EFFECTIVE AND SAFE ALLERGY CONTROL

Even the healthiest of seniors, sometimes take innumerable medications for several reasons; including everything ranging from vision problems to heart diseases.  Medicines that cure without posing a risk to the patients are rare. Hence, treating simple allergies may become a serious problem; as such particular drugs should be prescribed only after careful consideration.

 

 

A family of drugs often used to treat allergies affecting people of all ages, as well as young children is, Antihistamines.

 

 

These drugs, first developed about half a century ago, can be divided into two sections. First in the era in which they were approved and secondly that in which they had been developed.

 

 

The so-called first generation of Antihistamines seems to cause a number of reactions when prescribed to elderly people. Some of these symptoms are at times exhibited among the younger population also. Symptoms include reduction of mental alertness or anxiety, confusion, blurred vision, constipation, sedation.  Moreover, anti-depressants usually prescribed to innumerable seniors, worsen the side effects of Antihistamines of the first generation.

 

 

The second generation Antihistamines is probably a better choice for seniors with allergic problems.  These drugs react differently than the first generation ones, with lesser side affects since they do not cross what doctor’s term as the “blood-brain barrier” as easily as some others do.  The second generations Antihistamines are those, which have become household names, like Allegra, Clarinex, Zyrtec and Claritin.

 

 

Allergic seniors should consult their doctors in trying to determine which drugs are safe for consumption. Taking of any over-the-counter allergy medications should be avoided or one should consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking the same.