A unit manager of a 25-bed medical/surgical area receives a phone call from a nurse who has called in sick five times in the past month. He tells the manager that he very much wants to come to work when scheduled but must often care for his wife, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, can raise your blood pressure and heart rate. If you have high blood pressure, it's a good idea to check with your doctor or pharmacist to find out what's right for you. You can also try decongestant-free cold medicines, such as Coricidin HBP. For in-depth information, see WebMD's article on Decongestants and Antihistamines.
If you relieve the pain with some Anbesol and are subsequently pulled over, a breathalyzer might detect the alcohol in the medication rather than the alcohol that was consumed, if any. The oral gel is 10 percent benzocaine, 0.5 percent phenol, and a whopping 70 percent alcohol. That 70 percent alcohol content can certainly cause an increased breathalyzer reading. Other cold sore medications can have alcohol contents of up to 90 percent.