Antihistamines and Decongestants: A Comprehensive Guide

This presentation provides a comprehensive guide to antihistamines and decongestants, including their uses, mechanism of action, side effects, and commonly used drugs. It explains how these medications can help relieve allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, and itching. The presentation also includes special considerations and precautions for taking these drugs. Overall, it serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking information on antihistamines and decongestants.

Anti histamines and
Decongestes

INTRODUCTION
 Antihistamines are medicines which are used for treating
allergic rhinitis and other allergies.
 A person can be relieved with antihistamines when
he/she is suffering from nasal congestion, sneezing or
hives due to pollen or animal allergy.
 People can use antihistamines as a short-term treatment.

Continue...
 A decongestant is a type of pharmaceutical medicine
that is utilized to alleviate from nasal congestion in the
upper respiratory tract.
 In most decongestants the active ingredient is either
pseudoephedrine or phenylrphrine.
 Decongestants can be absorbed from the nose by
making use of inhaler and it ma results in systemic
effects such as CNS stimulation and increase in blood
pressure.

3 medications that can be used for
antihistamines and decongestants
 Azelastine
 Carbinoxamine
 Desloratadine

Azelastine
 It was approved by FDA in October 15th ,2008
 This drug is used to ease the signs of allergy in the eye.
 This is a type of antihistamine medication.
 It works by blocking certain natural substances called
histamines that are accountable for allergic symptoms.

Mechanism of action
 It is a phthalazine derivative, is an antihistamine and
mast cell stabilizer available as a nasal spray for hay
fever and as eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis.
 It is also available as a combination product of
azelastine hydrochloride and fluticasone propionate
called Dymista™
 Dymista™ is indicated in patient over 12 years old for
symptomatic relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Indications/use
 It is used to ease allergy signs in the eye.
 This medicine need to be used in the affected eyes as
directed by the doctor usually twice a day.

Precautions/Side effects
Side effects of antihistamine are as follows-:
 Drowsiness.
 Dizziness.
 Nausea and vomiting.
 Restlessness or moodiness (in some children)
 Trouble peeing or not being able to pee.
 Blurred vision.

The commonly used drugs
 Optivar and Oculast eye drops comes in the category of
azelastine drugs.
 The price of optivar is lower in comparison with oculast
eye drops.
 Pharmacokinetics is the study of what the body does to
the drug.
 On the other hand , Pharmacodynamics is the study of
what the drug does to the body.

Special consideration while taking drug
 Before using this medicine inform the doctor if you are
allergic to it or have any other allergies.
 As the products may have inactive in gradient which
may cause allergic reaction or any other issues.
 For more details need to contact the doctor.

Personal comments
 This medicine is good for treating itching eyes which
are caused by allergies.
 This medication should not be used while wearing
contact lens.

Conclusion
 To get the most benefits from it, this medication is to be
used regularly.

Carbinoxamine
 It is used to relieve symptoms of allergy, high fever and
the cough and cold.
 In June 2006 the FDA founded that more than 120
branded pharmacy products containing carbinoxamine
were being illegally marketed and demanded they be
removed from the market
 These symptoms may include rash,watery eyes,itchy
eyes/nose and sneezing.

Mechanism of action
 Carbinoxamine is a first generation antihistamine that
competes with free histamine for binding at HA-receptor
sites.
 This antagonizes the effects of histamine on HA-
receptors, leading to a reduction of the negative
symptoms brought on by histamine HA-receptor binding.
 The product label for carbinoxamine as an over the
counter cough and cold medicine is being modified to
state "do not use" in children under 4 years of age in
order to prevent and reduce misuse,

Indications/use
 Use it exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed
by the doctor.
 Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer
than recommended.

Side effects of drugs
Common side effects may include:
 drowsiness, dizziness, confusion;
 loss of coordination;
 blurred vision, headache, ringing in the ears;
 upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;

The commonly used drugs
 Clistin and Palgic both comes in the category of
carbonoxaine.
 Both these are used to ease the allergy signs.

Special consideration while taking
drug
 The doctor need to be made aware if the consumer is
having any allergy to carbinoxamine and any other
medicines.
 All the health problems and drugs that are currently
being consumed need to be told to the doctor.
 Without checking with doctor one should not start,
stop or change the dose of any drug.

Personal comments
 Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of
reach of children.
 Store it at room temperature.
 This medication is good for treatment of allergies in
human body.

Conclusion
 It is an effective drugs to fight allergies.

Desloratadine
 It is used to treat nasal and non-nasal symptoms of
seasonal allergic rhinitis.
 It’s also used to alleviate chronic itching caused by
hives.
 This drug is available in the form of tablet, syrup and
disintegrating tablet that can be taken by mouth.

Mechanism
 Desloratadine is a selective H1-antihistamine which
functions as an inverse agonist at the histamine H1
receptor.
 It has a long-lasting effect and is effective in moderate
and low doses.
 It is also an antagonist at all subtypes of the muscarinic
acetylcholine receptors

Indications/use
 Based on the age, medical condition and response to
treatment the dosage of medicine need to be taken.
 As prescribed by the doctor the medicine need to be
consumed.

Precautions/Side effects
Some of the more common side effects that can occur with
use of desloratadine include:
 sore throat
 dry mouth
 muscle pain
 tiredness
 sleepiness

The commonly used drugs
 Clarinex and Aerius come in the sub class of
desloratadine.
 Both these medicines will help to relieve from hay fever
and may help to treat hives and associated itching in
skin.

Special consideration while taking drug
 The doctors need to be informed about the patients
health issues before consuming this medicine.
 The dose need not to be started, stopped or changed
without checking with doctor.

Personal Comments
 Store in a dry place.
 The doctor need to be called if the symptoms or health
problems do not get better or if they become worse.

Conclusion
 This drug is efficient to fight the allergies that has been
caused in the human body.
 This drugs need to be taken at time as prescribed by
doctor.

References
 Scadding, G.K., 2017. Allergic rhinitis: background,
symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options. benefits, 10,
p.32.
 Doyle, M.J., 2017. Allergic rhinitis. Dermatological
Nursing, 16(1).
 Davis, S., 2016. Nasal Preparations in the Pharmacy: ear,
nose & throat. SA Pharmacist's Assistant, 16(4), pp.14-15
 Schmidt, S., 2016. “Eye-spy” a bright eye: OTC eye drops
reviewed. South African Pharmacist's Assistant, 16(1),
pp.22-24..
 Codispoti, C.D., Craig, T.J. and Mosnaim, G.S., 2016.
Antihistamines and Mast Cell Stabilizers. In Allergy and

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