Decongestant reccomendations?

[promethean_spar]

I had a cold last weekend and will dive tomorow, there's still a little cough, but I'm not really congested anymore. I'd still like to take some decongestant just in case to prevent any equalization problems. What do y'all reccomend?

I'll be freediving in <30'.

[Wayward Son]

Sudafed

[KeiNine]

Sudafed will work, but the stimulant properties will cause an increase in heart rate which isn't conducive to freediving. Afrin is stimulant free and so is OTC loratadine or fexofenadine. That being said, I use Claritin. Even though it is also a stimulant, I'm not going for max bottom times, so I don't feel it hampers me that much.

[promethean_spar]

Hmm, you won't generally find me vertical before 8am in a stimulant free state anyway. Usually there's a 16oz energy drink involved... I'll probably go for the claritin the instant my alarm wakes me.

Thanks all - I'll be sure to post a report.

[Doc]

Claritin, also known as loatadine, is not a stimulant; it is a long acting antihistamine that wont make you drowsy. Fexofenadine, also known as allegra, is in the same class but is only available as a prescription. Give either some time to work by taking it the night before, then redose in the am. You may want to bring some neosynephrine nasal spary as well in case the claritin does not cut it. Good luck, and safe diving

[KeiNine]

Thanks for the info Doc. I should've been more clear. I use Claritin-D which has loratadine AND pseudoephedrine.

[NOTANX]

Since You Are Freediving You Need To Be Aware That Sudafed Is Going To Slightly Speed Your Heart Rate Up. Take Two The Night Before And Then One In The Morning Of. That Should Help With The Stimulation Problem. Good Luck!

[Dangerous]

Take Two The Night Before And Then One In The Morning Of. Good Luck!

Are you kidding or Nuts :cool:

[inletsurf]

Afrin, wont use anything else or need to. 2 pumps each nostril and you're clear as a bell all day. Works on colds.

[EEZerik]

Claritin, though it says "non drowsy", has a disclaimer "non drowsy when taken as directed". So I am assuming it does have some property that makes you drowsy...

I only took one tablet (24 hour acting), and was DEAD tired each of the 5 days I took it. I had to stop taking it b/c I had homework to do; my hives came back after I stopped taking it.

[Marcus]

Afrin rocks!

[Divin' fool]

See if you can get your doctor to give you some allegra D.... That stuff is awesome. I'll take it in the early morning and be clear until later that night...even during allergy season.

[bgbill]

Sudafed

Do not take sudafed when diving.

Take Doc's advise, he really is a Doctor for those that did not know.

[Wayward Son]

Been taking sudafed while diving for 30 years. If it has a stimulant effect it doesn't seem to do anything to me. YMMV.

[promethean_spar]

Well, my head didn't implode, but I did get awful seasick after 30 minutes or so. My dive buddy popped a nice halibut later in the day, but I passed up a dubious sized ling and a bunch of perch. I used generic claritin and equalized fine. Don't know if it contributed to getting sick, getting up 3 hours earlier than usual leaves me pretty thrashed anyway, but that was the first time I've ever puked off my kayak.