|
Home / Health / Diseases and Conditions
New Laws Make Finding Allergy Treatments More Difficult
By:Wade Gibson
Pollen is in the air and a fierce allergy season is underway, affecting an estimated 36 million Americans with seasonal allergies. Many sufferers with stuffy noses or watery eyes will visit their pharmacies for relief, but this year they may not find their familiar medications on store shelves.
Many states have restricted access to some popular over-the-counter treatments for nasal congestion because they contain pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in decongestant medications that has been used to make illegal drugs.
As a decongestant, pseudoephedrine is safe and effective when used as directed, but the state laws mean allergy sufferers may have to ask for these treatments at the pharmacy counter, sign an official registry to monitor their purchases, or show photo identification before purchasing. And some states also have imposed limits on how much medicine a customer can buy.
In addition to state laws, the president recently signed federal restrictions on these decongestants, which will eventually lead to national regulations for pseudoephedrine at the pharmacy.
What's an
Allergy Sufferer to Do?
These provisions make seeing a doctor even more important this season. A physician can properly diagnose allergies and prescribe the appropriate medications to treat symptoms. Combination antihistamine and decongestant treatments, such as CLARINEX-D® 12 Hour (desloratadine 2.5 mg/pseudoephedrine sulfate, USP 120 mg) Extended Release Tablets, are available by prescription to help control both the nasal and non-nasal symptoms of allergic rhinitis, also called "hay fever." These treatments are not affected by the new restrictions and can be obtained at the pharmacy like any other prescription medication.
"It can be difficult for patients to find the right medication at the pharmacy, with an overwhelming number of different options on the shelves," said Dr. Sandra Gawchik, co-director of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pa. "That's why it's important to work with a doctor, who can develop a treatment regimen tailored for the needs of each patient."
Seasonal allergy symptoms, which are caused by pollen from trees and grass, may include any blend of nasal congestion, itchy or watery eyes, scratchy throat, a runny nose and sneezing.
"My patients often say their symptoms are the most severe in the morning, and that nasal congestion is their most bothersome one," said Dr. Gawchik. "For these patients, I typically suggest an antihistamine and decongestant combination treatment, which will help alleviate their nasal congestion and also relieve their other symptoms."
Tips to Manage
Allergy Symptoms
Dr. Gawchik recommends the following to help allergy sufferers reduce their exposure to pollen:
• Keep your windows closed while driving or at home.
• Change clothes or take a shower to remove pollen after returning from outside.
• Limit outdoor activities from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., when pollen counts are typically higher.
• Visit www.allergyrelief.com each day to check your local allergy forecast.
"It's impossible to completely avoid symptom-causing pollen, but you don't have to suffer," said Dr. Gawchik. "By working with your doctor and taking your medication throughout the season, you can wake up each morning with your allergy symptoms under control."
Twice daily CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR (desloratadine 2.5 mg and pseudoephedrine sulfate, USP 120 mg) Extended Release Tablets treat the symptoms of seasonal allergies, including nasal congestion, in patients 12 years and older. Due to its pseudoephedrine component, CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets should not be taken by patients with narrow-angle glaucoma (abnormally high eye pressure), difficulty urinating, severe high blood pressure, or severe heart disease, or by patients who have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor within the past fourteen (14) days. Patients with high blood pressure; diabetes; heart disease; increased intraocular pressure (eye pressure); thyroid, liver or kidney problems; or enlarged prostate should check with their healthcare provider before taking CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets. Care should be used if CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR is taken with other antihistamines or decongestants because combined effects on the cardiovascular system may be harmful. The most commonly reported adverse events for CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets were, insomnia, headache, dry mouth, fatigue, drowsiness, sore throat, and dizziness.
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: New Laws Make Finding Allergy Treatments More Difficult
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
For additional important safety information, full prescribing information is available at: www.spfiles.com/piclarinex.pdf.
|
|
| Top Diseases and Conditions Articles |
- 1). Acid Reflux: What You Really Need To Know. By : Tyson J Stevenson
The formation of gases and acidic substances in the stomach and its backing up into the esophagus causes severe pain or burning sensation in the stomach and chest area that is clinically known as Acid Reflux or Gastroespohageal Reflux Disease.
|
- 2). Alcoholism— What Should I Know About It? By : Geoff Hugh
What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a disease that affects the part of the brain that controls your feelings, the way you make decisions, and the way you act. People with alcoholism cannot control how much they drink. What causes alcoholism?
Nobody knows what causes alcoholism. People with parents who have alcoholism have a greater chance of getting the disease.
|
- 3). What is Anorexia By : Keith George
Self induced emotional eating disorder characterized by persistent loss of appetite is called anorexia. Excessive consciousness toward weight loss, counting calories and excessive exercises can lead to a severe emotional eating disorder called anorexia.
|
- 4). Alcoholism Disease Or Not? By : The Source
Alcoholism can be given a lot of definitions and all of them stress the fact that there is a terrible disease that involves addiction to spirits. Apart from the physical dependence on alcohol, there are other psychological, genetic and social factors that may play a role in the development of alcoholism. Many social, economic and public health problems are determined by this very serious disease.
|
|
|
- 6). Gastritis Is More Than Indigestion By : Kevin Pederson
It is the inflammation of the stomach getting the defense system on roll. It would mean that the stomach is injured and the white blood cells move on the walls of the stomach for help. The inflammation can be caused due to an infection caused by bacterium which can lead to stomach ulcers. Any other injury can also cause such problems.
|
- 7). The Demonization Of Genital Herpes By : Christopher Scipio
Those of us who have so-called “genital herpes” are caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand we are ostracized by the minority of the population (about 40%) who don’t currently have herpes simplex in their body, which is bad enough, but more cruelly we are often isolated by our fellow members of the herpes community who have so-called cold sores (heroes simplex 1 of the mouth and face).
|
- 8). I am a mouth ulcers By : Ryan Fyfe
Although it's not my favorite thing to be in the world, I am a mouth ulcer. My street name is most commonly: canker sore. I've got a fancy name, and that involves painful open sores that will exist in your mouth when the mucous membrane breaks. You might also choose to call me one of these other names: aphthous stomatitis or aphthous ulcer. Now that we have that out of the way.
|
|
|
- 10). HPV Virus By : Ryan Fyfe
Human Papilloma Ciruses (HPV) is a virus that infects humans. Some of the effects of the virus are associated with sexually transmitted diseases (STD's).
Over one hundred strains of the virus have been identified by Scientists. Most of these strains are harmless. Some of these strains can produce common skin warts which appear on the hands and feet.
|
| New Diseases and Conditions Articles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 4). Understanding Coeliac Disease By : Anne Wolski
Coeliac disease is a genetic condition that is caused by an inability to digest gluten. Hence the reason that this disease is also known as gluten intolerance.
|
|
|
- 6). Home Remedies For Breast Tenderness By : Kevin Pederson
A problem like breast tenderness may arise due to combination of factors like diet, nutrition, water, weight, age, menstrual cycle and fluctuating hormones. Studies conclude nearly three in four women suffer this discomfort at least once in their mature life.
|
|
|
- 8). Alzheimer’s Disease: What Every Family Needs to Know By : Douglas Hardwick
Alzheimer’s disease touches the lives of millions of Americans. Today, some 4.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s, and 1 in 10 families have a loved one afflicted with it. With no cure in sight, it is important for families to arm themselves with information about this devastating disease.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
