Articles Archives

The Allergy Medication and Alzheimer’s Connection

Since researchers at the University of Washington first released their findings on side-effects of some common medications, people have had many questions about the relationship between common over the counter allergy medication and dementia, pneumonia, and other side effects.

Initial Anticholinergic Study

The initial study linked long-term high dose of a common class of antihistamine, antidepressant and bladder control medication to serious, irreversible side effects such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

The Allergy Medication Connection

Anticholinergic medications work by suppressing the action of acetycholine in the body and brain. This is a neurotransmitter. That means it transmits messages to the brain. Two over-the-counter allergy medications fall into this category:

Diphenhydramine (Bendryl)
Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)

Diphenhydramine is also a common ingredient in over-the-counter sleep medications (like Tylenol PM, Advil PM, etc.).

Other Medications in This Class

Antihistamines were not the only medications identified. The antidepressant doxepin and the bladder control medication oxybutynin are also in this class. Sertraline (marketed as Zoloft) is included in the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This class of drugs is used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Read more here: depressions-treatment-info.com

Allergy Medication Alternatives

If you are still taking the older generation allergy medications, look at some of the newer offerings. Loratadine (Claritin, Alavert) is highly effective for many people with seasonal or indoor allergies. The inhaled corticosteroids such as Flonase can provide relief when oral medication does not.

Allergy Control without Allergy Medication

Not only should you talk to your doctor about your medication, you should also talk about other measures you can take to relieve your symptoms without medication.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, using a nasal rinse or neti pot with a saline solution can provide relief.

If you are allergic to dust, make sure you wash sheets regularly and use allergy mattress covers and pillow covers.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl

Allergies and Flying

I’ve written before about allergies and travel. But what about allergies and flying? This was a great topic suggested by one of the blog readers.

“Peanut fares” and “flying for peanuts” turned Southwest Airlines from a regional carrier to a major national airline. Even though their peanuts are iconic, they offer peanut-free flights.

If you have a nut allergy, it is imperative that you let the airline know when you book the flight. This way, they can accommodate your need to be nut free and the other passengers’ desire for a snack. I know nut allergy can be life-threatening, but I will admit, when Southwest announces that a flight will be nut-free I inwardly groan. Pretzels are usually the substitute snack of choice and I despise pretzels. But I digress.

Also, book your flight for early in the day as possible. Because airlines turn around flights quickly on the ground, the plane isn’t really cleaned between flights as much as “tidied up”. This means that peanut residue may linger from earlier flights. The first flight in the morning will be the cleanest. Even if you are on the first flight, be sure to have your Epi-Pen handy.

If you are concerned about the spread of viruses and bacteria due to recirculated air, the only mask that is going to protect you is an N95-type mask.

These are designed and manufactured to prevent the inhalation of particles as small as 0.1 microns. This will protect against viruses and bacteria. If you remember from the recent swine flu, bird flu, and SARS scares, these were the types of masks you saw people wearing in public.

As far as dust mites and pollens go, the bad news is that the seats and carpets of airplanes aren’t frequently cleaned to remove allergens. This means that everyone that walks on the plane is bringing a small amount of pollen from the location they are leaving.

The good news is that dust mites aren’t found in large numbers on our clothing. This means that you shouldn’t have high dust mite populations on your seat. That is a good thing because it is hard to get liquid through security in your carry-on.

You could put 3 or 4 ounces of ADMS Anti Allergen Spray in a small bottle and spray it around your seat, but do you really want to waste that precious space in your one allowed quart bag of 4-ounce liquids? Not me! I’ll save that room for toothpaste and deodorant every time!

If you are having an allergy attack when you are flying, you need to pay close attention to your ears. Sometimes allergy can lead to the Eustachian tubes being swollen. It is important that this passage be clear when you experience changes in altitude.

It might be necessary to take a decongestant before your flight. If so, remember to allow plenty of time for it to enter your bloodstream. Speaking of medications, if you are like me and suffer from an occasional bout of motion sickness when flying, your allergies are in luck. The active ingredient in Dramamine is very similar to the antihistamine found in Benadryl.

Don’t let your allergies keep you grounded…flying is not a problem if you are prepared!

Til Next Time

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

Trendy Supplements For Asthma Don’t Work

In a recently published article in the May issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Hortensia Moreno-Macias reports that her review of published studies indicates that there is no clear evidence of a relationship between the use of antioxidant supplements and other dietary supplements and a decrease in allergies or asthma.

Oxidative stress stimulates the inflammatory responses that can lead to allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, supplements for asthma and food allergies. The conventional wisdom holds that antioxidants would relieve this oxidative stress. However, a review of the published studies does not show this to be the case. So much for conventional wisdom!

In short, while there was no compelling evidence that the use of fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin E, and other antioxidant supplements for asthma had a positive impact on allergies or asthma they found out that it didn’t harm either. The researcher recommends that in certain situations where antioxidants might not be available in the diet that supplements for asthma might be appropriate.

So, if you feel your diet is not complete and you want to take an antioxidant go ahead, just don’t expect it to help your allergies or asthma any more than eating a well-balanced diet.

Wishing you the best of health
Mike