Hay fever medicines

[Samazeuilh2]

I continue to have badly blocked ears and a runny nose for several weeks. I’ve only managed to see paramedics rather than a GP about it. I haven’t used any nasal sprays (other than saline) but would like to try anti-allergy medication such as antihistamine. Yet I’ve read that “A few common stimulating over-the-counter medications to watch out for include Actifed chlorpheniramine and phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, and acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine, and phenylephrine.” Does anyone know of an anti-allergy medication which is safe for those with AF? I’ve bought some Piriton which seems to contain chlophenamine maleate which I presume is the same as chlorpheniramine.

[Buffafly]

I was prescribed Cetirizine as being safe and not conflicting with meds - Propafenone and diltiazem.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks-will make a note.

[Desanthony]

I take fexofenadine on prescription. Ask your pharmacist as they know far more about medication interactions than Docs.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Desanthony]

Good idea. For the moment I’ve been advised to steam inhale and do various nose/ear exercises to equal up the pressure in the Eustachian tube.

[Desanthony in reply to Samazeuilh2]

That sounds fun. My wife has hardly had her hay fever for years now since she started using a netti pot and saline cleanse daily to clear the nose. She cannot use the saline sprays as easily.

[mav7]

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

Same issue previously, recent thread on the subject above. If not many replies here, may be others if you want to use the search function.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to mav7]

Will have a look. Thanks.

[CDreamer]

I was prescribed Mometasone Furoate about five years ago for similar and constant nasal drip. Worked like a charm and no AF. It is a steroid spray as I can’t take antihistamine in any form but you can buy as OTC.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to CDreamer]

It’s a problem with the Eustachian tube I’ve been told, and I’ve been advised to steam inhale, yawn, do various odd ear/nose exercises. I’ve also been advised to stick with saline (Stérimar) for the moment.

[Afbiff]

My GP prescribed Mometasone Furoate for me too and it works well and no AF.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Afbiff]

Will make a note of that too.

[Sleepyzz]

I am ok with cetirizine although it’s not the best antihistamine it helps. Dr did try me in Fexofenadine which worked much better for hayfever but did seem to trigger afib so I had to stop it. GP also prescribed Mometasone spray which helps me more than saline

[Ppiman]

It's the ephedrine and similar (e.g. phenylephrine) that can have some mild effect on the heart, I gather. I had bad sinusitis four years or so ago and it has permanently affected my hearing by making some frequencies of sounds seem harsh-edged or tinny. It's not pleasant as I love listening to music. I was given antihistamines at the time which did zero for me. They didn't affect my heart at all and I think they are safe, but I would check with a pharmacist.

Steve

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Ppiman]

I’ve just been told by a 111 doctor over the phone that I have “textbook” Eustachian tube dysfunction which should right itself generally within a month. The condition often follows colds and allergies and isn’t considered to be too serious. It is a nuisance though and I feel like I am underwater.

[Ppiman in reply to Samazeuilh2]

That’s good (well it will be!). I think it’s always so very comforting to be told that kind of definite diagnosis by a doctor.

Steve

[MiniMeGreen]

After doing a proper research I tried to increase my Vitamin D levels and this finally worked! After years of rather staying inside even with levels slightly over 30 microg/l (most labs call that the lowest normal range) during the birches blooming season, this year I pushed my levels to sligthly above 50 microg/l and started walking outside every day. I sneezed about 2 times, no runny nose, no puffy eyes and no asthma like symptoms. There are several good papers on that.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to MiniMeGreen]

By coincidence I’ve just bought some vitamin D!

[Auriculaire]

My husband had blocked ears for months leading to hearing problems. The doctor prescribed a course of antibiotic/ steroid drops which worked really well. I found Cetirizine( even cutting the tablets up ) caused unacceptable levels of drowsiness when I took it for hives. I tried Quercetin instead with great success.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Auriculaire]

That sounds a bit like what I have been diagnosed with: Eustachian tube dysfunction?

[Auriculaire in reply to Samazeuilh2]

I think probably it was because sometimes it would get temporarily a bit better. He suffers from a blocked nose and has done all the time I've known him plus he had had a couple of colds. The drops worked really well and his hearing improved enormously but we have had a bug recently and he has complained it's gone downhill a bit so probably congestion again.

[Vonnegut]

I use homeopathic remedies for hay fever and I hope you’ll be able to find something that helps for your allergies- either from a place that stocks homeopathic remedies or by consulting a homeopathy practitioner.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Vonnegut]

I’m using a saline spray at the moment (Stérimar) which contains natural seawater I believe.

[Vonnegut in reply to Samazeuilh2]

Great if that works for you. As we know, we are all different.

[Qualipop]

Have you asked your pharmacist? I did and was told to avoid the older ones like piriton which make you drowsy and to s tick to cetirizine or loratidine.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Qualipop]

I bought some Piriton in Boots and noticed it has a suspect ingredient.

[Snowgirl65]

I use Azelastine nasal spray for my seasonal allergies. It's an antihistamine with no steroids so doesn't affect my a-fib. It's been working very well for me.

[Speed]

Interesting. I self diagnosed myself this spring as having hay fever and so started taking some very old Piriton tablets I found in the cabinet. Never thought about possible interaction or impact on AF. However, I don’t think it’s had any impact and in fact, I’ve been symptom free for 3 weeks now. Maybe it’s the Piriton or just maybe the prospect of my ablation in 3 weeks has shocked the heart into behaving 🤔.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Speed]

Be careful. When I did a treadmill recently I was told categorically by the doctor that decongestants had ingredients which can trigger AF. Good luck with the ablation.

[Speed in reply to Samazeuilh2]

Yes thanks - I’ll look into it.