Brenclear Sachets

[MallyBull]

Hi all,

On a recent flight, my son had a very bad experience with blocked ears during decent....can anyone tell me where I can purchase some Brenclear sachets for an upcoming flight?

With thanks,
MallyBull

 

[straitman]

Hi all,

On a recent flight, my son had a very bad experience with blocked ears during decent....can anyone tell me where I can purchase some Brenclear sachets for an upcoming flight?

With thanks,
MallyBull

MallyBull,

Welcome to AFF.

I personally don't use any of the commercial products so can't speak from experience. My wife however uses EarPlanes and the topic has been discussed previously on this forum.

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/severe-ear-pain-during-flying-7969.html

 

[QF WP]

I can remember my pain when I had a cold when flying SIN/LHR and on descent, was in a private agony until a blood vessel burst in behind my eye...it certainly concerned my seatmate and the FA to see blood welling out of my eye socket. But the relief was palpable.

On the couple of times I've needed relief subsequently, I have either used the eucalyptus sachets that the FA's have found, or EarPlanes.

 

[simongr]

Just to reiterate on earplanes - mrssimongr has always suffered severe ear pain. On our recent RTW with 8 flights she went through 4 - 5 pairs of these an had no ear discomfort. The reason for so many pairs is that it is recommended that they only be used for two flights t avoid infection.

They also sell Kids earplanes which I believe are a smaller size.

And the kids ones seem to be of a smaller size.

 

[John in Melbourne]

I use EarPlanes and Fess Frequent Flyer saline nasal spray and have had no trouble since. I have used the same pair of EarPlanes for about 3 years, with no ill effects, but I do clean them with a tissue after each use.

 

[Actualise]

I ask the FA for one if I even think I might have blocked sinuses.

They work wonders.

Recently, however, they didn't have any and instead gave some head-clearing lolly things that perhaps worked... no double blind test though.

Cheers,
Andrew who usually asks for two or three and keeps one or two for a rainy day.

 

[Evan]

I always travel with sudafed in my carry-on in case i need some something to unblock me, I can relate to the amazing agony of being blocked up, i had it happen on a SYD-MEL trip once and it nearly killed me (or so it felt like at the time)

Funny thing is my boss had a cold the other day and was about to get on a plane, i offered him something to take and he had no idea what i was tlaking about, apparently its never happened to him the pain when congested. Lucky him i guess.
E

 

[munitalP]

I'm a lucky one as well - blocked ears never affects me - perhaps it comes from many years of diving when I was younger and being able to equalise the pressure without even thinking about it, second nature....

One of our sales guys gets such pressure he's nearly crying! He was told to use tiger balm and now swears by it - he smears a little under hi nose before take off and he's fine from that point on...

Worth a try I guess.

Mr!

:shock:

 

[dot]

One of our sales guys gets such pressure he's nearly crying! He was told to use tiger balm and now swears by it - he smears a little under hi nose before take off and he's fine from that point on...

Which is exactly the same principal as sniffing the Eucalyptus wipes - THE FA's have a stash of them (on QF at least) for people who are having problems equalising their ears. If you think you might have a problem, just ask before decent starts and have a good sniff as you first feel that decent start.

 

[azza_1992]

How does sniffing the Eucalyptus wipes work though?

 

[Mal]

How does sniffing the Eucalyptus wipes work though?

Clears the nose and opens up the nasal passage. This assists with allowing your head to equalise air pressure.

 

[simongr]

mrssimongr now swears by earplanes - she used to get horrendous ear pain and now pretty much nothing.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I also recommend sudafed (if you are able to tolerate it).

Take 1/2 a sudafed 1 hour before take-off and another half 1 hour before landing (half only is sufficient for short flights, and one half will do for both the landing and take-off cycle of a transit flight on the way to London - but do take another half before fianl landing.).

If buying sudafed in Australia (in Victoria at least) you will need to ask the chemist for the 'real' sudafed which is kept behind the counter. The replacement sudafed PE doesn't work nearly as well for most people.

MelT

 

[milehighclub]

Qantas has now stopped loading Brenclear sachets, and loads Vicks Vapor Drops instead

 

[serfty]

... If buying sudafed in Australia (in Victoria at least) you will need to ask the chemist for the 'real' sudafed which is kept behind the counter. The replacement sudafed PE doesn't work nearly as well for most people. ...

If a chemist supplies you "real" Sudafed without a prescription - they could get in hot water (in Victoria at least).

Apparently a major ingredient of Sudafed can be extracted and used to make amphetamines. As a result it is now banned from general sale.

 

[oz_mark]

If a chemist supplies you "real" Sudafed without a prescription - they could get in hot water (in Victoria at least).

Apparently a major ingredient of Sudafed can be extracted and used to make amphetamines. As a result it is now banned from general sale.

I thought it depended on the size of the box.

 

[serfty]

I thought it depended on the size of the box.

You may be correct -

The pharmac_ Guild of Australia - Victoria - Pseudoephedrine: National Scheduling Changes

Ask Your Pharmacist! - Pseudoephedrine

I was told outright be a pharmacist earlier this year that I needed a prescription (As per this thread, I found them great when travelling with a URI).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was told outright be a pharmacist earlier this year that I needed a prescription

hehe - did you look like a druggie?

I think they can sell you a box of 8 tablets without a prescription, which is what mine did, but then I have known them for some time so maybe that makes a difference?

In the US you have to give ID (such as a passport or driver licence) and home address to buy it.

regards

melT

 

[aussiejohn]

In my little travel kit that I keep in my carry on bag, I always have one of those Nyal Decongestant thingoes. Can't remember the exact name of the top of my head. Just have a sniff of it and helps clear the head and equalise the pressure. No mess no fuss as they say.

Have to say though, I like the Tiger Balm suggestion. That stuff is pretty potent so would work like a treat. I always had a supply of the sachets that QF hand out but never found them totally effective.

 

[simongr]

Some time ago I had to give my contact details whenever I bought sudafed. That stopped when they took out banned substance and hid real sudafed behind the counter