So, Uh, Is It Bad If I've Been Taking My Allergy Meds for x Years Directly?

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Pollen season is in full swing, and I have been sneezing for three weeks straight. My eyes have been itchy for at to the lowest degree two months. When I look dorsum on the final 20 years of my life, I am difficult-pressed to recollect of any substantial catamenia of fourth dimension in which I was not suffering from one allergy or another. Sure, information technology's worst in spring, merely and so there'southward grass to contend with, and afterwards, ragweed, and dust all throughout. The just reprieve comes in the dead of wintertime, when I might accept a cold instead. The other morning, equally I thoughtlessly swallowed a Walmart-brand antihistamine from one of several bottles I keep on paw, it occurred to me that I've been taking some class of allergy medication nearly every solar day for every bit long as I can retrieve. Is that … bad?

According to David Shih, EVP of strategy and former principal medical officeholder at CityMD, I am probably fine. Because antihistamines like Claritin and Zyrtec are now available over the counter, we tin can trust that they're more often than not condom for longterm utilize, says Shih. This is for a couple of reasons. For one, unlike what Shih calls "starting time generation" allergy medications, like Benadryl, new generation products similar Claritin take fewer of the more potentially severe side furnishings, like sedation. Newer allergy medications are also more effective at targeting the respiratory organisation, thus leaving the central nervous arrangement and brain alone — for the most part.

Many people exercise even so experience some grade of small-scale side outcome with over the counter antihistamines. "The most mutual side effects y'all tend to see are fatigue, headaches, and dry mouth," says Shih. If you're someone for whom the benefits of regular antihistamine utilise far outweighs the occasional small side effect, longterm utilise is prophylactic for most adults and children, he adds.

All that said: over-the-counter medication is still medication, and should be treated accordingly. "When you're on these medicines for such a long catamenia of time, sometimes patients tend to forget they're on it," says Shih. Every bit a effect, many people (me included) fail to listing their antihistamine amidst medications on doc's forms, or to tell an urgent-care dr. they're taking information technology, and that creates the risk of additive furnishings when other medications are prescribed. "If you mix [an antihistamine] with other medication, it can certainly have greater side furnishings," says Shih. Alcohol, likewise, tin augment an antihistamine's side furnishings.

Antihistamines also fall under a class of drugs known as anticholinergics (a substance that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and peripheral nervous system), alongside a number of antidepressants as well as sure medications meant to treat Parkinson'south disease and float and urinary weather. Contemporary antihistamines are less probable to produce anticholinergic side furnishings than older allergy medications (like Benadryl), simply it'south non impossible, says Shih — especially if you're taking more than ane anticholinergic medication at a fourth dimension. If you're wondering what side furnishings you should be looking out for, it turns out that in that location's a jaunty footling saying you can apply to remember them. "There's really a mnemonic device that nosotros all learned in med school for anticholinergic side effects," says Shih. Sounding as if he is cursing me, he recites: "Mad equally a hatter, dry every bit a bone, bullheaded equally a bat, hot as a hare, cerise every bit a beet." In other words, anticholinergic medications can cause defoliation and/or delirium, dry mouth, visual impairment, fever, and flushing. Less fun that information technology sounds!!

Information technology's as well important to annotation that not all antihistamines are created equal — while regular Claritin isn't much unlike from regular Zyrtec, both come up in decongestant forms (Claritin-D and Zyrtec-D), which pose an additional side effect y'all should know well-nigh. "The decongestant can speed up your center," says Shih. "Information technology'southward important to know if you lot're on [Claritin-D or Zyrtec-D or similar], and you're drinking java or free energy drinks, that tin make you jittery and give yous an anxiety feeling. That's not something you take long-term."

Most people who take generic, non-decongestant antihistamines long-term will be able to stop and first them without result, but Shih says there are those who do experience some withdrawal. "Some patients who go off these meds may feel generalized itchiness, sneezing, and runny nose." And then, allergies. Absurd, bang-up, love it.

Is It Bad If I Take My Allergy Medication Yr-Round?