Beware of pseudophedrine (aka Sudafed). It's used in just about every decongestant.

It will raise your heart rate along with your blood pressure.

I found this out one year while I had the flu and was self medicating with NyQuil and Sudafed (hey if one didn't work try two). After 3 days of the flu and it not getting better I relented and went to the dr.

The physicians assistant turned ghostly white when he took my bp, it was 190 / 150. He said I should have had a stroke and shouldn't be there sitting talking to him. He took it again, along with a nurse to make sure there wasn't something screwy. When I told him what medication I was on, he said, don't ever do that again.

Since that incident, I do not take any over the counter cold medications, and amazingly enough since then I haven't had a major cold. That was Feb 2002.

But I am always aware if I am going to be taking any kind of medication to see if it has pseudophedrine in it.

just my experience.