Antihistamine Decongestant Compounds

Allerest, Sine-off, Chlor-Trimeton, Sinarest, Sinutab, Dristan, and so on are over-the-counter drugs designed for treatments of minor allergic symptoms. They are similar to cold compounds described below, but they less frequently contain pain and fever agents like aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. Usually, these drug compounds contain an antihistamine and a decongestant agent. If you tolerate one of these drugs well and get good relief, it may be continued for several weeks (for example, through a hay fever season) without seeing a doctor. The same sort of drug taken as nose drops or nasal spray should be used more sparingly and only for short periods. You can purchase ingredients of the compound separately, and I advise you to do so.

Reading the Labels

The decongestant is often phenylephrine, ephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine. If the compound name is not familiar, the suffix “-ephrine” or “-edrine” will usually identify this component of the compound. The antihistamine is often chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) or pyrilamine. If not, the antihistamine is sometimes (but not always) identifiable on the label by the suffix “-amine.”

Dosage

Take according to product directions. Reduce dose if side effects are note, or try another compound.

Side Effects

These are usually minor and disappear after the drug is stopped or decreased in dose. Agitation and insomnia usually indicate too much of the decongestant component. Drowsiness usually indicates too much antihistamine. If you can avoid the substance to which you are allergic, it is far superior to taking drugs. Drugs, to a certain degree, inevitably impair your functioning.