Posted on 04/26/2006 11:34:31 PM PDT by GOPyouth
Hey all,
My best friend is a doctor in the military who just arrived in Iraq a few weeks ago. I told him to contact me if there was anything he needed, and it took about one week.
He has told me that they are in need of Afrin or other types of nose sprays for the pilots. He said it was difficult to come by. He said sinus problems are causing pilots to be grounded, and that is something that they can't afford to do. He asked me to contact pharm reps that I knew and other contacts I have.
I've contacted several pharmacies, but they are unwilling to donate anything. I still have Walmart and Schering and Plough to contact, but I wanted to post this on FR to expand the contact list.
If anybody here is a pharmaceutical rep, or a doctor, or has contact with anybody who can help out in this situation, please send me a private message, or fire off an email to mcg0125@aol.com. I have the contact information to the specific base over there, but I do not want to post that on here.
Any information that can help me out on this will be greatly appreciated.
Sending to my brother who is a pharmacist for Giant.
Luckily, I found an article by an expert which states what I was going to say, except in my non-expert opinion - having pilot friends, many sinus-impaired friends, and an ex who was addicted to Afrin because of the rebound problems - when not using it, his nose would close up worse than how it was before he used it.
Article excerpt and a link for more info:
"Perhaps you have witnessed a colleague use a nasal inhaler at one time or another. Is this authorized? It depends. According to Dr. Snyder, , "the FAA permits airmen to use nasal inhalers such as Beconase, Vancenase, Nasalide and Flonase. However, inhalers such as Afrin are not permitted for use prior to flight. Its ongoing use for more than 2-3 days is not recommended due to the risk of "rebound" nasal congestion once the nasal spray is stopped. Note that the nasal spray Astelin is not approved for use within 48 hours of flight duty. Atrovent nasal Spray is authorized for use during flying after a two week ground testing period without side effects."
Virtual Flight Surgeons
http://www.aviationmedicine.com
On the righthand side of the site is a heading "Medication List" - click that and then put in Afrin in the box - you'll get the same statement I quoted above, plus a lot more detail about other sinus medications.
Also, I just noticed this additional line: "It may be reasonable to carry some Afrin in a flight bag for use in emergency situations with ear or sinus blocks on descent."
Best of luck to your friend and all the flyboys!
So are you telling people to buy a product they have to sign their name and print their address on a government form just to purchase, then turn around and send it elsewhere???
The BS meter is surging.
There is a very good military procurement system in place in Iraq. They are able to get any medical supplies needed from the U.S. pretty readily.
I seriously have my doubts though. Do pilots really need a 15-minute block of instruction on how to pick their noses and apply a saline solution? Giving pilots a controlled substance and 3 days off in a war zone for a self-treatable condition can reasonably be considered to be imprudent. Oh, and I'd be real enthused on my next helicopter flight knowing the pilots are hopped-up on Afrin they've gotten from 'internet sources'. Yeah, I can just imagine empty Afrin bottles rolling around the floor with "Courtesy of FreeRepublic" stickers on them.
Now if he gets the Baghdad Lung give me a ping. That's another animal.
My buddy asked me in a private email to help him out. I have been a member of FR since 2000, and I know there are several people on here who help out with the military.
This man is a doctor and he's quite aware of what's available over there. He said this is what they need, and I made the request.
This is not my attempt to change your mind, but an attempt to explain the situation. Matt
I'm just surprised a medical doctor would recommend something like Afrin at all... when my doc found out I was using it, he went through the roof. He was right--it took five looooong years to break dependency on the stuff, and there's no way I'd ever recommend anyone use it now.
Aw, even that goes away once you've accumulated that fine layer of dust in your lungs. ;-)
Hey, I'm going to be over in your neighborhood early next week.
Thanks for posting.
Afrin is some nasty stuff. I had an Uncle who got hooked on it
and couldn't stop using it.
He had used it so much it eat the cartilage from his nose, who knows, maybe Michale Jackson was doing the same.
That's just about as bad as growing Houston gills to *inhale* the molasses we call *air,* huh?
Ha ha! MJ must've been spraying his Afrin in the wrong place--on the outside instead of the inside.
But, yeah, that's what happened to my Afrinholic ex, too. Don't know if he ever got it corrected. (Don't care, either, lol.) There were half-empty Afrin bottles everywhere I looked--kitchen drawers, coffee table, nightstand, bookshelves, glove compartments, stashed wherever he could get his hands on it if he couldn't breathe.
Oh, yeah....in August, you can grab handfuls of that air and roll it around between your hands. It's tangible.
Why should you trust any air that you can't see, taste, touch, or smell?
The only real way to treat sinusitis is with steroids (inhaled) and saline washes if needed (kinda uncomfortable).
Now if he wants Beef Jerky, Jolly Ranchers, Batteries, hard knee pads, small binoculars, dvd's, fingerless working gloves, shoe insoles.. I'll agree that they may need that. I'd avoid medicines. sounds like your doc friend may have some folks over there that are hooked on the stuff and are in need of Afrin for the rebound affects.
That's what I was trying to say, in a roundabout way. I was kind of hoping that a few weeks in their current environment and away from the spray bottles might ameliorate the effect - but I guess it doesn't.
Maybe the guys take a stockpile with them and it takes a while to run out. I feel sorry for them, if so. I know what it's like to not be able to breathe properly and I totally commiserate, but we shouldn't be enablers, either.
Alright folks, some of you are not reading what I wrote correctly. I'm not asking Freepers to mail him anything. I asked for contacts to doctors or pharmaceutical reps. I also didn't specifically say he wanted Afrin and only Afrin. He said Afrin or any other type of nose spray.
I'm almost sorry I asked this on here, and I'm very glad I didn't post his name. He dropped the money to go to the Freeper Ball in January of 2005 in DC, and has a very high opinion of FR. I'm quite glad he didn't see some of the responses given.
For those that are worried about people in the military taking medicines that might be harmful, it does need to pointed out that sometimes pilots get these things. The B2 pilots aren't drinking coffee to stay awake on their long flights.
However, for those who privately emailed me with support or information, thank you.
Yes, I rather like the "Who needs a sauna when you can just step outside?" effect.
It really makes you feel alive!
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