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| Category: Allergists |
Date published: May 27, 2008 |
Guide to Over the Counter Drugs for Allergies
by Ashira Goddard
(Email: ashira@ashira.ws)
There are more boxes, pill containers, and supplements lining the shelves of nearly every store that you go in. Even the grocery store has aisle's dedicated to over-the-counter drugs. Finding the allergy section alone can be a chore. When you do find it even more questions begin to arise. Do any of the over the counter drugs for allergies work? What are the side effects of these drugs? Is there a natural way to treat allergies? Alot of the symptoms of allergies can in fact be treated by over the counter drugs; however, it is important to state that it is always best before self diagnosing and treating any medical condition, including allergies, without consulting with a medical practitioner.
There is a huge variety of over the counter drugs that can be used to treat the symptoms of allergies. It can be overwhelming to walk down the aisle and see well over 100 different drugs vying for your purchase. To make the choice simpler, the drugs can be broken down into two different classes.
The first is antihistamines. Antihistamines can help with the seasonal hay fever or pollen allergies for example. They will help relieve sneezing, itching and runny nose. Antihistamines actually work better if they are taken on a preventative protocol rather than waiting until you are completely miserable. Antihistamines do have a few side effects that anyone who is going to use them should be aware of. Nearly one in five persons taking antihistamines will become drowsy when taking it and thus their mental alertness is diminished. Many times after a person takes the medication the body will become accustomed to it alleviating this side effect. They can also cause dry mouth, constipation, burred vision and difficultly in urinating. If you are using any antihistamine over the counter and have any of the above side effects, stop taking the antihistimine immediately and contact your health provider for other options. It may be as simple as change the type of antihistamine that you have tried. There are more than one kind of antihistamines on the market today.
Within these different kinds of antihistamines there are some that are long acting verse some that typically work with 20 minutes of taking the drug but only last for approximately 4 hours. While antihistamines are the first line of treatment, the typical sufferer will have a reduction of symptoms from 50% to 80%, but never 100%.
The second kind of over the counter drug is decongestant of the nasal passage ways. They can come in the form of topical eye drops, nasal drops or sprays, oral tablets or liquids. The way decongestants work is they narrow blood vessels and reduce the blood flow in the nasal passages which helps clear the congestion and improve breathing. Oral eye drops or nasal drops work systematically and have a slower onset of action but they lost much longer than many topical products. Eye drops over the counter do work and are safe; however, for most a prescribed drops which contain not only a decongestant property but also antihistamine products.
The oral applications will relieve the stuffy nose and pressure, it will do nothing for the other symptoms. They can cause some side effects as well. The worst of the side effects are when topical oral drops are used in conjunction with certain medications. If you are currently taking any prescribed medications, check with your physician before using the over the counter oral drops. The side effects can be headaches, nervousness, tremors, rapid heartbeat and pulse. Those who have high blood pressure, heart problems, thyroid disease, diabetes, or prostate problems so avoid these over the counter remedies.
The best relief products will contain both a decongestant and antihistamine in them. The combination of the two seem to alleviate more of the symptoms without the side effect of drowsiness. You do want to read the label prior to taking as many of these combinations also contain a pain reliever. Chronic use can cause problems with the liver and stomach. Over the counter products are relatively safe for people to take; however if you also have asthma the use of some of the drug combinations in the over the counter remedies can contain epinephrine that could potentially lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack or convulsions.
Anyone taking over the counter drugs of any sort should not drive or use machinery until after they are sure of any side effects the product may have. Do not use medications that is out of date. Do not store the medications in the bathroom as they will loose their potency. They should be stored in a dry, dark place.
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