Nonprescription Medicines and Products-Cold and Allergy Remedies

Nonprescription Medicines and Products - Cold and Allergy Remedies

Nonprescription Medicines and Products Guide

• Topic Overview
• Health Tools
• Antacids and Acid Reducers
• Bulking Agents, Stool Softeners, and Laxatives
• Antidiarrheals
• Cold and Allergy Remedies
• Pain Relievers
• Other Places To Get Help
• Related Information
• References
• Credits

Antihistamines

Antihistamines dry up nasal secretions and are commonly used to treat allergy symptoms and itching.

There are two types:

• Older, first-generation antihistamines (such as chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine). These may make you sleepy or make it harder for you to concentrate. They can also affect your coordination, even when they do not make you drowsy.
• Newer, second-generation antihistamines (such as cetirizine and loratadine). These have fewer side effects. Many of the newer antihistamines cause less drowsiness than older antihistamines or cause no drowsiness at all.

If your runny nose is caused by allergies, an antihistamine may help. For cold symptoms, home treatment and perhaps a decongestant will probably be more helpful. It is usually best to take only single-ingredient allergy or cold preparations, instead of those containing many active ingredients.

Products such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) are single-ingredient antihistamine products.

Products such as Coricidin, Dristan, and Triaminic contain both a decongestant and an antihistamine.

Antihistamine precautions

• Don't give antihistamines to your child unless you've checked with the doctor first.
• Use of antihistamines to treat the stuffiness of a cold will often thicken the mucus, making it harder to get rid of.
• Drink extra fluids when taking antihistamines.
• Avoid alcohol when taking antihistamines.
• Antihistamines can cause problems for some people with health problems such as asthma, glaucoma, epilepsy, or an enlarged prostate. Antihistamines may also interact with certain antidepressants, sedatives, and tranquilizers. Read the package carefully or ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you choose one that will not cause problems.
• When you take an antihistamine that makes you drowsy, the drowsiness usually decreases with continued use. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the medicine still makes you drowsy or if the medicine isn't helping your symptoms after 1 week. You may want to try an antihistamine that doesn't cause drowsiness.
• If you are pregnant, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using an antihistamine.