OTHER MEDICINES THAT CAN RAMP UP YOUR SYMPTOMS

PoPular painkillers aren’t the only medicines that can make things worse not better.

Decongestants that bung you up

NASAL spray decongestants clear the airways by shrinking tiny blood vessels in the nasal cavity that are inflamed because of the presence of a virus or allergen.

Most rely on pseudoephedrine, a drug which makes the muscles controlling these blood vessels contract, allowing air to pass through more freely.

But if used for more than seven days, pseudoephedrine can cause ‘fatigue’ in these muscles and they stop responding to the drug. Patients then tend to use even more of the spray to clear the blockage — just making the problem worse.

Indigestion pills that ramp up heartburn

INDIGESTION drugs called proton pump inhibitors, taken by millions of people in the UK, suppress the release of acid by cells in the stomach lining called proton pumps.

But once you stop taking them, those cells initially react by producing even more acid than they did in the first place — a kind of rebound effect. This happens in around 50 per cent of patients on the drugs. Experts recommend asking your GP to taper the dose gradually, as this can reduce the risk of rebound effect.

Acne drug can trigger spots

AROUND 30,000 people in the UK take the drug Roaccutane for severe acne. It clears spots by reducing the amount of natural oil (called sebum) made by the skin, so the pores are less likely to block.

But the drug initially causes the inner lining of hair follicles to break down and the debris from this breakdown causes a blockage — the perfect breeding ground for acnecausing bacteria.

It often takes a couple of weeks to settle down, once the skin has dried out a little.

Anti-fever drugs prolong infection

TAKING paracetamol or ibuprofen for a fever caused by a bug may seem like common sense. But it can actually prolong a viral infection because when body temperatures soars, viruses don’t replicate well. Lowering your temperature by taking medicines may help the virus survive inside the body for longer.

Ear wax drops block your ears

MOST over-the-counter ear drops contain sodium bicarbonate, which dissolves hardened wax. But during the early stages of the softening process, the wax expands as it breaks down, making the blockage worse at least for a few days.