date: 8/12/2005
Take allergy drug and sniff flowers safely?
If you've had a reaction to seafood or other foods, an evaluation by an allergist is a good next step. You may need to carry allergy medicine such as antihistamines with you.
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DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME Despite this ad for Allegra-D, hay-fever sufferers should try to avoid pollen regardless of whether they're taking allergy medicine.
“Can't take the congestion? Take Allegra-D,” says a magazine ad for the prescription allergy and decongestant drug. Pictures show a young woman, first with symptoms of a stuffy nose and itchy eyes, then bright-eyed and blithely smelling a dahlia.
But hay-fever sufferers shouldn't assume that taking Allegra-D, which contains the antihistamine fexofenadine and the decongestant pseudoephedrine, gives them carte blanche to romp through the roses and the ragweed. Those ingredients reduce but don't eliminate symptoms, so allergic people risk a substantial flare-up by direct exposure to allergens.
Moreover, recent research suggests that hay fever is the first phase of an allergic process that may lead to asthma in up to half of cases, because breathing in allergens may inflame the lungs. Antihistamines and decongestants are unlikely to eliminate that reaction, say experts we consulted.
A spokeswoman for drug maker Sanofi Aventis said the ad's message is merely that Allegra-D relieves congestion in seasonal-allergy sufferers. The flower, she said, is meant to represent “the outdoors.”
However you interpret the ad, trying to avoid allergens is essential, with or without medication. If necessary, keep a diary listing when and where your symptoms occur and what provokes them. To limit exposure to indoor allergens, such as dust mites and pet dander, wash sheets in hot water (above 130° F), don't use thick carpets or rugs and keep humidity below 50 percent.
It's harder to avoid outdoor allergens, notably pollen, but you can limit exposure by shutting windows and staying indoors when levels are highest, typically between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. in the spring and fall.
Caution: Ask your doctor before taking a drug containing pseudoephedrine, which can raise blood pressure and heart rate.
CR's take: Avoid the allergy triggers even if you're taking medication.
If you suspect you are suffering from a food or drug allergy, make an appointment with your doctor soon. Prompt, proper treatment of allergic reactions can control symptoms and restore your quality of life. With many drug and non-drug options available, having up-to-date, unbiased information is crucial.
But hay-fever sufferers shouldn't assume that taking Allegra-D, which contains the antihistamine fexofenadine and the decongestant pseudoephedrine, gives them carte blanche to romp through the roses and the ragweed. Those ingredients reduce but don't eliminate symptoms, so allergic people risk a substantial flare-up by direct exposure to allergens.
Moreover, recent research suggests that hay fever is the first phase of an allergic process that may lead to asthma in up to half of cases, because breathing in allergens may inflame the lungs. Antihistamines and decongestants are unlikely to eliminate that reaction, say experts we consulted.
A spokeswoman for drug maker Sanofi Aventis said the ad's message is merely that Allegra-D relieves congestion in seasonal-allergy sufferers. The flower, she said, is meant to represent “the outdoors.”
However you interpret the ad, trying to avoid allergens is essential, with or without medication. If necessary, keep a diary listing when and where your symptoms occur and what provokes them. To limit exposure to indoor allergens, such as dust mites and pet dander, wash sheets in hot water (above 130° F), don't use thick carpets or rugs and keep humidity below 50 percent.
It's harder to avoid outdoor allergens, notably pollen, but you can limit exposure by shutting windows and staying indoors when levels are highest, typically between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. in the spring and fall.
Caution: Ask your doctor before taking a drug containing pseudoephedrine, which can raise blood pressure and heart rate.
CR's take: Avoid the allergy triggers even if you're taking medication.
If you suspect you are suffering from a food or drug allergy, make an appointment with your doctor soon. Prompt, proper treatment of allergic reactions can control symptoms and restore your quality of life. With many drug and non-drug options available, having up-to-date, unbiased information is crucial.
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