Antihistamine Safety

April 13, 2023
  • FIRST, if you take any prescription or other over-the-counter medications, ask your pharmacist about possible drug interactions (yes, even for common over-the-counter medications)
  • SECOND, read or ask your pharmacist to read the label of allergy medications so that you know the active ingredients- many of them have multiple medications, especially allergy and cold blends (again- yes, even the common over-the-counter medications)
  • THIRD, talk to your doctor of pharmacist if you have high-risk conditions that may be inappropriate for antihistamine use:
    • Conditions include but are not limited to:
      • Glaucoma
      • Difficulty with urination/urinary retention/enlarged prostate
      • Asthma
      • Emphysema
      • Chronic bronchitis
      • Thyroid disease
      • Heart disease
      • High blood pressure
  • FOURTH, choose medications cautiously and under the direction of a doctor or pharmacist.
    • AVOID first-generation antihistamines that cross the blood pain barrier and can cause anxiety, sedation, blurred vision, constipation and urinary retention in older adults.
      • Brompheniramine and chlorpheniramine (Dimetapp, Dimetapp Cold, Advil or Tylenol mixtures for colds and allergies, Chlor-Trimeton),
      • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl),
      • Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine),
      • Doxylamine (Vicky Nyquil),
    • CONSIDER second or third-generation antihistamines (which do not cross the blood-brain barrier and have less side effects).
      • Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
      • Desloratadine (Clarinex)
      • Fexofenadine (Allegra)
      • Loratadine (Claritin)

More information on medication safety for older adults is linked below: