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Ears, Nose, Throat and Health

Allergy season, cures

Halleluja For the The Non-Sedating Antihistamines

By Dr. W. Gifford Jones

June 12, 1994

¡ I used to hate the start of the allergy season. I had two choices. I could get some relief from antihistamines. Or suffer the usual agonies. But there was a problem with the first alternative. If I took the antihistamines available at the time I couldn't keep awake to write this column. So like thousands of others I endured the annoying symptoms without medication. Now thanks to the non™sedating histamines I've returned to the land of the living.

¡ They say that in springtime a young man's fancy turns to love. But if you're among the one in 20 that suffers from "hay fever" it's hard to make love with a runny nose, itchy eyes and incessant sneezing.

¡ This common term "hay fever", is hundreds of years old. It originated when farmers and locals became ill during the English hay©pitching season. But it's a misleading term.

¡ The condition has more to do with the grasses that pollinate during the hay©pitching season. And there's no fever associated with the disorder.

¡ Doctors now refer to this affliction as "allergic rhinitis", an allergy induced nasal inflammation associated with red itchy watery eyes and an intense itching of the roof of the mouth.

¡ What can you do to make certain you don't fall asleep while courting your lover? Dr. Gordon Sussman, Associate Professor at The University of Toronto, has several practical suggestions.

¡ He says airborne pollens are more abundant in the early morning so keep bedroom windows closed at that time. Susceptible people should, if possible, also avoid outdoor activities when pollen counts are high.

¡ Cigarette smoke also has a major impact on the frequency and severity of respiratory allergies. Family members of sufferers should stop smoking. Those who can't should ask their doctor for the Habitrol patch or others that are available. And air™conditioning can be helpful.

¡ Dr. Sussman claims a good way to treat nasal symptoms is by intranasal corticosteroids. They act locally, and are not absorbed systemically and are very safe.

¡ Sussman admits that some doctors fear this medication is toxic and may effect the mucosa of the nose if used over a course of several years. But he claims nasal corticosteroids are mild and show little evidence of this. ‘ 0*0*0* In fact, since nasal corticosteroids are made for long©term use they are not as effective on a sporadic basis. Rather they must be used consistently throughout the allergy season. But if the recommended dose for children is exceeded there is the possibility of adverse effects.

¡ Antihistamine pills have an advantage over nasal medication as they exert both a local and general effect. The new non©sedating antihistamines "have changed an art into a science" according to Dr. Sussman. Fighter pilots use them without any effect on their performance.

¡ Dr. Nelson Lee Novick, Associate Professor, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, has written a practical book "You Can Do Something About Your Allergies" published by Macmillan.

¡ He writes that terfenadine (Seldane), astemizole (Hismanal) and loratadine (Claritan) belong to the seventh category of non™sedating antihistamines.

¡ Novick reports that all three have been shown to be effective for controlling symptoms when taken as directed without producing grogginess in the vast majority of instances.

¡ Claritan and Hismanal have the advantage of being taken only once a day. He reports that Hismanal requires about two weeks to achieve optimum effects. But Claritan generally begins to work in a matter of hours.

¡ Dr. Novick cautions that Seldane and Hismanal must not be taken along with the antibiotic erythromycin or the antifungal agent ketoconazole (Nizoral) since potentially fatal heart rhythm abnormalities have resulted from these combinations. He claims no such adverse reactions have resulted from the use of Claritan.

¡ Professor Novick emphasises that all types of antihistamines are helpful once an allergic attack has started. But they are even more effective if taken prior to the attack. So if you know you're allergic to the dog or Felix the cat and you know you're going to walk in the country take an antihistamine beforehand.

¡ Should we all rush to the pharmacy for the non©sedating antihistamines when seasonal allergy strikes? Dr. Sussman is opposed to self©medication. I agree it's always safer to see your doctor if there's any doubt about either the diagnosis or the best type of medication.

¡ But we all face a dilemma. The health care system has limited funds and is hanging on the ropes. I believe we have two choices. We can continue to call the doctor for every ache and pain and have no money left for serious illness. Or practice responsible self™medication and use our local pharmacy in a responsible way. Your pharmacist and the non©sedating antihistamines make this approach more feasible.


W. Gifford-Jones M.D is the pen name of Dr. Ken Walker graduate of Harvard. Dr. Walker's website is: Docgiff.com

My book, �90 + How I Got There� can be obtained by sending $19.95 to:

Giff Holdings, 525 Balliol St, Unit # 6,Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1E1

Pre-2008 articles by Gifford Jones
Canada Free Press, CFP Editor Judi McLeod