Your Guide To Antihistamine Products

Antihistamines are a class of drugs commonly used to treat allergies. Antihistamines come in both prescription and non-prescription varieties, and usually take the form of pills. Some of the more common brand name antihistamines go by names of Piriton and Clarityn. These drugs can be very effective at controlling seasonal allergy symptoms like hay fever. Although they are not intended as a long term solution, antihistamines can be an effective tool in allergy relief. Antihistamines work by blocking the histamine receptors in the skin. Histamine is a natural chemical that is produced by the body. The body releases histamine in response to foreign contaminants in the air. In some cases your body can release too much histamine which irritates the nose and eyes – the typical allergy symptoms. A common example of this is when your body reacts to pollen in the air by overproducing histamine, which in turn irritates the eyes and makes for a runny nose, creating the common condition of hay fever. A drug like Clarityn is able to inhibit this histamine production process, which (hopefully) can reduce or eliminate allergy symptoms. The side effects of antihistamines are usually minor. The most common side effect of older antihistamines is drowsiness. Drowsiness is a side effect associated with chlorpheniramine, of which many of the older antihistamines, like Piriton, are made. New versions of the drug are made from loratadine (like Clarityn) and rarely cause drowsiness. Less common side effects of older, drowsiness-causing antihistamines are a dry mouth, headache, and blurry vision. Over the counter antihistamines are generally quite safe, although caution should be applied when administering them to children. All antihistamines should have clearly marked instructions as to their use for children under the age of 12. In some cases, an antihistamine that can be bought over the counter requires a doctor’s prescription if it is to be used for a child under 12. There are specific children’s antihistamines available that often come in syrup form. As with any issue surrounding medication, if you are at all unsure about the suitability of a particular antihistamine you should check with your doctor or pharmacist. As with all medication, caution and research should be applied when taking antihistamines in combination with other drugs, whether they be prescription, over the counter, or herbal. Particular attention should be paid to using antihistamines while taking anti-anxiety medication, or when drinking alcohol, as both these can increase the effect of the drowsiness. As long as these rules are kept in mind, most people will find antihistamines a useful tool in the battle against seasonal allergies.

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