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I have always wondered about this, it is summer and I occasionally get blocked sinuses to were I get a squeeze and cant really go below like 6-7mtrs, I have always opted to not dive till my sinuses clear as I got caught once after a yoyo profile and almost had to stay in an air pocket. I have missed a few dive opportunities due to this and I was wondering about using stuff like Afrin or Sudafed pills before diving, does this kind of stuff really work? or would it end up worse?
Thanks
THis is something I put on the CDG board a while ago In reality if you have a problem with the ears best not dive until it is sorted out although sometimes it is hard not to try and dive :smt081
Vicks Sinex contains 0.05% w/v oxymetazoline hydrochloride.
It also contains sodium citrate dihydrate, tyloxapol, citric acid anhydrous, chlorhexidine digluconate, menthol, benzalkonium chloride, camphor, disodium edetate, eucalyptol, sodium, hydroxide and purified water.
Also contains oxymetazoline hydrochloride
Possible Side-Effects
Most people have no side-effects with Vicks Sinex
************************************************** ***********************************
Sudafed 12 Hour Relief
The product contains the active ingredient: Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 120 mg per tablet.
It also contains: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (E464), magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose (E460), povidone, titanium dioxide (E171), polyethylene glycol, candellila wax and purified water.
Possible Side-Effects
Side-effects are not common with Non-drowsy Sudafed 12 Hour Relief tablets and when they occur they are usually mild and temporary.
Some people feel restless or have trouble getting to sleep. A few people have bad dreams or hallucinations .
Occasionally people get skin rashes that are sometimes itchy. A few men, especially men with prostate problems may have more trouble passing water.
Sudafed Congestion Relief
Each capsule contains: Phenylephrine hydrochloride 12 mg
Other ingredients: Lactose, maize starch, pregelatinised maize starch, magnesium stearate.
Gelatin capsule includes: E104 quinoline yellow, E171 titanium dioxide. Printing ink: E172 black iron oxide, shellac, soya lecithin, silicone.
Avoid alcohol
If symptoms do not go away talk to your doctor
This medicine may cause fast heart rate, changes in heart rhythm, palpitations, high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, headache and occasionally urine retention in males.
Decongestant Nasal Spray
Contains Xylometazoline hydrochloride
Non-Drowsy Sudafed Decongestant Nasal Spray
The product contains the active ingredient: Xylometazoline hydrochloride 0.1% w/v.
It also contains: Benzalkonium chloride, disodium edetate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium monohydrogen phosphate, sodium chloride, sorbitol solution, purified water.
Possible side effects
Side effects are not common with this product and when they occur they are usually mild and temporary. Occasionally Xylometazoline hydrochloride may cause local burning, soreness, dryness, irritation, stinging, itching or sneezing. Nausea and headache may rarely occur. Prolonged continuous use may occasionally cause rebound congestion.
Non-Drowsy Sudafed Decongestant Elixir
This product contains the active ingredient: Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 30mg per 5ml.
It also contains: Citric acid monohydrate, sucrose, glycerol, methyl hydroxybenzoate (E218), sodium benzoate (E211), Ponceau 4R (E124), raspberry flavour and water.
Possible side-effects
Side-effects are not common with this product and when they do occur they are usually mild and temporary.
Some people feel restless or have trouble getting to sleep. A few people have bad dreams or hallucinations but this is rare.
Occasionally people get skin rashes that are sometimes itchy. A few men, especially men with prostate problems may have more trouble passing water.
Andrew
Phil,
Here is a link to an article written by Dr Ed Thalmann on using Sudafed and Diving, well worth the read. Additionally, consider that nasal sprays, while used topically, can and will result in systemic absortion as well (like cocaine....).
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/me...p?articleid=51
Hope this helps answer your question.
Dive safe,
Celia
Go to yout doctor and ask for entex
I think you answered your own question. Besides the problems using any drug under pressure, you always run the risk of getting down, and the problem returning before the end of the dive, thus trapping you in the water.Quote:
Originally Posted by phillip1
Entex contains phenylephrine... see link for information:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...s/a606008.html
possible side effects similar to pseudoephedrine (sudafed)...
Dive safe,
Celia
Most sinus medications will increase your susceptibility to ox-tox. Lay off the dairy products for awhile (milk, yogurt, etc), take some real sudafed (the stuff you have to sign for saying you're not running a meth-lab), and stay dry until your sinuses get clear before going diving.
the major problem with drugs and diving, in my opinion, is the reverse block of the eustachian tube on ascent. I've blown the eardrum three times now because I just could not not dive. the drugs worked, but did not last as long, or maybe it was user error. each time you rupture the tympanic membrane, it grows back thinner than before. if it grows back at all. I spent a year diving with doc pro plugs, a mask with ear cups, and eardrum skin graft surgery scheduled. It was not a fun year.
-skip
I've been having some sinus/allergy/respirtory problems for years and tried all the drugs the doctors prescribed for allergy and asthma until I had enough. I went off everything and started taking Sudaphed PE sinus/allergy(green box). Now I take 2 in the morning and repeat during allergy season.
http://www.flonase.com/
I use flonase. It was mention by DAN as safe for use diving. I have used it on 100+ dives with no side effects. I use it the night before then in morning before i dive.
and my wife works for GSK.
we shoot our students ( military dive school) up with afrin. but there is a trick to taking it. you have to get on your knees snort it and rotate your head on the ground from side to side. no joke
I had a reverse block in my sinuses a couple years ago at Jackson Blue that scared the crap outta me - the doctor at the hospital told me to use Afrin. Now if I have any issues, I take a 12 hr sudafed (the real stuff that you have to sign for) and 12 hr Afrin an hour or two before I dive, no more issues. Generally I take both as I'm pulling onto the road on the way out of the driveway, got a few hours to get everything working as needed.
Mark
A fellow diver died from Afrin not too long ago. Afrin was recommended by DAN as "safe" to used for diving, however it is proven to increase your susceptibility to oxtox. Being in the military you're considered expendable, but I prefer to live another day to dive. The caves aren't going anywhere that it's worth risking a possible oxtox episode.
Quote:
Originally Posted by adam0321
Details please. Facts preferably, rather than hearsay.Quote:
Originally Posted by sdenney
Andy
yeah that is news to me I am going to try to not sound cocky hear but our dmo's ( dive medical officers ) and master divers (not dive masters) wrote the books and dive manuals that most other books were written off of on what is safe and they recomend and approve it for use. And I can assure you in training we do not take an "well he is only an e-2 so he is expendable" approach. and before you guys say it I am not saying the military is the end all of diving athourity quite obviously there are many aspects of diving we do not touch(over head) but it takes alot for something to get approved for military use.
My left eistachian tube has an abnormally small opening. In order to dive at all, I start taking NASALCHROME 24 hours before the dive. Just before the dive (suited up but tanks still on the stand) I squirt physiological saline through each nostril and spit it out to wash mucus away from the openings of the eustachian tubes. This works 19 times out of 20.
I have tried PROPLUGS, and I do not recomend them. A small mistake in inserting them can cause serious permanent hearing loss.
No one is "expendable" in my book...Quote:
Originally Posted by adam0321
Ed Thalmann was a USN CAPT... You cannot compare your diving to sport diving. You guys have loads of surface support that include a DMO, a chamber, etc...
The article says that there is a possibility that ingredients in decongestants may be linked to oxtox..
BTW, aviators are not allowed to use decongestants...they end up grounded...
Dive safe,
Celia
I have used 12-hour spray Afrin on several occasions 1-2 hours prior to the dive and have had no issues, complications or side-effects. I cleared fine and never had even a hint of a reverse blockage. I have used it on both nitrox and mix dives.
I had discussed using it with DAN and they were fine with it.
I would recommend not to take any sort of decongestant prior to diving... You run the risk of being trapped underwater if the effects of the medication reverse during the dive, I have had this happen to a friend and he ruptured both ear drums on the ascent. Not a pleasant experience. The active ingredients ( in all of your over the counter or "D" drugs, (Claritin D, Sudafed, Zyrtec D, etc) can cause a lot of side effects underwater that are bad ju ju. For example: Blurred vision, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, nose, or throat, excitability, headache, increased sweating, loss of appetite, nausea, nervousness or anxiety, trouble sleeping, upset stomach, vomiting and weakness. These can continue or go down according to which brand you are using.
The most advisable thing to do when congested is not to dive. I am no Doctor, I work in a pharmacy and know my drugs very well so take my advise as you will.
If I have made any mistakes, I know there are a few Doctor's on the board, please correct me.
-Tony DC
I will take the advice and when I get congested stay out of the water.Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyDCaver
I have never taken any decongestants before to dive but it seems like a really bad idea.
I agree with using Flonase. We've been using it for over 3 years and haven't had any issues/side effects. We also got the "thumbs up" from DAN on this med.
In reference to afrin. As said before we use this exclusively with our students at the dive school. Our students use afrin while diving the mk-25 re-breathers, which is a a 99.9 (100%) pure o2 rig. They dive these rigs at night in less then minimal conditions for up to 3 hours in some cases, and I have yet to hear of a case of a student getting cns or pulminary o2 tox from a nasal deco. Also there are only 3 cranial nerves which occupy the spaces in which a nasal deco would be used and they are not affected by either the nasal deco or o2 absorbtion. O2 tox is caused by the body metabolising and absorbing to much of the o2. from everything I have read and understand nasal deco in no way speeds this up. Obviously anything can happen but if there were ever a breeding ground for o2 tox I would think it would at our school and like I said no cases yet. As said by many people much smarter then I if you have to use something to allow your self to dive it is probaly a a good idea to stay out of the warter. Chances are there is a much greater underlying problem which is causing the nasal problem.