Antihistamines are medications which are most frequently prescribed by doctors for the treatment of hay fever and some forms of allergies. They are responsible for obstructing the receptor sites of histamines which are chemicals released by the body as a response to foreign substances which enter the body. Even if the drugs are popular, there are some side effects which a user should pay attention to. The doctor will make sure that he will not prescribe these drugs if the patient suffers from a certain condition in which the intake of these drugs will result to complications. Nevertheless, it is best to conduct some research and educate oneself regarding the different side effects of the drug.
Regardless of their efficiency, there are some side effects of antihistamines. While some people can experience several effects, others will not feel anything. In children and the elderly, the side effects of antihistamines are more common when compared to individuals of other age groups. A few of the common side effects include:
• Headache
• Drowsiness or sleepiness
• Mouth is dry
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Vision is blurred
• State of confusion
• Constipation or difficulty with bowel movement
Majority of these side effects are mild and will decrease when the body can already adjust to the medication. Aside from these, the blood pressure is also affected due to the use of these drugs. This can manifest as low blood pressure. Yet, several individuals will experience side effects such as increased sensitivity to light and fainting, irregular heartbeat, uncontrolled movements, difficulty in breathing and urinating, fever and chills, sweating, vomiting and ringing sound in the ear. In these cases, a doctor should be contacted at once.
Antihistamine Precautions
Besides the side effects which are previously mentioned, antihistamines must not be used in some instances in which there are medications and other health problems some people are suffering from. They should be avoided by people who have liver and heart diseases, glaucoma, enlarged prostate seizures, thyroid and lung problems and high blood pressure. Apart from the ones mentioned above, an individual has to inform his doctor if he has any other health conditions before starting to take these medicines. Moreover, those who are using medications for seizures, sedatives, muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, other cold and allergy medicines and tranquilizers should not use antihistamines because these can interact with these drugs and will result to adverse effects. Individuals who will undergo allergy testing must also stop using antihistamines since these drugs can hamper with the results of the test.
Since antihistamines have sedative effects, these should not be used by people if they want to perform activities such as driving which requires alertness of mind. These medicines are best taken before going to bed at night. Women who are pregnant and those who are breastfeeding are also advised not to use these medicines because these can have serious side effects in children particularly those who are under the age of 12.
