| To: Vocalist <vocalist> From: Naomi Gurt Lind Subject: MED: Entex Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>
I've been prescribed Entex to help clear a cold I've had for the past two weeks. The prescription was made over the phone on the basis of a description of my symptoms and a Q&A ("fever? headache?" etc...) with the nurse. Although I am confident that what I have is a cold and not flu, I am uncomfortable about this mode of treatment (would have preferred to be seen but the doc is all booked up) and am hoping you all can tell me if there's anything I need to know about this drug, specifically how it might affect me as a singer. I tried to question the nurse about what the drug would do for me and she said it would decongest & help me feel better. (Informative, huh?)
BTW she also wanted to prescribe a cough syrup with codeine, which I nixed. I asked why the codeine and she said it would help me sleep. I said I wasn't having trouble sleeping and it seemed to me that codeine was not to be taken lightly. (It's a narcotic, right?) I personally do not believe that stronger medicine is necessarily better medicine. Did I make the right choice? I am coughing some (which I'm sure is irritating my throat) but it is not keeping me up at night. I would think a regular over-the-counter cough suppressant would be enough to soothe my throat & decrease the coughing. (But then again, doesn't coughing serve a purpose? Does suppressing the cough help or just prolong the drainage of the cold?)
Whew, that's a lot of complaint and question! The main thing I want to know is what to expect with the Entex -- any singer-specific caveats?
Thanks very much! Naomi Gurt Lind (wishing right now she lived closer to our great Dr. Messmer or Dr. Schweinfurth!)
| |