Taking Antihistamines With Other Medicines Food Or Alcohol
Speak to a pharmacist or GP before taking antihistamines if you’re already taking other medicines.
There may be a risk the medicines do not mix, which could stop either from working properly or increase the risk of side effects.
Examples of medicines that could cause problems if taken with antihistamines include some types of:
- stomach ulcer or indigestion medicines
- cough and cold remedies that also contain an antihistamine
Try not to drink alcohol while taking an antihistamine, particularly if it’s a type that makes you drowsy, as it can increase the chances of it making you feel sleepy.
Food and other drinks do not affect most antihistamines, but check the leaflet that comes with your medicine to make sure.
What Antihistamines And/or Decongestants Can I Take With Ckd
I would caution you that with chronic kidney disease that many patients are taking a multiple of medications and that each of these medications can cause a drug interaction with an anti-histamine that you take over-the-counter. Hence, I would always suggest that any medication that you take or any pill that you put in your mouth should be discussed with your primary care physician. They are best suited to make sure no drug interactions occur. In general, anti-histamines do not cause kidney problems. Some, such as diphenhydramine can cause retention of urine in your bladder. Others such as Claritin and Zyrtec are generally very safe. I recommend that you always discuss this with your physician.
The Need To Monitor Kidney Function With Certain Drugs
Experts have suggested that after the initial assessment of kidney function, physicians should consider regular monitoring after starting or increasing the dosage of drugs associated with nephrotoxicity, especially those used chronically in patients with multiple risk factors for impaired kidney function, Dr. Naughton noted. If there is any sign of kidney harm, the provider should review the medications you are taking in order to identify which one is causing the problem.
If multiple medications are present and the patient is clinically stable, physicians should start by discontinuing the drug most recently added to the patients medication regimen. Once that has been taken care of, further harm to the kidneys may be minimized by keeping blood pressure stable, staying hydrated, and temporarily avoiding the use of other medications that may cause nephrotoxicity.
These safety tips can ensure you get the care you need while keeping your kidneys safe. That way, they can tend to essential functions like keeping things flowing .Originally published May 11, 2017
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Kidney Impairment Can Be Costly
Although renal impairment is often reversible if the offending drug is discontinued, the condition can be costly and may require multiple interventions, including hospitalization, Dr. Naughton explained. To help you avoid getting to that point, we learned about medications that commonly cause kidney damage from Rebekah Krupski, PharmD, RPh, pharmacy resident at the Cleveland Clinic and clinical instructor of pharmacy practice at Northeast Ohio Medical University.
The 10 Worst Medications For Your Kidneys
Medications that can damage the kidneys are known as nephrotoxic medications. These drugs can cause direct damage to the kidneys. Some of these medications mildly worsen kidney function and others can cause acute kidney injuries. The risk for kidney damage depends on your individual health and other medications you are taking. For people with even mild kidney failure, you might want to talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of these medications.
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Urinary Tract And Kidney Warnings On Nonprescription Products
W. Steven Pray, PhD, DPhBernhardt Professor, Nonprescription Products and DevicesCollege of Pharmacy
Edmond, Oklahoma
US Pharm.
Pharmacists are in a unique position with regard to counseling about OTC products. They can explore the various warnings and precautions on a products label to help patients decide when a product is inappropriate and a physician should be consulted, a process called pharmacist-assisted self-care triage. Many nonprescription products carry warnings related to the urinary tract, and knowledge of those products and the rationale for the warnings can help pharmacists provide the highest level of care.
Antihistamine Risks And Anticholinergic Syndrome
The first H1 sedating antihistamines have been available for more than 60 years and were synthesized based on a chemical structure similar to that used to develop cholinergic muscarinic antagonists, tranquilizers, and antihypertensive agents. These antihistamines have low receptor specificity and interact with both peripheral and central histamine receptors and readily cross the blood-brain barrier. This leads to significant central nervous system side effects, including sedation, drowsiness, somnolence, fatigue, cognitive decline, psychomotor effects, and loss of coordination.
These antihistamines also are potent muscarinic receptor antagonists that can lead to serious anticholinergic side effects, such as sinus tachycardia, dry skin, dry mucous membranes, dilated pupils, constipation, ileus, urinary retention, and agitated delirium.3 The mnemonic blind as a bat, dry as a bone, red as a beet, mad as a hatter, and hot as a hare often is used to help describe and identify patients suffering from anticholinergic syndrome .
| Anticholinergic Syndrome Mnemonic |
| Confusion, deliriumHyperthermia |
Urinary retention and difficulty urinating can be particularly troublesome in male patients with enlarged prostates, and this retention can increase the risk of urinary tract infections, especially in women.4
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Other Ways Itching In Kidney Disease Can Affect Your Skin
Itching is not the only thing that can occur in kidney disease. Other dermatological conditions include the following:
- Scratching and scratch marks
- Perforations of the skin
Scratching and Scratch Marks
Too much scratching can also develop into secondary skin conditions. It can rub off the top layer of skin. Impetigo can also occur as a result of scratching. This is a skin infection caused by bacteria, specifically Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus.
Thick, Callous Skin
Lichenification is skin that has become thick and leathery due to constant scratching or rubbing.
Lumps and Bumps on the Skin
Kidney itching can cause hard, itchy bumps known as prurigo nodularis. They also appear as prurigo lesions. Try not to scratch these. They can cause more skin lesions to appear.
Color Changes to your Skin
During ESRD the skin will change color. It can become a pallor or yellow hue. The yellow color is related to anemia and hormone imbalances. Pallor is a slate-grey discoloration. It occurs when iron is trapped in skin cells.
Nail changes
Kidney disease can result in small, narrow, and thickened fingernails. Nails can also discolor and split in half.
Swelling
In CKD the kidneys are not able to properly filter and remove toxins. This can lead to the buildup of fluid in the body. It will often result in swelling in the legs, hands, face, feet, and/or ankles.
Rash
Blisters
Tight Skin
Calcium Deposits Beneath Skin
Perforation of the Skin
Antihistamine Side Effects You Should Know
Like most allergy sufferers, I rely on medication to manage my symptoms. But antihistamine side effectssome of which may be unexpectedcan make taking these drugs a complex experience. Of course, all drugs come with the risk for some side effects, and even with those side effects, the benefits of taking a medication may still be worth it. But it’s always better not to be surprised by them.
Im something of an antihistamine connoisseur, you might say. In my decades-long quest to stop sneezing at seemingly every green thing outside, Ive taken pretty much every over-the-counter antihistamine out there, as well as a few prescription ones. And during that journey, Ive learned that some medications make me extremely sleepy while others dry my mouth out so much I spend the day chugging La Croix. Sometimes its just the price you have to pay for a day without eyes swollen shut!
In one particularly memorable episode, a friends adorable and very friendly Australian shepherd licked my neck while at a picnic in the park. I broke out in hives, popped a Benadryl, and spent the second half of the afternoon sound asleep in the grass while my friends carried on their party around me.
All of this is to say that, as much as I love and depend on the effects of antihistamines, you have to know what youre getting into when you take themespecially with regards to their potential side effects.
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Chinese/herbal Medicines And Vitamin Supplements
Chinese/herbal medicines and vitamin supplements have not usually been studied in people with kidney disease, so there is no way of knowing whether they are safe for you to use. Modern drugs go through rigorous tests of their effectiveness and purity. But some Chinese and herbal remedies have been found to contain substances that may cause kidney failure and cancer, while others contain substances that interfere with the effectiveness of your other medicines.
What Is The Best Treatment For Itch In People With Chronic Kidney Disease
What is the issue?Itch is a common problem for people with chronic kidney disease . Itch can greatly affect quality of life and may lead to depression or increased risk of death. There are no widely used or agreed upon treatment guidelines for itch associated with CKD.
What did we do?We found 92 studies involving 4466 people investigating 30 treatments for CKD-associated itch. The control treatment was either placebo or another treatment for CKD-associated itch.
What did we find?One type of drug , an analogue to a common neurotransmitter appear to reduce itch in patients with CKD. Ondansetron, an anti-nausea drug, was another well studied treatment and appears have no significant association with itch reduction. Kappa-opioid drugs appear to slightly reduce itch. There is too little information on the remaining treatments for any thorough assessment of their efficacy in relieving itch or whether there is any anti-itch effect at all.
The three drugs mentioned above are well studied with higher quality evidence. The other treatments studied are of lower to moderate quality.
The studies seldom document a comprehensive list of adverse or side effects incurred during treatment. However, none of the adverse effects documented were severe. Further meaningful assessment on harm cannot be made.
Drugs that work like neurotransmitters reduce itch in patients with CKD. Other intervention either do not work, do not work as well, or need further study to make a conclusion.
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How Will Itching In Kidney Disease Affect Your Skin
Pruritus affects everyone differently. It can range from mild to severe. Itching can be in one little place or it can ravage your entire body. Itching commonly occurs on the back, abdomen, head, and forearms.
It can occur daily and often intensifies at night. Many have reported sleeplessness because of this condition. UP usually lasts between 6 and 12 months or longer.
Prostate And Kidney Precautions With Nonprescription Products
W. Steven Pray, PhD, DPhBernhardt Professor, Nonprescription Products and DevicesCollege of Pharmacy
Gabriel E. Pray, PharmD CandidateCollege of PharmacyWeatherford, Oklahoma
US Pharm
When patients ask for assistance with selection of an appropriate nonprescription product, it is vital for the pharmacist to be aware of the various label precautions and warnings. Several groups of products present potential problems for patients with a history of kidney disease or prostate enlargement.
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Histamine May Protect Against Heart And Kidney Damage
New research in mice finds that histamine protects the heart and kidneys in cardiorenal syndrome.
Heart failure, or congestive heart failure, affects about people in the United States. The condition does not yet have a cure.
Chronic kidney disease also impacts a large percentage of the U.S. population, with being affected, and 47,000 cases resulting in death.
Doctors closely link the two conditions in a phenomenon they call the cardiorenal syndrome an umbrella term for several disorders that affect both the heart and kidneys.
In cardiorenal syndrome, an acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may trigger acute or chronic dysfunction in the other, and an increasing number of studies are trying to understand why.
For instance, mounting evidence is showing that the physiological communication between heart and kidney is necessary to maintain cardiovascular homeostasis, and researchers have been using this lens to understand how chronic kidney disease raises the risk of heart failure.
Other studies have looked at the role of the sympathetic nervous system, oxidative stress, inflammation, and the so-called renin-angiotensin system in cardiorenal syndrome.
Most of these studies have looked at cardiac and renal function separately, explain the authors of the latest research, as the number of animal models that can successfully replicate dysfunction in both systems at once is insufficient.
Cetirizine 10 Mg Film
Cetirizine 10 mg Film-Coated Tablets
PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Cetirizine 10 mg film-coated tablets
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
This medicine is available without prescription.
However, you still need to use Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets carefully to get the best results from it.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- You must contact a doctor if your symptoms worsen or do not improve after 3 days.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
- In this leaflet Cetirizine 10 mg film-coated tablets will be called Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets are and what they are used for2. What you need to know before you take Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets3. How to take Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets4. Possible side effects5. How to store Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. WHAT CETIRIZINE 10 MG TABLETS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR
Cetirizine hydrochloride is the active ingredient of Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets.
Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets is an antiallergic medication.
In adults and children aged 6 year and above, Cetirizine 10 mg Tablets are indicated
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE CETIRIZINE 10 MG TABLETS
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How Do Antihistamines Work
There are two major classes of antihistamines, Charles Joseph Lane, M.D., a board-certified allergist based in Lynchburg, Virginia, tells SELF. First, there are the older medications, referred to as first-generation antihistamines, which include drugs like diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine. Then there are the newer, second-generation antihistamines , which include many of the oral allergy medications youll find at the drugstore, like cetirizine , levocetirizine , fexofenadine , and loratadine .
All of these medications work generally in the same way: by targeting the bodys histamine-production system, which generates many of the symptoms we think of as allergies. Normally, when your body is exposed to an allergen that youre sensitive totree pollen, cat dander, dust, etc.it erroneously interprets that substance as a threat and sets off an immune response to combat it. This happens when the proteins in an allergen bind to IgE antibodies on the surface of mast cells, which causes the cell to release histamine, Dr. Lane explains. That histamine goes on to bind to histamine receptors, which then sets off reactions such as a runny nose, watery eyes, and other classic allergy symptoms.
A Mouse Model Of Cardiorenal Syndrome
Treating animals with Ang II a vasoconstrictive hormone in RAS has proven to affect blood pressure, as well as electrolyte and blood volume homeostasis, explain the authors in their paper.
Ang II, some experts have suggested, may play a crucial role in the damage that occurs in cardiorenal syndrome.
So, for this new study, Prof. Fukamizu and colleagues used the Ang II hormone to induce hypertension in mice, partial surgical removal of kidneys to induce kidney dysfunction, and salt to cause fluid retention.
Together, these interventions recreated the characteristics of cardiorenal syndrome in the rodents.
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Benadryl Induced Kidney Damage
Benadryl is a first-generation, sedating antihistamine of the ethanolamine class. It is available in a variety of dosage forms, including:
- Oral
- Topical
- Parenteral
While Benadryl is excreted renally , it is extensively metabolized in the liver and metabolism speed may be reduced in the presence of hepatic impairment. Dosage reduction may be required in these individuals.
In terms of Benadryl damaging the kidneys, there have been a fewcase reports, but have typically only occurred in cases of overdose.
One such case study involved an individual who intentionally overdosed on Benadryl and alcohol, and was diagnosed with acute renal failure and subsequently suffered from rhabdomyolysis.
Another study noted that Benadryl, or any drug that has significant anticholinergic properties, can cause urinary retention and therefore increase the risk of renal kidney injuries in those with a pre-existing disease:
“Anticholinergic medications, such as diphenhydramine , can cause postrenal obstruction . Obstruction can occur from the urinary tubule to the urethra, resulting in urine accumulation and ultimately increasing upstream pressure and decreasing GFR.”
Since Benadryl can cause urinary retention , it is recommended to be used cautiously in individuals with bladder obstruction or urinary retention. This is a general precaution with any drug that has anticholinergic effects.
References
What Is Itching In Kidney Disease
Uraemic pruritus or uremic pruritus is a fancy way of saying itching in kidney disease. This condition occurs in those who have chronic kidney disease . There is incessant pruritus, or itch that occurs all over the body.
CKD-associated pruritus often occurs during end-stage renal disease . Also referred to as renal failure is the final stage of CKD when kidney function has declined to the point that the kidneys can no longer function on their own.
Those with ESRD will need dialysis treatment since the kidneys are no longer able to filter the blood.
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