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Allergy Sufferers Cautioned About Drowsiness from Antihistamines
Source: NBN/CP RadioWire
Aug 21, 2003, 13:59

Important recommendations just released for the more than 40 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies.  The recommendations, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, encourage patients to talk with their physicians about the importance of treating allergy symptoms with a non-impairing and non-sedating medication, instead of older medications that are sold over-the-counter.  Doctor Tom Casale of Creighton University:

�Patients seeking allergy relief from over-the-counter antihistamines may not realize that many cause drowsiness, can disrupt sleep patterns, and can impair them while driving.  The new recommendations reinforce the need for patients to avoid self-treating allergy symptoms without appropriate consultation with a healthcare provider. The real danger is that people suffering from allergy symptoms often cannot detect impairment caused by allergies, and are usually not aware that impairment can be exacerbated when treated with a sedating antihistamine.�

Allergy sufferers are urged to talk to their doctor about non-sedating and non-impairing antihistamines for seasonal allergy relief.