That means, if you're just feeling dry and thirsty, you can drink water. "Depending on the degree of dehydration, it could have an effect on electrolyte levels," Jennings says. If you're dehydrated, suffering from dry mouth, or just plain thirsty, having a drink is this obvious answer. What to do when medicine dehydrates you or dries you out All can cause nasal irritation due to dryness. "A nasal spray is going to have a more localized effect, while an oral medication has more systemic absorption as it enters the bloodstream," Jennings says.Ĭommon over-the-counter nasal sprays include the decongestant Afrin (oxymetazoline) and corticosteroids such as Flonase and Nasonex. Pills or tablets have the capacity to dry you out all over, while nasal sprays will-you guessed it-dry out the passages in your nose. Pills or Tablets: What dries you out more? Many consumers aren't aware of what's in their medications or how their medications may interact, Jennings adds. If they continue to take their daily allergy medication and introduce a product like NyQuil for overnight cold relief, they are doubling up on antihistamines and are more likely to experience extreme dryness. Jennings gives the example of someone taking a daily antihistamine to fight seasonal allergies who then comes down with the common cold. "For example, if someone is taking a daily antihistamine for allergy symptoms and currently suffering from cold/flu symptoms, they might (not always knowingly) take a multi-symptoms product that results in a duplication of antihistamine," Jennings says. Many patients experience drying side effects because they are taking too many antihistamines. Medications that dry you out-antihistamines-cause that side effect because they block a specific neurotransmitter in the brain, Jennings says. Dehydration would only occur if such a medication removed too much fluid from the body. The goal of a diuretic is to remove excess fluid from the body, which can lower blood pressure and reduce swelling in the extremities. There is a difference between actual dehydrating medications and those that give you a dried-out sensation, says Jennings. Many over-the-counter cold medications are or include antihistamines, such as: Common side effects of antihistamines can include dry eyes (causing blurred vision), dry mouth, urinary retention, and constipation. You may take these medications for seasonal allergies, allergic reactions, the common cold, or motion sickness. Then, there are medications that have more of a "drying" effect-namely, antihistamines. These Medications make you feel "dry," but don't actually dehydrate you Over-the-counter medications that may contain caffeine include: Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're not sure whether your prescription medications can cause dehydration.Ĭaffeine is also a diuretic that may contribute to dehydration. Hydrochlorothiazide HCTZ (Esidrix, Hydrodiuril, Microzide).Your doctor may prescribe diuretics to treat medical conditions like high blood pressure, heart failure, and edema. The medications that can cause true dehydration-that is, the absence of enough water in the body-are diuretics, Jennings says. There are medications that contain dehydrating ingredients, and you may be surprised to learn what they are. The common cold causes similar symptoms, so antihistamines can be an effective treatment.Ī common side effect of antihistamines is dry mouth, so you may feel thirsty without actually being dehydrated.īut here's where the plot thickens. So what among your common cold treatments is the culprit? "If you're feeling parched even after drinking water and downing a bowl of chicken noodle soup, start by looking in the direction of anything containing antihistamines."Īn antihistamine helps relieve symptoms often associated with allergies, such as a runny nose or watery eyes. "Typically when people have that overly drying effect," Jennings says, "it's usually because they're taking too much of a particular medication." Īs it turns out, no medications for the common cold actually dehydrate you-but some might make you feel thirsty, in need of eye drops, or otherwise dried out. Guaifenesin, which helps loosen mucus and ease chest congestion, does not cause dehydration, according to Matthew Jennings, Pharm.D. Nor is it Mucinex-D, Mucinex-DM or any other decongestant containing the active ingredient guaifenesin. But taking meds like antihistamines can lead to a new problem: You feel like your mouth could double as the Sahara Desert.īefore you go pointing fingers at your pill cabinet, however, please take note: it isn't Mucinex that dehydrates you. When you feel like you're drowning in snot from the common cold or seasonal allergies, you probably turn to medications like Mucinex to dry it up.
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