Zyrtec: A Brand Name Of Cetirizine
Zyrtec is the brand name given for Cetirizine. It belongs to the antihistamine group of medicines. They are commonly used to treat allergic reactions like sneezing, hives, itchy skin, redness of eyes, watery eyes, etc. Cetirizine belongs to the histamine antagonist category of drug that is used to relieve allergy symptoms. Pharmacologically, it comes from the second generation of H1 receptor antagonists, simply known as antihistamines.
Talk With Your Doctor
Allegra and Zyrtec treat the same symptoms and come in similar forms, but these drugs have a few key differences between them:
- You need to pay attention to what you drink with Allegra because fruit juices can affect how well it works.
- Zyrtec is more likely to cause drowsiness than Allegra.
- The effects of Zyrtec may last a few hours longer than the effects of Allegra.
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about Allegra and Zyrtec and which drug may be right for you. They can also give you advice on taking the drugs safely.
Food Allergy: Home Remedy Or Emergency Room
Overview
Food allergies can be deadly, but not all physical reactions to food require a visit to the emergency room. Knowing when to call 911 and when you can treat a reaction with things in your home could save your life, as well as some money.
As many as 15 million Americans have food allergies, according to Food Allergy Research & Education. And these numbers are rising. Between 1997 and 2011, food allergies in children increased by 50 percent, and now they affect one in every 13 kids. Their prevalence is alarming, as are their potential effects.
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Is It Safe To Take Zyrtec Every Day
Yep. “When taken in the recommended doses, antihistamines can be taken daily. This is especially true with Zyrtec, since it doesn’t show decreasing effectiveness if used daily,” says Sima Patel, MD, an allergist at New York Allergy & Sinus Centers.
Zyrtec and other allergy medicines currently on the market are known as second-generation antihistamines, and have fewer and less severe side effects than the “first generation” of allergy medications did. So though you might experience some side effects while on allergy medicine, they shouldn’t persist once you’ve stopped taking it.
Still, it’s probably worth holding off on medication that you don’t need, says Dr. Patel. So if you aren’t having allergy symptoms or they get milder during a certain time of the year, that’s probably a good time to take a Zyrtec break. “We always want the least amount of medication to control symptoms. However, starting allergy medications two weeks prior to your symptomatic season is best to help prevent symptoms,” Dr. Patel says.
Mild side effects may be totally normal, but if you’re experiencing severe side effects, or persistent ones that just won’t go away, it’s best to talk to your doctor before you continue regular use of Zyrtec to see if its right for you.
How To Make Herbal Tea For Allergies + Recipes
I consider myself pretty lucky when it comes to allergies. I only suffer a wee bit from seasonal allergies, but even then, they can be pretty miserable. Ive seen friends and family suffer each year with all of the horrid parts of allergiesitchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, congestion, headaches, etc.
Its all so frustrating! Lucky for you allergy-sufferers, there are some natural remedies that can help alleviate some of the suffering. This herbal tea blend for allergies is one of the most effective.
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How Can I Avoid Serious Complications
The best thing you can do is to avoid potential allergens.
Allergens are all around us, but you already have a head start if you know your triggers. You can take steps now to reduce your contact with specific allergens that worsen your symptoms.
Read on for tips on avoiding common allergens that could make your COPD symptoms worse.
Is Zyrtec Or Benadryl More Effective
There is very little data comparing the oral forms of Zyrtec and Benadryl. One study compared the two medications for food allergies. The study concluded that Zyrtec was similar to Benadryls effectiveness and took the same amount of time to start working. Zyrtec also had a longer duration of action .
A literature review of Benadryl compared to non-sedating antihistamines concluded that all antihistamines were similarly effective, but that the newer antihistamines, like Zyrtec, caused less sedation.
The Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology recommends that newer antihistamines like Zyrtec be used in favor of older antihistamines like Benadryl. The CSACI says that the newer antihistamines are safer, less-sedating, and more effective. They state that Benadryl is associated with significant side effects like sedation, poor sleep, and motor impairment, potentially leading to accidents and death, and should only be used as a last resort.
Because both Zyrtec and Benadryl are OTC, the most effective medication for you can be determined by trial and error to see which medication helps your symptoms while causing the least side effects. Your healthcare provider can guide you with product selection as well.
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Whats The Difference Between First
Just like the name implies, the first generation antihistamine were the first type approved by the Food and Drug Administration . They began to be approved in the United States in the 1930s and are still prescribed today.
They work on histamine receptor in the brain and spinal cord along with other types of receptors. Most notable about this generation of antihistamines is that they cross the blood-brain barrier, which results in drowsiness.
Second-generation antihistamines were approved by the FDA and first came to market in the 1980s. The second-generation antihistamines do not cross the blood-brain barrier to the extent that first-generation do and therefore do not cause drowsiness at standard dosage levels. Second-generation antihistamines are considered to be safer than first generation antihistamines because they dont cause drowsiness and interact with fewer drugs.
Which Food Allergy Tests Are Worth Paying For
The symptoms of food intolerance occur usually a few hours after eating the food. Allergic reactions usually happen much more quickly.
With an allergy, even a tiny amount of the food can cause an allergic reaction to take place. Some people with a severe allergy to nuts might experience an extreme form of allergic reaction :
- After eating something made in a factory that also handles nuts or
- After kissing someone who has recently eaten nuts.
With food intolerances you need a lot more of the food to cause the symptoms.
Food intolerances are never life-threatening. Some allergies are, as they can cause anaphylaxis.
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Which Food Allergies Are Most Common
In adults, they include:
- Tree nuts, such as walnuts
- Shellfish, including shrimp, crayfish, lobster, and crab
For children, the food allergens that most often cause problems are:
- Milk
- Peanuts
Adults usually don’t lose their allergies, but children do sometimes. Kids are more likely to outgrow allergies to milk, eggs, and soy than to peanuts, fish, and shrimp.
The foods that you’ll react to are often those that you eat regularly. In Japan, for example, you’ll find rice allergy. In Scandinavia, codfish allergy is common.
How Can I Avoid Food Allergy Triggers
To avoid the foods you are allergic to, you must carefully check the ingredient labels on food products. Food manufacturers must clearly state on the label if a product contains any of the eight most common food allergens.
Some labels use precautions such as may contain or made on shared equipment. If you have any questions about what you can and cant eat, ask your healthcare provider.
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What Other Drugs Will Affect Zyrtec
Using Zyrtec with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.
Other drugs may interact with cetirizine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Foods To Help You Fight Spring Allergies
By Eliza
If you’re anything like me, springtime brings on sneezing, itching eyes and a stuffy nose. Welcome to spring allergies. When the trees start to get their leaves, the flowers start to bloom and the cotton starts to fly, you could be feeling pretty yucky. Fortunately, you can make some pretty easy dietary changes that can help you feel better. These foods should never replace any medications prescribed by your doctor for springtime allergies. In the meantime, add these foods recommended by msn.com to your grocery cart and you should be feeling better in no time.
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How Can I Prevent Food Allergies
There is no known way to prevent food allergies in adults. In babies, breastfeeding in the first six months of life may prevent milk allergy. Early introduction of highly allergenic foods such as peanut protein and eggs into the diet may also have a preventative effect. Please discuss with your healthcare provider.
Issues Mistakenly Linked To Food Allergies
Although some people think certain illnesses can be caused by food allergies, evidence doesn’t back up such claims. Histamines in cheese or red wine, for example, can trigger migraines. But we can’t say that food allergies actually causemigraines. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis aren’t made worse by foods. Food allergies don’t cause “allergic tension fatigue syndrome,” where people get tired, nervous, and may have problems concentrating or headaches.
Cerebral allergy is a term that describes when mast cells are supposedly releasing their chemicals in the brain — and nowhere else in the body — causing trouble concentrating and headaches. Most doctors don’t recognize cerebral allergy as a disorder.
Even when their surroundings are very clean, some people have many general complaints like problems concentrating, fatigue, or depression. Environmental illness may be the result of small amounts of allergens or toxins, but not food allergies.
Researchers have found that hyperactivity in children may be related to food additives, but only occasionally and only when the child has had a lot of them. A food allergy won’t directly affect a child’s behavior, although their symptoms might make them cranky and difficult, and allergy medications can make them sleepy.
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How Is Anaphylaxis Treated
Someone with anaphylaxis needs help right away. The reaction can get worse very quickly. So doctors usually want people with allergies to carry injectable medicine called epinephrine. Epinephrine enters the bloodstream and works quickly against serious allergy symptoms.
Doctors prescribe auto injectors. These should always be with the person with allergies, including at school, sports, jobs, and other activities. The auto injector is small and easy to use.
If you’re prescribed epinephrine auto injectors, the doctor will show you how to use them. Always have two auto injectors with you in case one doesn’t work or you need a second dose.
Your doctor also might instruct you to take antihistamines in some cases. But always treat a serious reaction with epinephrine. Never use antihistamines instead of epinephrine in serious reactions.
Products Contraindicated With Asthma
Asthma was once a labeled contraindication for allnonprescription products containing first-generation antihistamines. Therationale behind this labeled contraindication was discussed by an OTCreview panel appointed to examine antihistamines in its original 1976report: The Panel is aware that a controversy exists concerning the useof antihistamines in patients with bronchial asthma where a dryingaction is undesirable. Many physicians consider this effect to bedisadvantageous in patients with bronchial asthma and some maintain thatthe antihistaminic drugs are contraindicated in patients with thisdisease.2 Products carried this label for years. In 1985,the FDA published a tentative final monograph for antihistamines,agreeing with the need for this label.3
In 1992, however, the FDA published its final rule on labeling for nonprescription first-generation antihistamines.4In this document, the agency described the conclusions of a 1990meeting of the FDAs Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee.Participants believed that first-generation antihistamines did not havesufficient anticholinergic effects to be problematic for those withasthma, removing the term asthma from the warnings. Second-generationantihistamines have never beenrequired to carry an asthma warning.
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When To Use Zyrtec For Dogs
Zyrtec is used for controlling allergic reactions in dogs. Allergy management in dogs is critical because in more severe cases, the allergic reaction may trigger hives or, worst-case scenario, a potentially life-threatening condition known as anaphylactic shock.
Even when not life-threatening, allergic reactions are tedious. The irritation and excessive itching can lead to secondary skin infections, hair loss, and other complications.
To understand how Zyrtec works we need to explain how allergic reactions occur. Namely, during an allergic reaction, the body releases a chemical known as histamine. Once released, the histamine binds with the so-called H1 receptors, which result in itchiness and swelling. Zyrtec and all antihistamines work by blocking the histamine receptors in the dogs body.
How Should Benadryl Be Taken
A typical dose of Benadryl is 25-50 mg every 4-6 hours. Benadryl may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors , other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or insomnia medications, anxiety or sleep medicines, antidepressants, or any other medications that make you feel drowsy, sleepy, or relaxed. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Benadryl has not been adequately evaluated in pregnant women. Benadryl is secreted in breast milk. Because of the risk of stimulation and seizures in infants, especially newborns and premature infants, antihistamines should not be used by nursing mothers.
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How Food Allergies Work
Food allergies involve two parts of your immune system. One is immunoglobulin E , a type of protein called an antibody that moves through the blood. The other is mast cells, which you have in all body tissues but especially in places like your nose, throat, lungs, skin, and digestive tract.
The first time you eat a food you’re allergic to, certain cells make a lot of IgE for the part of the food that triggers your allergy, called an allergen. The IgE gets released and attaches to the surface of mast cells. You won’t have a reaction yet, but now you’re set up for one.
The next time you eat that food, the allergen interacts with that IgE and triggers the mast cells to release chemicals such as histamine. Depending on the tissue they’re in, these chemicals will cause various symptoms. And since some food allergens aren’t broken down by the heat of cooking or by stomach acids or enzymes that digest food, they can cross into your bloodstream. From there, they can travel and cause allergic reactions throughout your body.
The digestion process affects the timing and the location. You may feel itching in your mouth. Then you may have symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or belly pain. Food allergens in your blood can cause a drop in blood pressure. As they reach your skin, they can trigger hives or eczema. In the lungs, they may cause wheezing. All of this takes place within a few minutes to an hour.
Side Effects Of Zyrtec
If you suffer from seasonal allergies and worry about Zyrtec side effects, it may help to understand what youre up against when making a decision about using it. Seasonal allergies can drag you down and keep you indoors when the weather is nice. Making a decision to treat allergies comes down to finding the best medication that works best for you. This article outlines some of the side-effects you may experience with Zyrtec and how they may impact your treatment. There is also helpful information on how Zyrtec is used, its effectiveness, and some alternatives to help with your decision.
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When To See A Doctor
If you are experiencing allergy symptoms for the first time, you should get checked by your doctor to make sure you are not suffering from an upper respiratory virus or bacterial infection. Your doctor will make a recommendation at that time if they think Zyrtec will be helpful.
See your doctor if you are taking Zyrtec and it is not helping your allergy symptoms. You may need a medication change and your doctor can best recommend what to do.
You should also contact your doctor if you are experiencing mild side-effects that do not go away, or moderate side-effects. Severe side-effects need immediate medical attention.
How Are Food Allergies Treated
When you know what foods you are allergic to, the best approach is to strictly eliminate those foods from your diet and to have emergency medications including epinephrine autoinjectors available at all times in case of accidental ingestion and reaction. Its important to seek emergency medical care immediately after using an epinephrine autoinjector. Wearing a medical alert identification indicating your food allergies is also recommended.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines that reduce your allergic reaction symptoms. These medicines include:
- Epinephrine , a lifesaving emergency medication that immediately begins reversing symptoms of anaphylaxis.
- Antihistamines, medications that reduce itching or congestion.
- Corticosteroids to reduce swelling if you have a severe allergic reaction.
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Managing Child Food Allergies
Food allergies are commonly passed down from parent to child. Some are outgrown but others are not and can cause life-threatening reactions. Dr. Cindy Gellner explains the problem and urges communication and preparedness for parents of children with allergies to foods. She discusses the most common food allergies and gives simple tips for dealing with them at home, school and social events.
Dr. Gellner: Food allergies seem to be increasing. I have them, and chances are you know someone who has them as well. What to know about food allergies is today’s topic on The Scope. I’m Dr. Cindy Gellner.
Announcer: Medical news and research from University of Utah physicians and specialists you can use for a happier and healthier life. You’re listening to The Scope.
Dr. Gellner: Food allergies seem to be everywhere. You’re seeing everything peanut free or dairy free or gluten free or soy free.
So what exactly is a food allergy and how is it different from just an intolerance? An intolerance means your child can still eat it. They just may have some feelings where they just don’t react very well to it, but it’s not a true allergy.
A true food allergy is actually an immune system reaction to the food. About 5% of children have true allergic reactions to food, and you will know that your child has a food allergy if the symptoms happen within two hours of eating certain foods.
