Can You Take Allergy Pills And Nasal Spray Together

Are Nasal Allergy Sprays Safe

Nasal sprays are generally considered safe for use, and the risk of side effects is pretty low. But if you overuse them, they can cause health issues, like:

• Dryness or stinging in your nose.

Other sprays called decongestant sprays shouldnt be used for more than three or four days, as they can be habit-forming . But nasal steroid sprays and antihistamine nose sprays arent habit-forming and should be used regularly for best effect.

Still, Dr. Aronica recommends taking the minimal effective dose.

If youre getting benefit from a nasal spray, try dropping your dose to find the lowest dose that keeps your allergy symptoms under control, he suggests. You may want to bring the dose back up during pollen season or if your symptoms increase.

I’ll Need To Keep My Fur Baby Outside

Absolutely not. No need to keep your best friend out in the backyard. A benefit of fluticasone nasal is that it works for both indoor and outdoor allergy triggers. So go ahead, keep your four-legged friend close-by in all seasons and year-round.

• Indoor allergens include: cat and dog dander, dust mites, cockroach droppings, mold and pollen tracked in from the outside.
• Outdoor allergens are familiar culprits like: pollen from ragweed, grass, and trees and outdoor mold spores.

Of course, results can be variable, so if you are still having animal allergies, contact your healthcare provider.

Antihistamines And Decongestants: Which Should You Take For A Stuffy Nose

Most, if not all of us, have had a stuffy nose and received varied forms of advice from people around us. One family member might offer a decongestant, while another might suggest that simply eating an orange can ease it due to the antihistamine effects an orange has. While both arent wrong, its important to understand which will work best and when to take them.

Antihistamines and decongestants are common forms of medication that you can consume for a stuffy nose. With nasal congestion causing the same, tiresome symptoms, its easy sometimes to want to reach for the closest solution. But the big question is, which best suits your needs?

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What Are The Different Types Of Allergy Medications

Allergies are triggered when your immune system overreacts to an allergen such as pollen, mold, or pet dander. Although these substances are generally harmless, your body may respond to them as though theyre dangerous and try to attack them. This results in the symptoms you may commonly feel: a stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and coughing.

Taking Antihistamines With Other Medicines Food Or Alcohol

Speak to a pharmacist or GP before taking antihistamines if you’re already taking other medicines.

There may be a risk the medicines do not mix, which could stop either from working properly or increase the risk of side effects.

Examples of medicines that could cause problems if taken with antihistamines include some types of:

• stomach ulcer or indigestion medicines
• cough and cold remedies that also contain an antihistamine

Try not to drink alcohol while taking an antihistamine, particularly if it’s a type that makes you drowsy, as it can increase the chances of it making you feel sleepy.

Food and other drinks do not affect most antihistamines, but check the leaflet that comes with your medicine to make sure.

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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 Science Behind Pseudoephedrine

When you have a cold or an allergy attack, your white blood cells gather in your nasal passages and sinuses. This causes nasal membranes to swell and increases mucus production. Pseudoephedrine constricts these blood vessels, which decreases drainage.

But those same constricted vessels might also increase your blood pressure and heart rate.

Pharmacist Kayla Ryan explains the mechanism of pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is chemically similar to adrenaline, so the body recognizes it as adrenaline, causing the blood pressure and heart rate to increase.

She refers to one of the last major studies of the effects of pseudoephedrine on blood pressure, which took place in 2005. This study found that pseudoephedrine increased systolic blood pressure by one point on average, while heart rate increased by an average of three beats per minute.

Ryan adds that the immediate-release products had a greater impact on heart rate and blood pressure than their 12 hour or 24 hour extended-release counterparts, which showed a smaller increase in blood pressure.

In 2005, the FDA passed the Combat Methamphetamine Act, which requires pharmacies to sell all medications containing pseudoephedrine behind the counter. At your local drugstore, youll find cards in the cold and flu aisle with information for these medications. You can take the card to the pharmacist, who is required to scan your drivers license before purchase.

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Cautions And Side Effects When Using Nasal Spray For Allergies

Side effects occur with almost any medication. Its important to review the potential effects and talk to your doctor before you start using a nasal spray for allergies. This can help ensure that the sprays wont interfere with medications youre already taking.

Examples of some side effects of each nasal spray type include:

• Steroids: nosebleeds and nasal perforations
• Antihistamines: drowsiness, dizziness, nosebleeds, and dry mouth
• burning, stinging, dryness, fast heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and rebound nasal congestion if used longer than a few days
• Anticholinergic: dry nose, nosebleeds, irritation, and headaches
• Mast cell: worsening congestion, sneezing, itching, nosebleeds, and burning sensations

The best treatments for allergies depend on your symptoms. If you commonly experience nasal symptoms, nasal sprays can directly address these symptoms.

However, if you have a lot of other symptoms, there are other allergy treatments. These include:

• Antihistamines: can help address eye itching and sneezing
• can help reduce mucus in the nose and airways
• Leukotriene receptor antagonists: can block chemicals called leukotrienes to reduce allergy symptoms overall

If oral medications or nasal sprays dont help treat your allergies, you may wish to talk to a doctor about immunotherapy. This involves either shots or drops to expose you to small amounts of allergens.

• itching eyes, nose, or face

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Things To Note When Taking An Antihistamine

Unlike many other types of medicine, you can take antihistamines with or without food. However, you should not take it together with alcohol.

You should also take extra precautions andconsult a healthcare provider on any suspected allergies before consuming antihistamines. This is particularly important if the allergy is new to you, as recurrent allergies may have severe reactions that cannot be alleviated with antihistamines. In some severe cases, allergies can trigger a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis, which occurs within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you are allergic to, and requires immediate medical attention.

If you are also on other medication, contact your doctor and ensure that the antihistamines you are taking can be combined with that medication. If not, your doctor will work with you to provide an alternative better suited for your needs.

Most of all, it is important to be responsible for yourself and the people around you. When taking antihistamines that induce drowsiness, make sure not to drive or operate any machinery.

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Aren’t Prescription Medicines Better For Allergies

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Allergy medicines are one of the top prescription-to-over-the-counter switches made in the US.

Think of the previous prescription antihistamines that are now available over-the-counter at the pharmacy without a prescription:

Plus, in addition to Flonase Allergy and Flonase Sensimist, there is now over-the-counter Nasacort Allergy 24HR Spray and Rhinocort Allergy Nasal Spray . In June 2021, Astepro Allergy, a steroid-free antihistamine nasal spray, also went from prescription to OTC status.

But how do you keep up with all the changes and products?

• Consider joining over 400 others in the Drugs.com Allergies Support Group to ask questions, learn from others, and voice concerns.
• You can also stay abreast of the latest allergy-related news and drug approvals via the Support Group.

How To Use A Nasal Spray

Before you spray, take a moment for proper positioning and best practices. Dr. Aronica shares some tips.

• Spare your septum. You want to spray straight up and steer away from the midline of your nose, known as your septum its the cartilage and bone that separates your nasal cavity. Directing your spray here can damage the tissue, causing irritation and a bloody nose.
• Take a gentle sniff. No giant snorts! The biggest mistake people make is doing a big sniff when they spray, Dr. Aronica says. If you suck the medicine to the back of your throat and its swallowed, its not doing anything for the nose or sinus. So, after youve sprayed, take just a light sniff.
• You shouldnt taste it. If you can taste the medicine down the back of your throat, its not staying where it belongs in your nose. You want as much of that medicine to stay in the nose and sinus as possible, Dr. Aronica advises.

If youre banking on a nasal spray to keep your allergy symptoms at bay, its important that you use it right so it can do its job. Follow all tips for using nasal spray properly to give it the best chance of working its medical magic.

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Which Allergy Medications Affect My Blood Pressure

You should avoid decongestants if you have high blood pressure or heart problems. Decongestants constrict blood vessels to open nasal passages and facilitate breathing. Because decongestants constrict blood vessels throughout your body, they can worsen hypertension. Additionally, decongestants stimulate the release of norepinephrine in your body, which raises your blood pressure and your heart rate.

When choosing an allergy medication, be aware of combination products that contain decongestants. Products that contain a decongestant typically have the words sinus, cold, congestion, or on the label. They may also be labeled with the letters D, PD, or PE after the name.

Examples of allergy medicines that contain decongestants include the following:

• Sudafed Sinus and Allergy

The list above is a small sample of allergy medications that contain decongestants. Always check with your pharmacist before choosing allergy medications.

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Should I Replace My Allergy Medicine With A Nasal Spray

by Med-World | Apr 26, 2016 | Learning Center

Dear Pharmacist,

I keep seeing the commercials about the nasal sprays now available over the counter, such as Flonase and Nasacort, and how they work better than allergy pills. I already take a generic Allegra every day. If I try one of the nasal sprays, do they replace the Allegra, or can I use them together?

Dear Allergies,

It is true that the nasal sprays can attack more causative particles that contribute to seasonal allergies, but they do work differently than the oral antihistamines. It is common practice to use the two together, but some people can get by with using one or the other. The thing to know about the nasal sprays is that they should be used more as a preventative product, used every day to keep symptoms at bay before they become a problem. You can use the Allegra when you start having problems, but the nasal sprays will take 2-3 days to catch up. With that in mind, you could add the nasal sprays on during your most offensive months. I would recommend talking to your doctor before using the nasal sprays every day, all year long.

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When To See A Doctor

Some side effects of taking antihistamines can mimic symptoms of an overdose. These include mild nausea, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

These symptoms dont usually require medical treatment, and may subside as your body adjusts to the medication. Even so, check with a doctor if you have side effects. You may need to reduce your dosage or take a different medication.

The difference between a side effect and an overdose is the severity of symptoms. Severe symptoms like rapid heart rate, tightness in the chest, or convulsions require a visit to the emergency room.

Antihistamines are safe when used properly. Here are some tips to avoid ingesting too much:

• Dont take two different types of antihistamines simultaneously.
• Dont take more than the recommended dosage.
• Dont double up on doses.
• Keep drugs out of reach of children.
• Dont take two doses too close together.

Make sure you read labels carefully. Some antihistamines can interact with other drugs you take. If you dont know whether its safe to combine an antihistamine with another medication, speak with a doctor or pharmacist.

Be mindful that some antihistamines include other ingredients like a decongestant. If you take these types of antihistamines, its important that you dont take a separate decongestant.

Should I Worry About A Severe Allergic Reaction To The Vaccine

An allergic reaction is considered severe when a person needs to be treated with epinephrine or an EpiPen or if the person must go to the hospital, says the CDC. This includes anaphylaxis, a reaction that includes symptoms such as wheezing, nausea, vomiting, hives, dizziness, and/or fainting.

Your chances of a severe reaction arent zero, but its a very small chance, and people have to understand that allergic reactions are treatable, says Fung.

Post-vaccination anaphylaxis occurred in approximately two to five people per million vaccinated in the United States, according to the CDC. This kind of allergic reaction almost always occurs within 30 minutes after vaccination, and vaccine staff have medicines to immediately treat it.

Seasonal allergies arent going to cause you to have a severe reaction. If youve had severe allergic reactions in the past from food, pets, venom, latex, environmental allergies, or oral medications, you also remain advised to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

There are no food components or latex in any of the vaccines, says Fung. If you have a history of anaphylaxis from an egg or peanut or bee sting allergy, we tell people to bring an EpiPen and be prepared to wait for a 30-minute observational period. But its a precaution, and it goes for anyone with a history of anaphylaxis in general.

Its important to remember that the risk of having a severe COVID infection still outweighs the risk of a severe allergic reaction, says Fung.

Expert sources:

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What Other Drugs Will Affect Sinus & Allergy Pe

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are also using any other drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor before taking Sinus & Allergy PE with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

If I Dont Usually Take Allergy Medicine Should I Take It To Prevent An Allergic Reaction To The Vaccine

No. Theres no need to suddenly start taking allergy medicines if youve never taken them before. Using antihistamines to prevent an allergic reaction to the vaccine is not recommended.

Likewise, the CDC doesnt recommend taking over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen, before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent vaccine-related side effects.

If youre worried, your best strategy is not premedication, but to talk to your doctor so that you can try to alleviate some of that anxiety, says Feldman. In general, these vaccines have been very safe andweve seen very few true allergic reactions.

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How Does Flonase Allergy Relief Work

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How does Flonase allergy relief work? Flonase is a nasal spray that works directly in your nose to relieve nose and eye related allergy symptoms. Flonase is minnably absorbed by the body and contains fluticasone propionate. The number one most prescribed allergy medicine for years and now it’s available over-the-counter

FLONASE Allergy Relief is a nasal spray that works directly in the nose to relieve nose- and eye-related allergy symptoms. FLONASE contains fluticasone propionatewhich for years has been the #1-prescribed allergy ingredient.*.

As a nasal spray now available over the counter, FLONASE Allergy Relief works right in the nose, and is minimally absorbed by the body.1

1. Sastre J, Mosges R. Local and systemic safety of intranasal corticosteroids. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 22.1 : n. pag. Web. 13 Oct. 2016.