Acetaminophen is a good choice for analgesia, and fever reduction in nursing mothers. Amounts in milk are much less than doses usually given to infants. Adverse effects in breastfed infants appear to be rare.

Fourteen men were studied to determine the combined effects of two altitudes--388 and 3,810 m or 1,274 and 12,500 ft--and three preparations--lactose placebo, Compound A (Actified, and Compound B (Dristan). Subjects reported least attentiveness with A and greatest with placebo. Fatigue increased significantly with time while energy, interest, and attentiveness decreased. The Multiple Task Performance Battery (MTPB) showed no effects of altitude, drugs, or time on overall performance; however, performance declined with time in several tasks, while problem solving improved. Subjects enjoyed the problem-solving tasks and may have given them preference as levels of interest declined. Though the MTPB overall composite scores did not change significantly, physiological parameters and subjective evaluations indicate that type of compound and time after ingestion are important. Declines in energy and attentiveness 2.5 h after ingestion could result in neglect of important--although routine--tasks. Hypoxia might enhance this effect and consequences might be worse in subjects whose medical conditions require these drugs.

There is little physiologic data concerning the possible toxicity of nasal decongestants on respiratory cilia. Consequently, a chicken embryo tracheal organ culture system was employed to study the effect on ciliary activity of various preparations and concentrations of the following medications: tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride (Tyzine), xylometazoline hydrochloride (Otrivin), Dristan, Sinex, NTZ oxymetazoline hydrochloride (Afrin), naphazoline hydrochloride (Privine), and phenylephrine (Neosynephrine). Only two dilutions of injectable phenylephrine 0.25% and 0.10% produced essentially no ciliotoxicity when compared to the cilia in control cultures. All the other topical nasal medications in the concentrations tested possessed some toxicity for cilia. The use of these medications should be tempered with the warning of possible cilia damage.

Perception of the common cold and other discomforts was studied as a function fo age among 456 normals ranging in age from 18 to 82. Respondents completed a questionnaire which deal with the frequency and duration of their colds, their symptoms and treatments-and, finally, with the perceived severity of various discomforts. Though older Rs were found to suffer more than younger with body aches, the former had less difficulty with a variety of other physical and psychological symptoms-and also contracted relatively few colds. Older Rs treated their colds less often with Contac and Dristan, but more often by staying home and/or calling their doctor. As compared with younger Rs, older respondents perceived intestinal flu to be relatively less serious-but earache, sprained toe, indigestion, having a tooth filled, stiff neck, and hangover to be relatively more serious.