A few signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis, like sneezing, severe itching, and runny nose, appear when the body secretes a substance referred to as histamine. Antihistamine drugs stop histamine and can decrease the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
Using Antihistamines to Treat Allergic Rhinitis
The patient may try antihistamines to end or decrease sneezing, runny nose, and dripping and itchy eyes induced from an allergy. All of the antihistamines function equally well in order to control itching, sneezing, and runny nose. Antihistamines start to give relief in half-hour to two hours. Antihistamines dry out a runny nose produced by allergic reactions, but they normally don't get rid of stuffiness.
Antihistamine Medications Used for Allergic Rhinitis
Examples of antihistamines currently on the market are:
- Earlier (first-generation) nonprescription and prescription antihistamines:
- Semprex-D (acrivastine)
- Vistaril (hydroxyzine hydrochloride)
- Chlor-Trimeton (chlorpheniramine maleate)
- Phenergan (promethazine hydrochloride)
- Tavist-1 (clemastine fumarate)
- Benadryl (diphenhydramine hydrochloride)
The latest (second-generation) nonprescription antihistamines are:
- Zyrtec (cetirizine hydrochloride)
- Alavert,Claritin (loratadine)
The latest (second-generation) prescription-given antihistamines are:
- Astelin (azelastine)
- Clarinex (desloratadine)
- Allegra (fexofenadine hydrochloride)
- Xyzal (levocetirizine)
- Patanase (olopatadine)
Antihistamines may be given as pills, capsules, nasal sprayers, or liquids. A person can buy them alone or concurrently with decongestants to deal with allergic rhinitis.
Side Effects of Antihistamines Used for Allergic Rhinitis
The older (first-generation) antihistamines may:
- Make someone sleepy or make it difficult for the patient to concentrate.
- Affect a person's coordination, even when they do not cause sleepiness.
Be mindful when taking older antihistamines if you have to drive or maneuver risky or big machinery. Once you use an antihistamine a few times, you usually know when you will get tired or weak. For a few individuals, the side effects get less intense once they use the drug for a couple of days.
Additional side effects may include:
- Clouded eyesight.
- Xerosomia (dry mouth).
- Feeling fidgety or moody, particularly in younger patients.
- A salty taste on the tongue.
- Vomiting and nausea.
- Being unable to urinate (called urinary retention).
- Fast heartbeat (tachycardia), due to decongestants that blend antihistamines and decongestants.
The latest, second-generation antihistamines bear lesser side effects. A lot of the new antihistamines induce less sleepiness than classic antihistamines or bring about no sleepiness at all. Azelastine may result in drowsiness in a few individuals, though this is very rare.
Speak with the doctor prior to taking antihistamines if you have:
- Glaucoma or other types of disorders that build-up pressure within the eyeball.
- Urinary conditions from an unhealthy prostate gland.
- Thyroid problems, like an hyperactive or underactive thyroid gland.
- Heart, renal (kidney), liver, or lung illness.
The second-generation antihistamines seem to cost much more than the first-generation antihistamines. They don't function any better than the classic antihistamines. A person may only need to use a few of the the latest antihistamines, at rate of once per day.
As a whole, antihistamines do not control congestion easily. They are frequently mixed with a decongestant in a single product.
Fexofenadine can cause menstrual cramps, vomiting, and weakness. Older patients and females who are child-bearing or breast-feeding should consult with the experts before taking antihistamines.
Azelastine has been authorized for application in children older than age twelve. Desloratadine (Clarinex) can be appropriate for babies as young as six months.
However, children can't take all antihistamines. Always consult with a physician and read the label before administering antihistamines to babies.
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References:
E. Schenkel. "Oral antihistamines have proven efficacy in treating ocular symptoms of allergic rhinitis." Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology." (120); 6: 1473-1474.
Ian Hore, Christos Georgalas, and Glenis Scadding. (2003). "Oral antihistamines for persistent allergic rhinitis in adults and children over 12 years old." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. John Wiley & Sons.
Naheed Ali - Naheed Ali, M.D., is a nationally recognized author, speaker and health advocate who began writing professionally in 2005. Additional info ...
