Best Allergy Medicine For Adults With High Blood Pressure
Allergies can be a real nuisance, especially for adults with high blood pressure. Taking medication for allergies can be tricky when you have high blood pressure, as some allergy medications can cause your blood pressure to rise. However, there are still some allergy medications that you can take safely. In this article, we’ll discuss the best allergy medicine for adults with high blood pressure.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are the most common type of allergy medication, and they are generally safe for people with high blood pressure. Antihistamines work by blocking histamine, a chemical released by the body in response to an allergen. Histamine causes symptoms like itching, sneezing, and runny nose. By blocking histamine, antihistamines can relieve these symptoms.
There are two types of antihistamines: first-generation and second-generation. First-generation antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), can cause drowsiness and may interact with other medications. Second-generation antihistamines, such as loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine (Zyrtec), are less likely to cause drowsiness and have fewer interactions with other medications.
Nasal Steroids
Nasal steroids are another type of allergy medication that can be used safely by people with high blood pressure. Nasal steroids work by reducing inflammation in the nasal passages, which can relieve symptoms like congestion, sneezing, and runny nose.
Some examples of nasal steroids include fluticasone (Flonase) and mometasone (Nasonex). These medications are available over-the-counter or by prescription, depending on the strength.
Decongestants
Decongestants are another type of allergy medication, but they should be used with caution by people with high blood pressure. Decongestants work by narrowing the blood vessels in the nasal passages, which can relieve congestion.
However, decongestants can also raise blood pressure, so they should be used only under the guidance of a healthcare provider. Some examples of decongestants include pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and phenylephrine (Sudafed PE).
Combination Medications
Some allergy medications combine antihistamines and decongestants, such as loratadine-pseudoephedrine (Claritin-D). If you have high blood pressure, you should avoid these combination medications unless your healthcare provider has specifically recommended them.
Conclusion
If you have high blood pressure and allergies, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider before taking any medication. However, there are still some allergy medications that you can take safely, such as antihistamines and nasal steroids. Decongestants should be used with caution, and combination medications should be avoided unless recommended by a healthcare provider.