About Community Health Planning and Investment.If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult with your doctor before taking a decongestant. You shouldn't give a decongestant to children younger than 6 years old, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. If you have any heart conditions, check with your doctor before using a decongestant. You shouldn't take a decongestant if you have any of these conditions: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) warns that you should avoid using a decongestant nasal spray for more than four consecutive days since it may worsen your stuffy nose and lead you to become dependent on the spray. If you're experiencing an unpleasant reaction to the decongestant you're using, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend a different product. Some of the side effects of decongestants may include: Zyrtec-D (cetirizine with pseudoephedrine).The following are some of the decongestants available over the counter: Shah says that decongestants are better to use in combination with antihistamines, because taken together, the medications are more effective at reducing nasal congestion and other seasonal allergy symptoms. Ask your health care provider about corticosteroid nasal sprays that are safe for your child.ĭecongestants shrink the blood vessels and tissue inside your nose, allowing more air to pass through and making it easier to breathe. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult with your doctor before using a nasal spray. You shouldn't use a corticosteroid nasal spray if you have any of the following conditions: If you're experiencing these side effects, you should stop using the nasal spray and ask your doctor about changing the dosage or using a different product. Some of the possible side effects of using a corticosteroid nasal spray are: Some corticosteroid nasal sprays, such as Nasonex (mometasone) and Zetonna (ciclesonide), are available only with a prescription. The following corticosteroid nasal sprays are available over the counter: "Using the corticosteroid nose sprays regularly can reduce the need for decongestants." "Start using a corticosteroid nose spray before the season starts, and add it if antihistamines do not control all the allergy symptoms," Shah says. This medicine can help prevent the onset of symptoms, and Shah says it should be taken two to four weeks before pollen season to be fully effective. The corticosteroids in nasal sprays relieve congestion by reducing the swelling in your nasal passages. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult with your doctor before taking an antihistamine.Ī Centers for Disease Control (CDC) review on the association between antihistamines and birth defects found that most antihistamines - including Benadryl, Claritin, and Zyrtec - are safe to take during your pregnancy. However, you shouldn't take antihistamines if you have any of the following conditions:Īsk your health care provider about what antihistamines are safe for your child. If you're experiencing these side effects, you should ask your doctor about changing the dosage or using a different product. Some antihistamines that are available with a prescription include Atarax (hydroxyzine) and Clarinex (desloratadine).Īlong with drowsiness, the side effects of antihistamines may include: You should talk to your doctor before taking medication that causes drowsiness, as it can worsen symptoms of some conditions like dementia.įor more severe allergy symptoms, or if you're experiencing side effects from OTC products, your doctor may prescribe an antihistamine with a stronger dosage and fewer side effects. Over-the-counter antihistamines that contain diphenhydramine - like Benadryl - or chlorpheniramine - like Chlor-Trimeton - may cause drowsiness, so you shouldn't take them before driving or doing other activities that require you to be alert.ĭrowsy allergy medicine is best taken before bed, to get better sleep if you're exposed to allergies. Some common antihistamines that are available without a prescription, and are considered non-drowsy, include: While histamines are a helpful part of your immune response, taking an antihistamine can help manage nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, irritated eyes, or itchy skin. Antihistamines block your immune system from creating histamines, which are chemicals your body releases during an allergic reaction that cause allergy symptoms.
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