Brief Answer:
Yes it can induce arrhythmia, & only to be avoided in pt already having AF

Detailed Answer:
Hello, I am Dr Mody and I would be addressing your concern,
As you truely suspect, cold and sinus medication can cause arrhythmia particularly the decongestant component, commonly available is pseudoepedhrine, phenylephrine. They are stimulants and may increase in blood pressure & heart rate both, and it best to avoid them if you have atrial fibrillation.
Also many combination medication may contain caffeine, to counteract the effect of anti histamine drug, which can too cause arrhythmia.

Now as I end this, I would like to say that millions use such kind of cold medication everyday, yet not all get arrhythmia. So if you never heart atrial fibrillation., but only if you are prone to it, taking cold medication will precipitate if. However, when you are having AF, it's best to avoid the above content which I have mentioned.
Also if you are on loop monitor for diagnosis, I would say just mention the time when you take meds, so when your doctor interprets the loop finding he can know whether your meds triggered the AF or not, and if proved that the meds have caused an Atrial fibrillation episode, it's best to avoid the the medication responsible for life
Hoping I could help.
If you need any clarification feel free to ask, I am just on the other side.
If none, you may end the question and rate it.
Regards Dr Priyank Mody, XXXXXXX

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Brief Answer:
Unlikely in normal patient and no overdose

Detailed Answer:
Important point to understand is, whether in life you ever had atrial fibrillation, and if yes the diagnosis is already made so why a loop recorder . Or you just had palipation and the loop is being ysed to know the cause.
So going through both senerio.

1)I did go through the history, when your ecg and echo is normal and some point you had atrial fibrillation, it means you have paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ie. It comes and goes. So if you already had a documented atrial fibrillation episode, it's best to avoid the decongestant and it may increase your chances of another episode of atrial fibrillation.
2)However if you are on loop to know whether you ever had atrial fibrillation, it's wiser to take your normal medication and note the date and timing and if at all you get a episode withen an hour or two, the loop will record it and we can make a diagnosis that it was due to the drug. So just avoiding it in future may prevent all such future episode of AF.
Now the mechanism how decongestant cause increase in heart rate is through increase sympathetic activities, which will push adrenaline like hormone in the circulation. Now such an event also occurs while you are in any mental or physical stress as simple as exercise . So that is something which we cannot always avoid. So it's best to know if you are prone to AF or not by such precipitating factor.
Also you may send the loop recorder finding so I can exactly tell you what is the diagnosis.

I know it all sounds complicated, but best understanding is needed to avoid any further confusion.
Hoping I could help, again if any doubt do feel free to clarify.
Regards Dr XXXXXXX Mody
You may directly send a question to @ Dr XXXXXXX mody, Cardiologist through this app for all future queries.

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Brief Answer:
Prescription . Don't worry, be happy by XXXXXXX XXXXXXX :)

Detailed Answer:
As I thought,
You are just over thinking.
Nothing is going to be a problem if your cold meds are taken in prescribed amount.
Also atrial fibrillation is not the only cause of palpitations, so just don't worry.
Also normal echo and normal ecg rules out any grave cause. You live life as you used to live before, then only the whole reason of putting you have a loop is justified, so to find the cause of palpitations. If you change things we may miss upon the diagnosis.
Take care and wish you the best of health
Regards Dr Priyank Mody

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