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What Causes Chills, Body Pain, Running Nose And High BP While On Plavix?
Question: My husband is 70 and has come down with something. Sneezing, coughing chills, body aches, running nose. He is on meds for high blood pressure and he is on Plavix. What can I get him at the drug store to help? What should I advise him to eat and drink?
Brief Answer:
an upper respiratory tract infection probably
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
if he has fever then he should be examined by your primary care physician to exclude serious infections like influenza. Otherwise he can take symptomatic treatment to relieve the body aches, runny nose and nasal congestion. Paracetamol (acetminophen) will help with the body aches and chills, an antihistamine will help with the runny nose and decongestant will help with nasal congestion. Anticough medications may help with the cough but most of them don't do much. Anti-cough medications that contain opioids are more potent but they'll require a prescription.
If he has prostate problems or glaucoma then be cautious with the antihistamine and avoid using it unless absolutely necessary. You should also be cautious with the decongestant (particularly if it's going to be given by mouth) if his blood pressure is not under control.
He can eat and drink whatever he likes. Just make sure that he drinks enough! Infections usually result in increased loss of water which has to be replenished to protect the kidneys from damage.
Any sign of worsening like fever (or higher levels of fever), feeling pain when taking deep breaths, faintness, low blood pressure, decreased urine production, etc would require immediate assessment by a doctor.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
an upper respiratory tract infection probably
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
if he has fever then he should be examined by your primary care physician to exclude serious infections like influenza. Otherwise he can take symptomatic treatment to relieve the body aches, runny nose and nasal congestion. Paracetamol (acetminophen) will help with the body aches and chills, an antihistamine will help with the runny nose and decongestant will help with nasal congestion. Anticough medications may help with the cough but most of them don't do much. Anti-cough medications that contain opioids are more potent but they'll require a prescription.
If he has prostate problems or glaucoma then be cautious with the antihistamine and avoid using it unless absolutely necessary. You should also be cautious with the decongestant (particularly if it's going to be given by mouth) if his blood pressure is not under control.
He can eat and drink whatever he likes. Just make sure that he drinks enough! Infections usually result in increased loss of water which has to be replenished to protect the kidneys from damage.
Any sign of worsening like fever (or higher levels of fever), feeling pain when taking deep breaths, faintness, low blood pressure, decreased urine production, etc would require immediate assessment by a doctor.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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