Should i take sudafed or benadryl

Some inhalers suppress the lung inflammation that causes asthma. Other inhalers, such as albuterol, dilate your airways for temporary relief of asthma symptoms. If you find that first-line treatments like nasal sprays and oral medications are ineffective or poorly tolerated, a series of shots to combat allergic symptoms is available.

Visit with your health care provider about these and other ways to combat seasonal allergies, and you'll be able to enjoy all the pleasures this season has to offer.

Go for a bike ride, take a hike or picnic with your family. Treat yourself right, and you can leave the tissues at home. Richard Crockett, M. Request an Appointment Patient Online Services. Plainview Red Wing Sherburn St.

James St. Peter Waseca Waterville Wells Zumbrota. Iowa Decorah Lake Mills. View map. Posted By. Allergy Asthma. Recent Posts. Speaking of Health. Here are a few tips to help allergy sufferers enjoy the beautiful spring weather: Oral allergy medications Oral medications are especially useful for mild allergy symptoms, and many are available over the counter. Nonsedating antihistamines can relieve itching, sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes.

You should also take extra precautions and consult a healthcare provider on any suspected allergies before consuming antihistamines. This is particularly important if the allergy is new to you, as recurrent allergies may have severe reactions that cannot be alleviated with antihistamines. In some severe cases, allergies can trigger a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis, which occurs within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you are allergic to, and requires immediate medical attention.

If you are also on other medication, contact your doctor and ensure that the antihistamines you are taking can be combined with that medication. If not, your doctor will work with you to provide an alternative better suited for your needs. Most of all, it is important to be responsible for yourself and the people around you.

When taking antihistamines that induce drowsiness, make sure not to drive or operate any machinery. While antihistamines work to prevent and quell allergy symptoms by blocking the effects of histamine, decongestants work by narrowing your blood vessels, decreasing swelling and inflammation.

Decongestants offer relief by helping to break the vicious cycle of continuous congestion and pressure. Decongestants take effect in just one to two hours and can offer you relief for up to 12 hours. Decongestants do not treat the underlying cause of allergies. They temporarily alter your physicality to help make your nasal congestion more manageable so that you are able to breathe a whole lot better.

As the saying goes, too much of a good thing is never good. Once the effect of a decongestant nasal spray wears off, the nasal congestion that returns can be far more severe. Excessive use of nasal sprays can lead to a tolerance build-up.

Therefore, you should not use nasal sprays for more than five consecutive days. The phrase refers to congestion or rhinitis that is explicitly caused by medication.

In this instance, the excessive use of nasal spray decongestants is the cause of congestion. With that said, prescription nasal sprays containing steroids do not cause a rebound effect and can be used on a daily basis for years.

More often than not, these steroid sprays are not decongestants, but rather treatments for nasal allergies. Because they are stimulants by nature, decongestants have some related potential side effects. When used correctly, most people do not experience any of the side effects of decongestants.

If you have high blood pressure, it is important that you consult your doctor before taking decongestants. This is because decongestants may constrict your blood vessels in a manner that exacerbates underlying health conditions. Seeking the advice of a doctor may help you to avoid any potentially life-threatening side effects. Since they are applied directly into your nose, nasal sprays are not absorbed into your bloodstream in significant amounts, unlike oral decongestants like pills.

However, they come with the drawback of a risk of dependency. If you have health conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, thyroid disease or an enlarged prostate, take note that your condition could be made worse by the use of decongestants.

Multiple decongestants may have similar active ingredients that add up to be too much medicine and taking more than the recommended amount can be dangerous. If you are taking any other medication, err on the safe side and ask your doctor if it is safe for you to use decongestants. Drugs from certain classes such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs may cause dangerous drug interaction problems when consumed with decongestants.

Read more about how you can protect your family from diabetes here. By adding moisture to the air in your surroundings, humidifiers ensure that your nasal passage is filled with the moisture that it needs. This will help loosen up nasal secretions and soothe your inflamed nasal passageways, giving you some much-needed shut-eye. You can even add essential oils like eucalyptus oil to help reduce stuffiness.

Eucalyptus oil contains cineole, an ingredient reputed to help with the treatment of acute sinusitis. Congestion tends to be worse at night because it is difficult for the nose and sinuses to drain.

Another simple remedy is to prop your head up on a few pillows when sleeping to help the sinuses drain more easily. Antihistamines are usually taken proactively to prevent these symptoms from occurring in the first place. For true cold symptoms, a decongestant will provide more relief than an antihistamine.

Talk to your physician about your symptoms. Allergy tests can help determine if you are allergic to any environmental or food items. Coronavirus Important Information.