The Saga

In the beginning there was the sore throat. The sore throat refused to respond so it was dosed with saltwater rinses.

The sore throat duly disappeared, but a cough appeared it its place. And what a cough it was! All day, all night, dry, hacking and persistent.

Finally the cough receded but did not disappear and soon after it started to recede, on came the cold. Sneezing merrily, this went on for two more days. Finally the cold began to recede and the cough returned.

Vitamin c, panadol, saltwater gargles, honey, nothing worked.

Finally went to the doctor, who prescribed a cocktail of drugs. Having read this post decided I would do some research on what I had been prescribed.

Item No. 1: Clavamox. Do google search and get following result "Canine broad-spectrum antibiotic in oral dosage form: oral tablets."

eh?

Approved Uses

CLAVAMOX® (amoxicillin trihydrate/clavulanate potassium) TABLETS are approved for treatment of the following canine infections:

* Skin and soft-tissue infections such as wounds, abscesses, cellulitis, and superficial/juvenile and deep pyoderma due to susceptible strains of the following organisms: β-lactamase-producing Staphylococcus aureus, non-β-lactamase-producing Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. and E. coli.


* Periodontal infections due to susceptible strains of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.

Hang on a minute, that does not look like what I was suffering from and I'm not a dog.

Lets take a look at the rest

No. 2 Lorid

Search result: Lorid is NOT known to be marketed in the USA. Lorid may be available in the countries listed below.

This looks worrying.

Could it be this?

Loratadine

Introduction


Loratadine is an oral non-sedating H 1-blocker that is similar in structure to cyproheptadine and azatadine, other H 1-blockers.

.....This competitive antagonism blocks the effects of histamine on H1-receptors in the GI tract, uterus, large blood vessels, and bronchial muscle. It does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier...

eerr ok, presumably stops the blocked nose. Lets hope it does'nt do anything else. The blood brain business is worrying, especially since I feel so tired and I can't afford to lose any more brain cells, I'm already short on gray matter.

No. 3 DERIPHYLLIN TAB® [tab]

Belongs to the class of other systemic drugs used in the treatment of obstructive airway diseases, xanthines.

Ok, something else for a blocked nose?

Bricanyl

Main use: Asthma

Yes, But I don't HAVE asthma and never experienced any difficulties in breathing. The doctor asked me this question and I said no, so why this drug?

Anyway the symptoms have eased greatly, feeling much better (one day into the dosage), except for low energy (tackling that by eating chocolate and sweets) and occasional chills, for which I've started panadol again. Hope THAT does not react with this cocktail.