If there's anything that's true of medicine, it it the fact that there are too many people who tend to need prescription drugs for every little reason. It's become so bad that people tend to associate their use of it with prescription drug abuse which in some cases, can't be helped, thanks to some people's inability to cope with pain without it.
While the idea of taking medication for every little thing is not such a good idea (since you develop a need for these pills for every little thing), there are instances when you should consider taking prescription drugs especially if something serious has happened, like allergies.
Antihistamines and its relationship with Allergies
Whether this is pet dander, mold, dust mites or even insect bites, allergies strike at some point of time or the other, and from a medical point of view, this is when the body releases histamines. And we're talking about any allergic reaction here…
These histamines are organic nitrogen compounds that are released by the immune system which is accompanied with the opening of the cells so that these foreign bodies can be destroyed as soon as possible, and which have infected certain parts of the tissue. In carrying out this normal body function, there is a manifestation of swelling and redness in the affected area.
And since there's a lot of pain involved, the necessity for an antihistamine also arises… which, for medicinal purposes, have been classified into two categories: first and second generation antihistamines. The first type sedates the person while the second type does not, and that's really one of the few differences between these two.
Some of the first-generation antihistamines are Brompheniramine, Chlorpheniramine, Clemastine, Dimenhydrinate and Diphenhydramine, and these are a part of popular medications such as Dimetapp, Dramamine, Bromphen, Dimetane, Nasahist, Chlor-Trimeton, Allerhist, Tavist and Benadryl.
Second generation antihistamines include Cetirizine, Fexofenadine, Desloratadine and Loratadine and which are a part of medication such as Zyrtec, Allegra, Clarinex and Claritin.
Pros and Cons of Antihistamine Medication
Right off the bat, it is preferred that you use second generation antihistamines as opposed to first generation, which can impact your ability to drive, cause drowsiness, dryness of the eyes and mouth, headaches and abdominal pain.
Another situation where complications can arise is when you take muscle relaxants, sedatives and sleeping pills along with first generation antihistamine medication.
Second generation antihistamine medication do not come with these complications, and are hence considered to be safer to use since there are no side effects. Yet there is one rule when it comes to using medication such as this for any kind of allergies that you might have: consult a doctor as this can save you a lot of trouble as is the case when you try to self-medicate.
In Closing
This whole issue with prescription drug abuse actually begins when you need to self-medicate, and while dealing with an allergy might not be such a big problem as opposed to other popular diseases, it's still important to understand that there is fine line between medication and addiction.
