Cold Medicines & Narrow Angle Glaucoma: What to Avoid

Narrow angle glaucoma is a type of glaucoma in which the angle between the iris and the cornea is narrow. This can lead to a build-up of pressure in the eye, which can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss.

Some cold medicines can worsen narrow angle glaucoma by causing the pupils to dilate. This can further narrow the angle between the iris and the cornea, leading to a greater increase in pressure in the eye.

Cold medicines that should be avoided in narrow angle glaucoma include:

* Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)

* Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine)

* Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and imipramine (Tofranil)

If you have narrow angle glaucoma, it is important to talk to your doctor before taking any cold medicines. Your doctor can recommend cold medicines that are safe for you to use.

In addition to avoiding certain cold medicines, there are other things you can do to manage narrow angle glaucoma, including:

* Using eye drops to lower the pressure in your eyes

* Taking oral medications to lower the pressure in your eyes

* Having laser surgery to widen the angle between the iris and the cornea

By following your doctor's instructions, you can help to prevent vision loss from narrow angle glaucoma.