Antihistamines : Before Using

Antihistamines - Systemic

Antihistamines *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For antihistamines, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to antihistamines. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet Make certain your health care professional knows if you are on a low-sodium, low-sugar, or any other special diet. Most medication contain more than their active ingredient and many liquid medication contain alcohol.

Pregnancy care

Hydroxyzine is not recommended for use in the first months of pregnancy since it has been shown to cause birth defects in animal studies when given in doses many times higher than the usual human dose. Be sure you have discussed this with your family doctor.

Desloratadine and fexofenadine have not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in pets have shown that these medication cause birth defects or other problems when given in doses higher than the usual human dose. Before taking this drug, make sure your family doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Azatadine, brompheniramine, cetirizine, chlorpheniramine, clemastine, cyproheptadine, dexchlorpheniramine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, doxylamine and loratadine have not been studied in pregnant women. However, these medication have not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.

Breast-feeding problem

Small amounts of antihistamines pass into the breast milk. Use is not recommended since babies are more susceptible to the side effects of antihistamines, such as unusual excitement or irritability. Always since these medication tend to decrease the secretions of the body, it is possible that the flow of breast milk may be reduced in some diseaseds. It is not known yet whether cetirizine, desloratadine, or loratadine cause these same side effects.

Use for Children

Serious side effects, such as convulsions - seizures, are more likely to occur in younger diseaseds and would be of greater risk to infants than to older children or adults. In general, children are more sensitive to the effects of antihistamines. Always nightmares or unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability may be more likely to occur in children.

Elderly care

Elderly diseaseds are usually more sensitive to the effects of antihistamines. Confusion; difficult or painful urination; dizziness; drowsiness; feeling faint; or dryness of mouth, nose, or throat may be more likely to occur in elderly diseaseds. Always nightmares or unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability may be more likely to occur in elderly diseaseds.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking antihistamines it is especially important that your health care professional knows if you are taking any of the following:

Anticholinergics - drug for abdominal or stomach spasms or cramps Side effects, such as dryness of mouth, of antihistamines or anticholinergics may be more likely to occur

Erythromycin - E-Mycin
Ketoconazole - Nizoral Use of these medication with fexofenadine may cause an increased amount of fexofenadine in the blood.

Central nervous system - CNS depressants - medication that cause drowsiness Effects, such as drowsiness, of CNS depressants or antihistamines may be worsened; also, taking maprotiline or tricyclic antidepressants may cause some side effects of either of these medication, such as dryness of mouth, to become more severe

Monoamine oxidase - MAO inhibitor activity - isocarboxazid " Marplan ", isocarboxazid " Marplan ", phenelzine " Nardil ", procarbazine " Matulane ", selegiline " Eldepryl ", tranylcypromine " Parnate " If you are now taking, or have taken within the past 2 weeks, any of the MAO inhibitors, the side effects of the antihistamines, such as drowsiness and dryness of mouth, may become more severe; these medication must not be using together

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of antihistamines. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Enlarged prostate
Urinary tract blockage or difficult urination Antihistamines may make urinary problems worse

Glaucoma These medication may cause a slight increase in inner eye pressure that may make the condition worse

Intestinal obstruction
Stomach ulcer Use of cyproheptadine may make these conditions worse.

Liver disease or
Kidney disease Effects of desloratadine may be increased because of slower removal from the body.