You Eat Alot Of Fiber
A high-fiber diet is a good thing! But if youve recently changed your diet and added more high-fiber foods, know that they can interfere with your bodys absorption of your thyroid medications. Talk to your provider about how to manage this. It could mean spacing out when you eat and when you take your medications. Examples of popular high-fiber foods include:
- Vegetables
Why Medications And Alcohol Don’t Mix
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , there are several reasons that it can be harmful to mix medications and alcohol. The ways that drugs and alcohol interact in your body can go both ways: Alcohol can change how a medication works, and certain drugs can change how you feel the effects of alcohol.
Alcohol can make some medications less effective by interfering with how they are absorbed in the digestive tract. In some cases, alcohol increases the bioavailability of a drug, which can raise the concentration of the medication in your blood to toxic levels.
Additionally, drinking alcohol can also make the side effects of a medication worse or even cause new symptoms. This is especially true if you are taking a medication that makes you sleepy or causes sedation. The mixture of opiates and alcohol, for example, can cause your breathing to stop and is a common cause of death.
The label on your medication may not specifically warn against consuming alcohol while you are taking the drug, so it’s important not to assume that the absence of a warning means it is safe to mix the two.
Additionally, if you have an underlying health condition like heart disease or high blood pressure , mixing alcohol with your medications can put you at risk for complications.
Other symptoms that can occur if you mix medications with alcohol include:
- Blood pressure changes
- Lack of coordination
- Nausea and vomiting
Can You Take Otc Allergy Medications Before Or After The Vaccine
In short, yes. Over-the-counter antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays will not affect vaccine efficacy, says Purvi Parikh, M.D., an allergist with the Allergy & Asthma Network who specializes in infectious disease. So if you regularly rely on meds like Claritin, Flonase, or Zyrtec, you can keep taking themeven on the day of your appointment.
These medications help block your bodys reaction to allergens like pollen and dust, keeping swelling, itching, and congestion to a minimum; they dont interfere with the production of antibodies spurred by the COVID-19 vaccines.
However, if you dont take allergy medications daily, the CDC advises against taking them to try to mitigate potential side effects before your shot .
You can take these medications to relieve post-vaccination side effects if you have no other medical reasons that prevent you from taking these medications normally, the CDC explains.
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The Dangers Of Benadryl And Alcohol
Surviving seasonal allergies while fulfilling personal and professional responsibilities is nearly impossible. It is understandable that a person will take antihistamines to relieve a runny nose and watery eyes. However, it is not safe to mix an over-the-counter allergy medication with other behavior inhibiting substances. For example, Benadryl and alcohol pose dangerous risks when taken together.
Booze: Painkillers And Antihistamines
Drinking alcohol should be avoided if you are taking antihistamines and certain pain medications like morphine and codeine.
You should also be wary if you are taking meds for diabetes and HIV.
“Best avoided with any medication for obvious reasons,” Shamir added.
“The reaction between alcohol and these medications can be toxic, but it can also alter the effect of the drug and increase any side effects.”
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What Is A Medication Allergy
A true allergic reaction to medication occurs when the immune system is activated in response to a drug. The medication can be taken by mouth, injected into the body or rubbed on the skin. The symptoms from an allergic reaction vary from a mild skin rash to sudden swelling of many body parts with life threatening fall in blood pressure.
Most people with a drug allergy have been exposed to that drug or a similar drug before. During the earlier exposure, immune cells formed antibodies against the drug. Antibodies are proteins created by the immune system to battle foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. When a person is exposed to the drug again, the antibodies go into action, setting off the allergic response. The symptoms of drug allergy may happen immediately or after taking the drug for a week or more.
The reason a person develops a particular drug allergy is usually unknown, but genetics probably play a significant role.
Drug allergies can pose a significant problem, not only because of the symptoms they cause, but also because they can prevent or hinder the use of the more effective medications to treat medical conditions.
For many, medication allergies go undetected until they take a drug and have an allergic reaction.
Here Are 14 Examples Of Super Common Types Of Medications That Can Have Very Dangerous Reactions With Alcohol As Well As What Might Happen If You Do Mix Them
This information comes straight from this incredibly helpful NIAAA fact sheet about alcohol and medication interactions.
Worth noting: These drugs definitely aren’t the only ones that can mess you up when mixed with alcohol they’re just common examples. See the NIAAA’s fact sheet for even more examples . And always, always talk to your doctor and check a new medication’s label before taking it, to know whether mixing with alcohol is a problem, and if it’s a particular issue for you specifically based on your medical history.
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Hidden Sources Of Alcohol
Now that you know that Benadryl and alcohol dont mix, you should be aware of sources of hidden alcohol that you should avoid while taking Benadryl.
Some medications may actually contain alcohol. These include drugs such as laxatives and cough syrup. In fact, some medications are up to 10 percent alcohol. These drugs may interact with Benadryl. Be sure to read the labels on all the drugs youre taking to reduce your risk of accidental interactions or misuse.
If youre taking more than one OTC or prescription drug or supplement, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They can let you know if your other medications contain alcohol and if its safe to take them with Benadryl.
Cheese And Meat: Antibiotics
If you are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors for depression then you may need to avoid mature cheese and aged meats.
The same goes for the antibiotic linezolid, used to treat severe infections like pneumonia.
“Tyramine is an amino acid that helps regulate blood pressure. It is found particularly in food that has been aged or fermented, such as Camembert and Gouda cheese as well as smoked or aged meats like salami and pastrami,” Shamir said.
“Monoamine oxidase inhibitor drugs, prescribed for conditions such as depression and chemotherapy, reduce the bodys ability to process tyramine.
“That puts you at risk of side effects including a severe increase in blood pressure, chest pain and rapid heartbeat.”
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Is It Better To Take Zyrtec In The Morning Or At Night
It depends on whether you experience any side effects, says Robert Eitches, MD, an allergist at Tower Allergy. If your problems are only during the day time and you aren’t really prone to side effects, then go ahead and take it during the day.
But if you experience side effects like drowsiness, Dr. Eitches recommends taking your dose at night before bed. “That way you wake up in the morning relatively clearer, too,” he says. If it makes you sleepy, the side effect will have likely worn off by the time you wake up, and since the medication can provide relief for 24 hours, you’ll still experience relief during the day.
Liquid Allergy Medicine And Nasal Sprays Expire Earlier
While most antihistamines are tablets, corticosteroids are in liquid form, and used to treat symptoms like itchy noses, sneezing, and nasal congestion.
Corticosteroid nasal sprays can be over-the-counter, like Flonase, or by prescription, like Nasonex. They contain preservatives to keep the liquids fresh longer.
Prescription liquid medicine expiration dates are no longer than one year, , although sometimes the manufacturer sets the shelf life at six months or earlier. Expiration dates for over-the-counter liquids are usually around two years.
And liquid allergy medicines shouldn’t be stretched as far beyond their expiration dates as tablets, Frank says.
Frank says nasal sprays, as well as liquid forms of antihistamines, can last for one year beyond the bottle’s expiration date. After that, the efficacy dwindles. “Like tablets, these drugs won’t be unsafe when expired,” Frank says. “They’ll just become ineffective.”
To extend the potency of liquid drugs like nasal sprays, Frank suggests keeping them at room temperature. “Storing in a room that’s too warm, in sunlight, or colder like a refrigerator would make it go bad faster,” she says.
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Benadryl As A Sleep Aid
Sometimes, individuals may take Benadryl exclusively for its side effect of drowsiness, to help them sleep. However, doctors do not typically recommend this. Always consult a doctor or medical professional before using Benadryl as a sleep aid. Since Benadryl can react dangerously with other substances, using other medications for sleep aid is usually the best route.
/13what People Using Blood Thinners Should Know
Some vaccine models, including Covishield and Covaxin, carry an advisory for beneficiaries who might be on blood-thinning medications, which is making many worry and turn sceptical. Blood-thinning medications, as researches have established may cause profuse blood loss, rashes and in some cases, unwelcome swellings too which take longer to heal.
People suffering from bleeding disorders or heart conditions should first check on the type of anticoagulant they are on, before proceeding with the vaccine. Adds Dr Agarwal,
“Patients on blood thinners like Warfarin or newer anticoagulation agents have a small risk of injection site swelling. Patients who are on these newer agents can skip their morning dose, take the vaccine and continue the next regular dose.”
Dr Pandit also advises patients to follow some post-op vaccination care to prevent complications. rather advises patients to check for the type of blood thinners they may be on since they may be a bit more prone to clotting and blood loss after getting the jab. “Those patients on blood thinners, ie. anti-platelets and anti-coagulants can take their vaccines safely. Just ensure adequate compression at the injection site, for a slightly prolonged duration and a finer needle to inject.”
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Should You Worry About Allergic Reactions To The Covid
Allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine are possible, but rarethey occur in every two to five people per million vaccinated, per the CDC. This type of allergic reaction almost always presents within 30 minutes of the shot, which is why you have to wait 15 to 30 minutes before leaving your vaccination site.
Fortunately, vaccination providers have medicines available to effectively and immediately treat patients who experience anaphylaxis following vaccination, the CDC notes. This means that you should not attempt to treat any adverse reaction on your own with OTC allergy medications.
Anyone with a history of severe allergic reactions for any reason should be aware of the risks of anaphylaxis from the COVID-19 vaccine. If you are allergic to polyethylene glycol, polysorbate, or any of the components in the available COVID-19 vaccines, you should not receive the vaccine, per the CDC.
When in doubt, talk to your doctor to discuss your options. Consult an allergist if you are worried you may be allergic to the vaccine, Dr. Parikh recommends. The majority of allergy patients can take the vaccine with no problem.
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/13medications You Shouldn’t Be Taking Before A Jab
While COVID vaccines are still subject to ongoing research, doctors, right now, warn beneficiaries to comprehend the risk factors associated with some steroid medications.
Chronic steroids can be taken as needed. However, steroid injections and medications for other therapies which need to be taken regularly can pose problems. It’s best to consult with your healthcare provider first to know the right way to proceed with the vaccination.
Severe dose painkillers are also best avoided before vaccination, as they may cause unpleasant reactions. “Wait until after the vaccination to take a painkiller like ibuprofen or aspirin to make symptoms subside”, says Dr Pandit.
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Some Notes In Taking Medicine
The best way is that you should takemedicine with water that is boiled and make cool.
Dont take medicine with wine because adangerous interactive reaction to health will take place. In addition, it evencauses death.
You shouldnt take medicine with hot water becauseit can destroy coating film of tablets or make caplet melt before they approachto stomach or bowel where medicine is absorbed by body.
Forms Of Allergy Drops
Allergy drops may come in liquid or tablet form.
Currently, all allergy drops approved by the FDA are in tablet form. The FDA is still evaluating the safety and efficacy of the liquid form and hasnt approved it yet. In the United States liquid drops are still used by some doctors but only as off-label drugs.
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You Took It With Food
This is important: Synthroid and levothyroxine must be taken on an empty stomach, ideally an hour before breakfast. Another option is to take it at bedtime if youve had nothing to eat for several hours.
By signing up, I agree to GoodRx’sterms of service andprivacy policy, and to receive marketing messages from GoodRx.
Path To Improved Health
You can take antihistamines in different ways depending on your symptoms. Some people take them only when they have symptoms. Others experience symptoms every day, so they take the antihistamine every day. Sometimes people take them before they are going to be exposed to something they are allergic to. This could include an animal or certain kinds of plants or flowers.
There are many different brands of antihistamines that you can buy over the counter. Some work in different ways. For example, some are designed to work for 4 to 6 hours. Others last for 12 to 24 hours. Make sure you read the label carefully. Follow the directions for how often to take the antihistamine.
Ask your doctor which OTC antihistamine is best for you based on your symptoms.
If you have severe allergies or allergies that affect you year-round, tell you doctor. It could be that you need a prescription allergy medication. The difference between these at OTCs is that prescription antihistamines can come in higher doses.
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Does Allergy Medicine Expire Yes But It May Still Be Effective
- Allergy medicine expires, but it may still be effective for up to two or more years after the expiration date.
- Liquid allergy medicine, such as nasal sprays, tend to expire earlier than antihistamine tablets, and they will lose effectiveness more quickly after expiring.
- This article was medically reviewed by Omid Mehdizadeh, MD, otolaryngologist and laryngologist at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.
- This story is part of Insider’s guide to Seasonal Allergies.
Yes, allergy medicine will expire eventually. However, depending on the type of medication, you may still get some relief after the expiration date has passed.
Over-the-counter and prescription antihistamine tablets tend to stay effective longer than liquid medicines, such as corticosteroid nasal sprays.
Here’s what you need to know about when the different types of allergy medicine expire and how long after they may still be effective to take.
Side Effects And Risks Of Mixing Cold Medicine With Alcohol
It isnt only taking more than the recommended dose or mixing medications that can harm you. Even having just a few drinks while taking one of these OTC medicines can lead to serious physical consequences.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism warns against mixing alcohol with medicines. Alcohol can intensify the sedating effects of allergy, cold, and flu medicines and make it unsafe to perform certain tasks, such as driving. Alcohol may also increase the risk of overdose.6
Possible physical reactions that may arise from mixing alcohol with these medicines include:6
- Profound drowsiness.
- Increased risk of bleeding.
- Increased risk of GI ulcers.
The combination of acetaminophen and alcohol is a major concern, as combining them can lead to serious, potentially fatal liver damage. Typically, taking a dose of acetaminophen and having a drink or two should not put undue stress on the liver. Those who are most in danger tend to be those who drink heavily who take an acetaminophen-containing medicine several times in a 24-hour period. When you have a cold or flu, however, it is entirely possible that youll take one of these medicines many times over the course of several days. If you also drink during this time, you may be risking your liver health, especially if youre having 3 or more drinks per day.7 This risk is increased if you unknowingly take 2 or more drugs that contain acetaminophen.
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It’s Easier Than You Think To Take Too Much Allergy And Cold Medicine Here’s Why
It’s a heck of a time when cold season overlap. If you happen to be one of the unfortunate souls in this sniffly Venn diagram from hell, you’d likely do anything to find relief. Fortunately, you won’t have to go much further than your medicine cabinet, but before you do, be sure to read this advice from Erica Patel, MD, of the University of Southern California, about whether it’s safe to take allergy meds and cold meds simultaneously.
Because symptoms are similar for colds and allergies, you don’t necessarily have to double down. “Many over-the-counter cough and cold medicines and allergy medicines may have similar ingredients,” Dr. Patel noted, including a pain and fever reducer, a decongestant , an antihistamine , and a cough reliever. But that means it’s also easy to overdo it.
“A good way to avoid overdosing on ingredients is to compare labels,” she told POPSUGAR. “For example, if one medication has acetaminophen as an ingredient, then avoid taking other medications with acetaminophen in them.” Common cold and allergy medication ingredients include:
- Pain relievers: acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- : phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, oxymetazoline
- Cough Suppressants: dextromethorphan, guaifenesin
- Antihistamines: diphenhydramine , loratadine , cetirizine , fexofenadine
/13when Should You Alert A Vaccination Provider
Doctors and health bodies recommend vaccination for everyone right now facing critical danger from COVID. However, alerting your vaccinator about your condition beforehand can help them better deal with any reactions or side-effects which may happen.
Get the vaccine when you can. As a rule, inform your vaccinator if you suffer from any of these conditions:
-Have any allergies.
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/13those With Surgeries And Vital Organ Damage
Clinical studies conducted so far have observed that those with fatal complications can safely take their COVID vaccine, without suffering from side-effects. Dr Pandit agrees to the same and adds that people who have had cardiac problems in the past, suffered from heart attacks, renal failure or liver problems can tolerate the vaccine well with their drugs. Those on blood thinners should check the type of medication they are on, before administration.
Doctors do suggest that people who develop a heart attack in the week prior to the vaccination date skip the dose since they are still in recovery and the heavy medicinal doses may cause abject reactions.
If you are on a therapeutic drug used to support or treat the immune system, taking a vaccine after getting a go-ahead from the doctor will be a safer bet.
Risksof Antihistamine And Alcohol
If you’re taking an antihistamine for your seasonal allergy symptoms, it’s best to avoid having a glass of wine or a cocktail, states the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. First, some medications, including cold and allergy drugs, contain multiple ingredients that can react with alcohol. If the medication label isn’t clear, consult with your pharmacist about the potentially negative effects of combining the two substances.
Some seemingly innocuous medications, including many over-the-counter drugs, can interact negatively with alcohol. Certain herbal remedies, often publicized as having beneficial effects for varied health conditions, can also be harmful when taken with any type of alcoholic beverage.
Some antihistamines have been shown to cause drowsiness and sleepiness, while alcohol often produces the same effects. Combining an antihistamine and alcohol will likely magnify your sleepiness and drowsiness. Excessive sleepiness makes it tough to concentrate or perform work and driving or operating machinery could be especially dangerous.
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Is It Safe To Combine Claritin And Alcohol
Written by David Farache
Drinking alcohol while taking Claritin is not advisable because when these substances are combined, some of the effects of each substance will be amplified. Also, it is believed that the use of alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of medications intended to treat allergies.
Alcohol can induce many side effects when used in conjunction with medications, even those that can be obtained over-the-counter. Some of these side effects can be risky and in extreme cases, life-threatening. Claritin is an allergy medication that people sometimes use at the same time as alcohol, either in an attempt to induce particularly sedating effects or simply because they dont know they shouldnt.
Claritin works by blocking the bodys response to chemicals known as histamines. These chemicals produce an immune system response that can cause allergies. Suppressing these chemicals, therefore, results in decreased allergy symptoms. The primary side effects caused by combining Claritin and alcohol exist because both substances can lead to sleepiness and fatigue.
You Started Estrogen Hormone Replacement Therapy
A TSH blood test should be done 12 weeks after starting estrogen therapy to check your thyroid hormone levels. Estrogen, which is available as a pill, injection, or different skin preparations , can affect your thyroid medication. Women taking estrogen therapy may need more Synthroid or levothyroxine.
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Risk Of Taking Claritin With Alcohol
Taking Claritin with alcohol can cause excessive drowsiness. Further, because Claritin is dosed once or twice daily, it can last in your system a long time. This is especially true if you have kidney or liver problems or are elderly, which can make the drug reach higher levels in your system than normal.
Loratadine is still active in your system hours after you have taken a dose. Taking a dose of loratadine in the morning and having an alcoholic drink at night, therefore, does not adequately separate the two substances. The half-life of loratadine, or how long it takes for half a dose to leave your body, is 8.4 hours in adults without liver problems. Because it takes about five half-lives to completely rid your body of a drug, Claritin can remain in your system for more than 40 hours after you take a dose. Drinking during this timeframe can put you at risk of increased side effects.
