Allergy meds could affect your driving
It’s almost allergy season ... again.
When your body comes into contact with whatever triggers your allergy—pollen, ragweed, pet dander, or dust mites, for example—it produces chemicals called histamines. Histamines cause the tissue in your nose to swell (making it feel stuffy), your nose and eyes to run, and your eyes to itch. Some people develop itchy skin rashes known as hives.
Medications containing antihistamines, drugs which counteract the effect of histamines, can help relieve many different types of allergies, including hay fever and food allergies. But some antihistamines can make you feel drowsy, unfocused and slow to react. If not taken responsibly and according to directions, they can pose a danger to your health and safety. Information about whether an antihistamine medication can make you drowsy can be found on the product’s label.
These reactions can negatively interfere with driving or operating heavy machinery. You may experience slower reaction time, haziness, or mild confusion even if you don’t feel drowsy after taking a medication containing antihistamines.
Some common prescription antihistamines are: Atarax (hydroxyzine), Clarinex (desloratadine), and Optivar (azelastine). Some common over the counter antihistamines are: Allegra (fexofenadine), Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Claritin (loratadine), and Zyrtec (cetirizine).
Take the Proper Precautions
FDA wants to promote awareness of the potential health risks and the precautions that you should take when using antihistamines.
Always follow directions for use and read warnings on the packages of the drug products you purchase. Different antihistamines may be dosed differently. Don’t assume that when you run out of one antihistamine and happen to buy another, it’s the same dose.
Some antihistamines may cause drowsiness, and you need
to exercise caution when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery. Avoid using alcohol, sedatives (sleep medications) or tranquilizers while taking the product because they may increase drowsiness.
Know that some antihistamines take longer to work than others. Recognize that you might feel the sedating effects of these medications for some time after you’ve taken them and possibly even the next day.
