting something go unchecked for 20 years is way to long. Encourage her to see the doc and find out what is causing it.
2007-04-04 08:29:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
as far as I know there aren't any effects due to long term exposure to sudafed. With that said if your mother has had continual sinus pressure that causes headaches then there is something wrong and she should see a doctor.
A couple months out of the year is fine because that can be put off as seasonal allergies but 20 years is too long.
2007-04-04 08:40:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sudafed is an amphetamine base that, when used long term, can cause a physical dependance. This is also one of the key ingredients of many street versions of speed. Like any drug that the body is dependent on,immediate removal of that drug can cause shock within the body. Your mother most likely has rebound headaches as a result of the dependance. Basically, her body relies on the chemicals to constrict the vaso-dilators that bring blood to the brain (the premise of "migraine" alleviation).
Addiction is not the same as dependence. Addiction occurs in addition to dependence, when the brain processes the chemicals in the drug as "reward" and releases an abnormally high amount of endorphins as a result. This is more of a strong "liking" and "craving" towards this chemical.
(I've read some studies that even show that many people that find pleasure in things like roller-coaster rides also show high probability towards "addiction". i.e. 'thrill seekers')
2013-12-01 01:21:21 · answer #3 · answered by Jessica 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you can become dependent on sleeping pills. My dad used to take them every night because he told me that he couldn't sleep without them. I've been told that sleeping pills can cause liver damage, but I'm not sure if that's a fact.
2016-03-18 06:44:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
SHAY,
HERE'S AN INFORMED ANSWER FOR YOUR QUESTION:
http://ehealthforum.com/health/ptopic464535.html
2007-04-04 08:52:55 · answer #5 · answered by Dr. Albert, DDS, (USA) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋