When To Take Allergy Medicine

What Is The Typical Xyzal Dosage

A Xyzal 5mg breakable tablet once daily in the evening is the dosage for adults and children from 12 to 64 years of age. A 1/2 tablet once daily in the evening may be appropriate for less severe symptoms. Childrens Xyzal is also available in an oral solution for children 2 to 11 years old.

For additional dosing information, please refer to the product labeling.

Are Allergy Shots Effective

Heres some good news for needle-phobes: Immunotherapy the medical term for allergy shots is now available in a sublingual form, which doesnt involve needles. Instead, a drop of liquid that contains allergens is placed under your tongue, where its absorbed by your system. You still have to see a specialist and sit in the waiting room for a short period after receiving immunotherapy because of the very rare risk of a severe allergic reaction. For these reasons, I only recommend immunotherapy after pretty much all else has failed, or for people with severe symptoms.

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Over The Counter Allergy Medicine

The best allergy medicine for you depends on a variety of factors. You will need to consider the specific allergy symptoms you are experiencing and what is triggering them. Then, select an over the counter allergy medicine that addresses those causes and symptoms. Not all allergy medications are created equal, and some are better suited to address certain allergy triggers and symptoms than others. For example, if you deal with both indoor and outdoor allergies, you should consider an allergy medication that contains cetirizine hydrochloride, since the ingredient is approved to treat both indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms. Your needs for the day also matter. If you have to give a big presentation, youre better off reaching for a non-drowsy allergy relief option such as a nasal spray rather than a first-generation antihistamine, such as Benadryl, which contains diphenhydramine and is known for causing drowsiness. If you arent sure which allergy medicine is best for you, dont hesitate to talk to your doctor or pharmacist. He or she can offer you individualized advice and help you formulate a plan for controlling your allergy symptoms that works with not against your lifestyle.

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Timed To Symptoms: Osteoarthritis Meds

According to the research published in Pharmaceutics, osteoarthritis pain peaks in the late afternoon and evening, so its best to start NSAIDs, such as naproxen and ibuprofenthe most widely used meds for osteoarthritisbefore noon, so theyll kick in at the appropriate time. If youre prone to afternoon pain, take meds between mid-morning and noon for evening pain, schedule them for mid-afternoon and for nighttime pain, take them with your evening meal.

Best Medicine For Post

Glands in your nose and throat continuously make mucus to help keep your sinuses moisturized and fight infection.

Sometimes those glands may make extra mucus that you feel running down the back of your throat.

This is called post-nasal drip.

In this article, first Ill explain in detail what post-nasal drip is and what causes it.

Then Ill discuss the best over-the-counter and prescription medications to treat post-nasal drip.

Ill wrap up with home remedies and when to see a medical provider about post-nasal drip.

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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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Taking Antihistamines With Other Medicines Food Or Alcohol

Speak to a pharmacist or GP before taking antihistamines if youâre 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 itâs 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 Dogs Take Allergy Medication

Dogs actually can take medication to help with their allergy symptoms. When it comes to allergy medicine for dogs, there are both prescription and over-the-counter options.

Allergy medications for dogs work just like with people, Dr. Ochoa told The Dodo. They decrease the histamine response, thus decreasing the itching and inflammation in your dog’s skin.

No matter what kind of allergy medication you give your dog, its important to remember that youre treating your dogs symptoms, not the allergy itself.

Owners need to understand, though, they cannot cure allergies, Dr. Simon told The Dodo. They mask symptoms and make dogs more comfortable during flareups. The closest you can get to curing allergies is with immunotherapy since it has the potential to permanently change how your dogs immune system reacts to triggers.

How Long Does Loratadine Take To Work

Loratadine fully works within one hour after you take it and its effect should last for 24 hours. Your symptoms should start to improve in about 20 minutes. You only have to take loratadine once a day. Loratadine is an effective over-the-counter, non-sedating antihistamine used to treat sneezing, runny nose or watery eyes due to a cold or allergy, skin hives and itching.

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Best Prescription Allergy Medicine For Dogs

If youre concerned about the effectiveness of OTC allergy medication, you could always chat with your vet about some good prescription options for your dog.

Prescription medicine tends to be more effective and to work quicker, Dr. Simon said. Generally, they stop the itching within a matter of hours.

Is It Safe To Take An Antihistamine Daily

Experts say, its usually okay. Taken in the recommended doses, antihistamines can be taken daily, but patients should make sure they do not interact with their other medications, saysSandra Lin, MD, professor and vice director of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at John Hopkins School of Medicine.

In other words, youll need to make sure that you choose the right antihistamine for everyday use. First-generation antihistamines come with an increased risk of certain side effects and drug interactions, so are not generally advised for long-term usage.

With first-generation antihistamines, some people note decreasing effectiveness if used daily for several days, says Dr. Lin. Because they cause drowsiness, they are not safe to mix with alcoholsomething to consider if you plan to have a drink during allergy season.

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The risk of interaction increases with combination products. Some allergy medications contain an antihistamine and a decongestant . The decongestant component can cause elevated blood pressure and elevated heart rate, saysStephen Tilles, MD, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Washington. However, Dr. Lin says antihistamines alone are not bad for the heart in otherwise healthy people.

Use this table as a quick reference guide for which medications are safe, but always consult with your pharmacist or healthcare provider before adding a medication to your daily regimen.

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What Is An Antihistamine

To understand antihistamines, its good to first know what histamine is. This important chemical plays a part in regulating many of your bodys physiologic functions. Its also involved in local immune responses.

Histamine is stored in immune cells called mast cells, Dr. Aronica explains. When your body encounters something youre allergic to , these mast cells are triggered to release their contents, which then cause allergy symptoms.

Histamine is the main chemical responsible for the itching associated with allergies. It can also cause your blood vessels to be more permeable , which causes stuffiness. Antihistamines, then, are medications that block some of the effects of histamine.

Allergists recommend long-acting, non-sedating antihistamines ones that wont make you sleepy for everyday use. Though you may know them by their brand names, the generic versions tackle the same problems:

Diphenhydramine, commonly known as Benadryl®, is also an antihistamine, but it isnt recommended for everyday allergies. Its short-acting and very sedating, which can impact your day-to-day work and your ability to operate machinery .

Prescription Allergy Medication Vs Otc Allergy Medication

There are varying levels of effectiveness between prescription and OTC allergy medications but its important to remember that each dog is different, and what works for some dogs might not be the best approach for your dog.

Typically, prescription medicine issued by the vet will be most effective, Dr. Simon said. This tends to include strong anti-itch medicine, which can minimize itching and stop the itch-scratch cycle in its tracks.

According to Dr. Ochoa, OTC medications are really only effective for mild allergy symptoms, whereas prescription allergy medication can help with more severe symptoms.

Some allergy symptoms include:

• Wet, irritated or scabbed skin

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Allergy Shots For Dogs

Allergy shots for dogs can be anti-itch shots, which treat your pups symptoms for several weeks at a time, or immunotherapy shots, which desensitize him to the allergens that affect him.

When it comes to anti-itch allergy shots for dogs, both vets we spoke to recommended Cytopoint.

Cytopoint is an injection that works to reduce your pups itching. One injection can last four to six weeks.

If your pup has environmental allergies, you might want to consider immunotherapy.

With immunotherapy, your vet will actually create an injectable serum for your dog that contains a small amount of the allergen hes sensitive to. These shots will help him build up a tolerance to that allergen until his immune system is so used to handling it that hes essentially no longer allergic to it.

Basically, immunotherapy shots work to treat your dogs underlying environmental allergies as opposed to just treating the symptoms, so they can be a more permanent solution. They arent super effective for every dog, though, and in some cases they might not work at all or only prevent your dogs allergies from getting worse. Talk to your vet if youre interested in this treatment option for your pet.

When You Take Allergy Medicine Every Day This Is What Happens

Spring is a great time of year. The weather gets warmer, the days get longer, but if you’re prone to allergies, the increased dust, pollen, and everything in between can make the season unbearable.

Antihistamines, or allergy medicines, are used to control how much histamine, a chemical made by the immune system in response to allergens, the body produces. But like a lot of medications, allergy pills come with side effects, which can include drowsiness, dry mouth, weight gain, an increased heart rate, headaches, a sore throat, and nausea.

There can also be rare side effects when a person abruptly stops taking allergy pills after regular use. According to Sandra Lin, MD, a professor and the vice director of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at John Hopkins School of Medicine, halting pill usage can result in itchy skin and disrupted sleep .

But what happens when someone takes medicine for allergies every single day for an extended period of time? Is that okay? Is it harmful? After all, 50 million Americans must put up with an array of allergens each year .

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A Doctors Guide To Choosing Allergy Medicine Wisely

Spring allergies? While you might be tempted to grab the closest antihistamine medicine to reduce your symptoms, before you do, make sure the medicine wont do more harm than good.

There are different types of antihistamines, and some are better than others depending on your age, health, and other medications you take.

Older formulas work, but beware of side effects and bad interactions

Doctors often refer to the first type of antihistamines that were on the market as first-generation. They are great at treating allergy symptoms. Unfortunately, in some people, they can result in side effects like anxiety, confusion, feeling sleepy, blurred vision, reduced mental alertness, urinary retention and constipation. These effects are more common for anyone taking certain antidepressant medications.

Ingredients of first-generation antihistamines include brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine and doxylamine. Ask a pharmacist to help you compare products and read the labels if the print is too small. Some of the brand names for these products include Dimetapp Cold & Allergy, Chlor-Trimeton, Tavist, Benadryl, Vicks NyQuil and Tylenol Cold and Cough Nighttime.

The labels should also include warnings that people with certain medical conditions should not take first-generation antihistamines. Ask your doctor before use if you have:

· glaucoma

· trouble urinating

· breathing problems, such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis

· thyroid disease

Common Irritants Dogs Are Allergic To

• Pollen. The same pollen causing hay fever in people can cause seasonal allergic reactions in dogs. Dogs might inhale pollen floating through the air from trees or plants, or sniff growing grass and weeds. Tree and grass pollen seasons tend to last from spring to mid-fall.
• The environment. Dogs can react to environmental elements like pollen, dust, mold, and animal dander. Depending on whats bothering your canine companion, dogs might experience environmental allergies seasonally or constantly.
• Flea allergies. When adult fleas bite your precious pup, they inject a small amount of saliva into the dogs skin, causing an itchy response. According to VCA Hospitals, just one flea bite is enough to cause itching for several days, which means you might see your dog scratch and scratch. Your dog doesnt need to be infested with fleas to show a reaction, and all dog breeds can experience flea allergy dermatitis.
• Foods. Sometimes dogs can be allergic to something in their kibble or treats. They may be sensitive to proteins commonly found in dog kibble, like beef, chicken, or lamb.

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The Coronavirus Pandemic: Key Things To Know

The holiday season.With planned end of the year gatherings, the new Covid surge is prompting worries and cancellations. The Times asked experts to share some holiday guidance, as well as some tips on using at-home virus tests . Here is what to do if you test positive for the coronavirus.

Bidens new plan.President Biden announced new steps to confront the surge in Covid cases, including setting up new federal testing sites, readying military medical personnel to help hospitals and buying 500 million rapid tests to distribute free to the public, though experts warned the measures would not stop an Omicron surge.

Around the world.After infections skyrocketed to record levels in South Africa, new cases have started falling, suggesting its Omicron wave may have peaked. In Europe, the Netherlands, Britain and Denmark adopted tough restrictions, while France, Spain and Italy are taking a more measured approach.

But South Africas observations may not apply to the United States and other countries. Most South Africans have already been infected with Covid-19, and the median age in South Africa is 27 both of which might cause the variant to have milder effects there than in the U.S., where the median age is 38, Dr. Yang said. The data also showed that, although children tended to have mild symptoms, they were 20 percent more likely to be hospitalized during the Omicron wave compared with the first wave.

How to Manage the Current Covid Wave

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What About Other Types Of Antihistamines Do They Have Side Effects And Are Older Adults More Susceptible

Wozniak: All drugs can carry side effects. Unfortunately, older adults can be more susceptible to them because of some of the natural changes that happen in the body with aging and how medications break down. Their liver and kidneys cant flush out medications as well, so they stay in the system longer. They might weigh less and need lower doses.