Antihistamines

With a change of seasons, patients frequently notice a change in their allergy symptoms. The mainstay of treatment is still antihistamines, but there are a number of different kinds. The staff at UFS are always available to help you to select the best therapy for your own symptoms.

The two most common kinds of antihistamine used for allergies are referred to as Sedating Antihistamine or Non-Sedating Antihistamines. Sedating antihistamines cross over into the brain and can cause some people to become tired after taking them which can affect your ability to work or drive. In about 10% of patients, these medications may do the opposite (which is usually more of a concern for children). Because of this, and their ability to interact with other medications, patients need to discuss their needs with the pharmacist before they can access this class of medication.

The other kind of antihistamine is Non-Sedating. This name can be confusing because they are actually considered less sedating, but in high doses can still cause sedation. This class of medication was modified to be less likely to cross into the brain, and therefore less likely to cause the side effects we would worry about with traditional antihistamines. This modification unfortunately can sometimes make them less effective at treating certain symptoms which is why it is best to discuss your symptoms with our staff so that we can help you to choose the best medication for you.

Antihistamines are also available in eye drop and nasal spray form, which can be very effective if you only suffer from specific symptoms. These are especially useful if other treatments have failed.