Is Benadryl Good For Eye Allergies

Are There Any Natural Treatment Options

While eye allergies in dogs are usually not life-threatening, the symptoms can make your dog very uncomfortable. So, are there any natural treatment options?CBD oil works with your dogs endocannabinoid system, which influences many bodily functions, and can help keep a dogs system in balance.

Furthermore, CBD oil for dogs often has minimal side effects, according to most users. Common side effects of CBD oil are drowsiness, dry mouth, and lowered blood pressure. While research has shown that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, there are no studies on CBD for allergies in dogs so far. Never stop or replace your dogs medications without contacting your vet.

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Symptoms Of Allergic Conjunctivitis

Allergies are usually more common in the spring when allergens, like pollen, are rampant, says , MD, allergy chief at Pennsylvania Hospital.

If you have eye allergies, Goldstein says, typical symptoms include:

• Itchiness in the white of the eye, the inner corner of the eyes, or along the eyelids
• Redness in the white of the eye
• Watery discharge from the eyes
• Itchiness and swelling on the skin around the eyes

In rarer cases, allergic conjunctivitis can cause:

• Blurriness
• Discoloration of skin under eyes

Benadryl For Nausea Or Motion Sickness

Over-the-counter Benadryl products arent approved to treat symptoms of motion sickness. However, Benadryl is often used to treat these symptoms.

Benadryl is often effective for reducing symptoms of motion sickness, but it can cause sleepiness. Other medications are considered a first-choice treatment for people who need to relieve motion sickness but want to stay awake while traveling.

If you get symptoms of motion sickness, talk with your doctor about treatment options before you travel.

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Benadryl And Other Medications

Below is a list of medications that can interact with Benadryl. This list doesnt contain all drugs that may interact with Benadryl.

Different drug interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects.

If you take other medications, talk with your pharmacist before taking Benadryl. Your pharmacist can help you avoid potential interactions.

Anticholinergic drugs

Anticholinergic drugs block the action of acetylcholine, a chemical that relays messages between cells in your body. Benadryl also blocks acetylcholine. Because anticholinergic drugs and Benadryl work in the same way, taking them together can increase the risk of side effects. Examples of these drugs include:

• fesoterodine

• zolpidem

Benadryl and Xanax

Xanax is a type of drug called a benzodiazepine, which can cause sleepiness. Taking Xanax with Benadryl can increase your risk of excessive sleepiness. This can make you too sleepy to drive or prevent you from doing other potentially dangerous activities safely.

If you take Xanax, talk with your doctor before taking Benadryl. They may recommend other treatment options.

Benadryl and Zoloft

Zoloft is an antidepressant that can cause sleepiness in some people who take it. Taking Zoloft with Benadryl may increase the risk of excessive sleepiness. This can make you too sleepy to drive or prevent you from doing other potentially dangerous activities safely.

Benadryl and Zyrtec

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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Apoquel Vs Benadryl For Allergies In Dogs

Now lets look at two of the most commonly prescribed medications to treat allergies in dogs, Apoquel and Benadryl.

• Apoquel is an immune suppressant drug that helps to block the inflammatory reaction, specifically for the sensation of itchy. It is more specific than steroids so that you dont see as many side effects. Apoquel acts quickly, usually within 24-48 hours, and requires an initial higher dosage that can then be tapered down after 7-14 days.

Side effects are pretty minimal with Apoquel, even when used long-term. Since it is an immune suppressant, dogs can be more vulnerable to illness, including some types of cancer and infections. Weight gain can also be a concern. Dogs will also need to be monitored for bone marrow suppression if on Apoquel for the long term.

• Benadryl is an antihistamine that also works as a mild sedative to help ease anxiety. It works well for mild allergic reactions, such as an insect bite or sting. It can also be used for more long-term allergies but has varying results.

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Avoid Outdoor Allergy Triggers

Do your symptoms act up in the spring or summer? You may have seasonal eye allergies. Pollen from grass, weeds, and trees may trigger your eye allergy symptoms. Monitor pollen counts and stay indoors when they are high outside, if possible. Close the windows and run the air conditioner to help filter the air. Pollen counts tend to be the highest in the early evening and mid-morning when winds are most active. If you must be outside, wear sunglasses to minimize contact with allergens. Do not use window fans. These can draw irritants from outside and deliver them into your home and make eyes itchy.

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What Are The Best Eye Drops For Allergies

There are a few different types that might work for you :

• Artificial tears: These do exactly what you’d expectmoisten your peepers. Something as simple as artificial tears lubricate the eye surface and improve overall comfort, says Zeba Syed, MD, a cornea surgeon at Wills Eye Hospital. Artificial tears can also help wash out any gunk that may be on the surface of your eye and bothering you, points out Jacqueline G. Davis, OD, a professor of clinical optometry at The Ohio State University College of Optometry.
• Topical antihistamines: For some people, artificial tears are enough for others, a topical antihistamine may be needed to deal with your bodys allergic response, says Vivian Shibayama, OD, an optometrist at UCLA Health. If your allergies are out of control, OTC eye drops with the antihistamine ketotifen can help tamp down on the itchiness and redness, Dr. Davis says.
• Mast cell stabilizers: Mast cells are a type of cell that causes allergic reactions, according to the American Academy of Asthma and Immunology . These types of drops help prevent the release of compounds that cause allergic reactions , per AAAI, and are available over the counter and in prescription versions.
• These are basic types of eye drops that are designed to chill out redness. They contain a decongestant that constricts blood vessels in the eyes, which in turn, makes them appear less red, according to Berkeley Wellness.

Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis Or Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis

Pollen is the most common allergen to cause conjunctivitis in countries that have cold winters.

If conjunctivitis results from pollen, there will likely be other symptoms, including sneezing, an itchy, blocked, or runny nose, and itchy and watery eyes.

Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is also known as hay fever.

It usually happens during the spring and summer months. At this time, plants, and especially grass, trees, and flowers, are in pollen. Some people have symptoms during early fall.

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Antihistamine Pills And Eye Drops

Antihistamine pills and liquids work by blocking histamine to relieve watery, itchy eyes. They include cetirizine , diphenhydramine , fexofenadine , or loratadine , among others. Some may cause drowsiness.

Antihistamine eye drops work well for itchy, watery eyes. You may need to use them several times a day, but donât use the over-the-counter kinds for more than 2-3 days. Prescription kinds include azelastine hydrochloride , cetirizine ophthalmic , emedastine difumarate , levocabastine , and olopatadine .

They are often combined with other kinds of drops, including some that shrink swollen blood vessels in your eye. You shouldnât use these kinds of drops, called or âget the red outâ drops, for more than a few days at a time. They can also lead to a rebound redness if used too frequently. Donât use them at all if you have glaucoma.

Over-the-counter antihistamines include ketotifen fumarate .

Pregnant And Nursing Women

Benadryl is a commonly used antihistamine during pregnancy. That said, it should not be considered as a preferred antihistamine for routine use in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Regardless of how often one plans to take it, the drug should only be used under the direction of a healthcare provider.

Large doses or overdoses of Benadryl can result in premature contractions during pregnancy. Caution should be used when giving Benadryl near delivery, as the side effects in a newborn can include excitement, irritability, and seizures.

Like many other medications, Benadryl is secreted in breast milk and may be passed to a nursing child, causing temporary side effects such as irritability and colic.

Second-generation antihistamines, such as Zyrtec or Claritin , have fewer side effects, are more effective, and are safer medications for pregnant women and nursing children.

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Can Benadryl Be Crushed

Benadryl tablets can be crushed. If you have trouble swallowing whole tablets, Benadryl liquid solution and chewable tablets are available.

Benadryl is an antihistamine. If you have allergies or have a cold, your body releases a chemical messenger called histamine. This messenger causes symptoms such as inflammation, edema , itchiness, and runny nose.

Benadryl blocks some of the effects of histamine and decreases some of the symptoms caused by it.

Alternatives For Bee Stings And Insect Bites

Insect bites and stings are another ailment people use Benadryl for. But there are much better options.

Fast Remedies For Insect Stings

When Im out in the woods with my dogs in the summer, I always carry two homeopathic remedies with me

• Ledum palustre : an effective remedy for most insect stings or puncture wounds.
• Apis mellifica : this remedy works well for allergic reactions. It helps with stings or red or swollen bites.

Ive seen my dogs get stung on a few occasions. They might step on a ground hornet, or get a bee sting on the face. One of these remedies will usually bring down the pain and swelling right away.

• Try Apis first if the sting becomes very swollen and red, with lots of itching and even pain.
• Try Ledum first if the bite area is cold and puffy.

Carry the little tubes of pellets with you. If your dog gets stung:

• Twist the tube until 2-3 pellets fall into the cap
• Try not to touch the pellets with your hands
• Tip the pellets into his mouth straight out of the cap.
• Give 2 or 3 doses like this in the first hour.
• You should see a very quick improvement, with reduced swelling and discomfort.
• If not, try the other remedy.

Plaintain More Than A Weed!

A great herbal remedy for insect bites is one you might find whenever youre out walking. You may consider it a weed in your back yard but plantain is a great way to treat insect stings in an emergency.

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Whats Wrong With Benadryl

Side effects of Benadryl and other first-generation antihistamines include impaired school performance in kids who use it regularly for seasonal allergies, drowsiness, agitation, hallucinations, andrarelyseizures and even death. For instance, according to a study using data from 2003, that year, in the US, there were six reports of fatalities related to first-generation antihistamine use, Mack says. When the drug was released back in the 1940s we didnt have the same safety standards or requirements before over-the-counter medications were licensed for use, he adds. And yet, in Canada, the drug is readily available over the counter, and, according to online surveys of physicians and pharmacists, Benadryl was the most recommended antihistamine for kids in each of the past seven years.

How Are Allergies In Dogs Treated

The way that an allergen affects our puppies can also help determine how best to treat them. By far, the best treatment for allergies is to cut the allergen out of your dogs life. Sounds easy, but it can be challenging, mainly because we dont always know which allergens are problems. If the underlying cause cant be fixed, that leaves us to treat the reaction. Depending on the type of allergy that a puppy has, topical or oral treatments can be used.

Helpful Dog Article:What Can I Give My Dog To Sleep At Night?

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Conceal Eye Circles Carefully

If you are self-conscious about the appearance of dark circles, you can minimize their appearance with concealer. If the circles are blue, choose a concealer with a yellowish tinge to best hide the problem. If the circles are more brown, choose a concealer with an orange or peach tinge to mask the problem. Use no to minimal eye makeup as makeup may make symptoms worse. The less you put on your eyelids and around your eyes, the better. Instead, accentuate another feature, like your mouth. Put on a flattering shade of lipstick and you’re good to go.

Apoquel Vs Benadryl For Dogs Which Is Better

May 28, 2021 by Andy

This article will guide you through the differences between Apoquel vs. Benadryl for dogs. Allergy season is upon us. Through your watery eyes and in between sneezes, you may have noticed that your dog isnt having the greatest time either. Dogs can suffer from allergies as well, which can be challenging to treat. With many products out there to help control allergies in dogs, which one is best? Lets compare two commonly used products: Apoquel and Benadryl.

Before scrolling down this article Apoquel vs Benadryl For Dogs, these guides can help answer a few questions of yours:How To Trick Your Dog Into Taking Liquid MedicineandHow To Put Ear Drops in an Uncooperative Dog.

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Benadryl: Side Effects And Cautions

Benadryl is a well-known antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms including sneezing, runny nose, and itchy and watery eyes, as well as colds, dry coughs, insomnia, and motion sickness. While typically mild, the side effects of Benadryl may be more intense for some peoplemaking using the drug undesirable, especially during the day, or even unsafe.

Patients Who Present With Concurrent Allergy And Dry Eye Can Be Challenging To Treat Here Are Several Strategies You Can Use To Minimize Their Symptoms

Richard B. Mangan, O.D.

Fifty million Americans are affected by allergy each year, and 30 million of these individuals suffer from seasonal allergies.1 Meanwhile, ocular surface disease affects approximately 20.7 million people in the U.S. every year.2 Of these, nearly 4.25 million individuals have chronic ocular surface disease.3 While many clinicians still ascribe to the general notion that “allergy affects the young and dry eye affects the old,” international epidemiology data suggests that allergic disease is on the rise across all age groups.4 The prevalence of allergic rhinitis has increased during the last three decades and is now estimated to affect 20% of the adult population in the U.S.4 AR is actually considered the most common chronic condition in both adults and children.6 And, 75% of those diagnosed with AR actually have allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.5

It can be challenging to differentiate ocular surface disease from allergic conjunctivitis, as seen in this patient. Courtesy: Jason R. Miller, O.D.

In the following case, the patient presents with concurrent allergy and OSD. What risk factors does she face? How should she best be treated? And, what general management tips and strategies can you recommend to her?

A Case of Concurrent Allergy and Ocular Surface Disease

Discussion. Our patient demonstrates several risk factors for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis :

Drug

1. Claritin

3. Benadryl

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A Note About Severe Reactions And Anaphylaxis

Although antihistamines like Benadryl and Zyrtec may help improve symptoms when your baby has a mild allergic reaction, these medications cannot stop severe allergic reactions or life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Epinephrine is the only medication that can stop anaphylaxis. This is why its important to have two Epi-Pens available for your food allergic child at all times, in case of an emergency.

Epinephrine is the only medication that can stop anaphylaxis.

As Dr. Marks-Cogan explains, I only recommend Benadryl or Zyrtec for infants who are having a mild allergic reaction, such as localized hives or redness. Benadryl or Zyrtec will not stop anaphylaxis from happening—only epinephrine will. Its an important thing to educate parents on, because many parents think that Benadryl will actually stop anaphylaxis, but that is not the case.

Benadryl or Zyrtec will not stop anaphylaxis from happening—only epinephrine will.

Learn more about allergic reactions in infants from Pediatrician Dr. Shelly Flais from the American Academy of Pediatrics :

How Allergy Eye Drops Can Help

There are many allergy eye drops available including non-prescription, over-the-counter eye drops and medicated drops that require a prescription from your eye doctor.

The best allergy eye drops for you depends on several factors, including the cause of your allergy and the severity of your symptoms.

Some allergy eye drops are formulated for short-term use for acute symptoms, while others are designed for long-term use to prevent symptoms from occurring or reduce your sensitivity to allergens.

The best allergy eye drops are those that work two different ways, says Tammy Than, OD, FAAO, and spokesperson for the American Academy of Optometry.

These drugs work as an antihistamine which helps with the itching, swelling and redness and are also mast cell stabilizers which help prevent further release of chemicals that cause the allergies, she says. So these drops help with current symptoms and prevent future symptoms.

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