Keep interactions in mind when taking allergy meds

For many people, spring means opening the windows to take in the sun and fresh air. But people with seasonal allergies can find themselves trying to appreciate the beauty of the season from behind a tissue, or through itchy, watery eyes.



The good news is that there are many prescription and over-the-counter allergy medications that can help you manage even your most miserable symptoms.



It's important to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of the meds you're taking, even the ones you take only seasonally, because they can interact with other meds, or worsen existing health problems.



Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to tell you exactly how antihistamines or decongestants will interact will your particular prescriptions. This list gives you a good starting point for that discussion. It lists some common ingredients in allergy medicines, their side effects, and how they interact with other medications.



Antihistamines


Most over-the-counter allergy medications contain an antihistamine, which are designed to stop sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, and itching. Although OTC antihistamines can relieve up to 80 percent of allergy symptoms, they do have side effects, like drowsiness, fuzzy-headedness, and dry mouth.


OTC allergy meds can also cause dangerous interactions with alcohol and some medications, including:

• Sleeping pills (Nytol, Tylenol PM)
• Muscle relaxants (Flexeril)
• Some anti-depressants (Elavil, Tofranil)

Be sure to read the warnings and dosage information on any OTC allergy meds you purchase, and talk to your pharmacist if you have any concerns.



Some antihistamines can cause problems for people with certain health conditions. For example, antihistamines can dry up mucous membranes in the lungs, which can aggravate COPD symptoms.



They may cause patients with an enlarged prostate to experience urinary retention. Antihistamines can dilate the pupils as well, which may trigger an attack of closed-angle glaucoma in patients who have glaucoma.



Decongestants

Decongestants are designed to help relieve a stuffed-up nose by constricting mucous membranes in the nose, making it easier to breathe. And many allergy medications contain an oral decongestant such as pseudoephedrine. In some cases, it's easy to tell if your allergy medication contains a decongestant, because it will have a "D" designation--such as Claritin-D or Allegra-D.



However, decongestants constrict other parts of the body as well. The heart is trying to pump the same amount of blood, but through much narrower blood vessels. This can increase your blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends that patients with hypertension take the Coricidin HBP line of over-the-counter drugs.




Decongestant sprays

Nasal decongestants provide fast relief and can make it easier to sleep or manage your stuffy nose on days when you need to be symptom-free. But it is possible to become reliant on nasal decongestants.


After using these sprays for about three days, people may become "tolerant" to the effects of a decongestant nasal spray, meaning a higher and higher dose is required for the same effect. People tolerant to nasal decongestants will also experience "rebound" congestion when they stop using them suddenly. This makes the process of stopping the nasal spray very uncomfortable, so it's best to use these sprays carefully.


Cromolyn nasal spray

An option for people with chronic allergy problems is a different type of nasal spray. Cromolyn (Nasalcrom) works by “stabilizing” mast cells, which are responsible for releasing histamine into the body during an allergic reaction. Regular use of Cromolyn for up to a week may be required before you start to see an effect, and up to 4 weeks before the full effect starts to kick in. Cromolyn is safe for long-term use, and side effects are generally limited. Frequent dosing is a drawback however (up to 6 times a day for the first week) It also must be used regularly as long as relief from allergies is needed.


Renee Culver is an editor at MedTrackAlert.