Long Term Use of Allergy Medicine

Fifty million people in America suffer from various forms of allergies according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). The most common way to treat allergies is with an antihistamine drug. Of those who suffer from indoor/outdoor allergies, many take a 24-hour antihistamine for years. The most common allergy drugs used are loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Long term uses of allergy medicine do have effects, both positive and negative.

• Allergy medications

Insomnia

• Most allergy medications have a sedating effect on the body that causes drowsiness. After a few years of continual use, your body may become dependant on the drug for sleep. If you stop taking an allergy medication suddenly, you may suffer from insomnia. After being off the drug for a few weeks, you may regain normal sleeping patterns.

Memory Loss

• Long term use of allergy medications can cause both short- and long term memory loss. Children may not perform as well in school because most allergy medications have a sedating effect, slowing down memory function. Elderly people are more prone to this reaction, especially those with a predisposition to dementia and/or Alzheimer's.

Mood

• After taking an allergy medication consistently for years, if you stop it, you may experience mood swings. Most people will not experience extreme mood swings but will experience subtle mood swings as the body readjusts to not being on the medication.

Heart Issues

• If you have a heart condition, you should not use allergy medicine over a long period of time. Extended use of allergy medications can lead to greater complications in your heart condition.

Warning

• Use of any drug for an extended period of time should be under the supervision of a medical doctor. Just because a particular drug is approved for over-the-counter distribution, it is not intended for long-term use without a doctor's instruction. All allergy medication states on the label, "if symptoms persist for more than 7 days, contact a doctor."