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There are non-prescription drugs that can be used safely if you have high blood pressure. A common problem with these drugs is that they may contain more than one medication. It is important to look at the ingredients to see what is included in each product. Many people find relief of allergy symptoms by taking antihistamines. These include:
They can cause drowsiness, so be careful if driving or at work. Newer antihistamines like loratadine and certirizine cause less drowsiness. Decongestants are also available without a prescription. The most common decongestants are:
You should avoid these if you have high blood pressure, especially if your blood pressure has been difficult to control. If you have high blood pressure, check the ingredients of all over-the-counter allergy products to be sure they do not contain pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. Continue Learning about Allergies TreatmentsImportant: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs. Several types of medications are used to treat allergy symptoms. Here's more information. Allergy medications are available as pills, liquids, inhalers, nasal sprays, eyedrops, skin creams and shots (injections). Some are available over-the-counter; others are available by prescription only. Here's a summary of the types of allergy medications and why they're used. AntihistaminesAntihistamines block histamine, a symptom-causing chemical released by your immune system during an allergic reaction. Pills and liquidsOral antihistamines are available over-the-counter and by prescription. They ease a runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, hives, swelling, and other signs or symptoms of allergies. Because some of these drugs can make you feel drowsy and tired, take them with caution when you need to drive or do other activities that require alertness. Antihistamines that tend to cause drowsiness include:
These antihistamines are much less likely to cause drowsiness:
Nasal spraysAntihistamine nasal sprays help relieve sneezing, itchy or runny nose, sinus congestion, and postnasal drip. Side effects of antihistamine nasal sprays might include a bitter taste, drowsiness or feeling tired. Prescription antihistamine nasal sprays include:
EyedropsAntihistamine eyedrops, available over-the-counter or by prescription, can ease itchy, red, swollen eyes. These drops might have a combination of antihistamines and other medicines. Side effects might include headache and dry eyes. If antihistamine drops sting or burn, try keeping them in the refrigerator or using refrigerated artificial-tear drops before you use them. Examples include:
DecongestantsDecongestants are used for quick, temporary relief of nasal and sinus congestion. They can cause trouble sleeping, headache, increased blood pressure and irritability. They're not recommended for people with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, glaucoma or hyperthyroidism. Pills and liquidsOral decongestants relieve nasal and sinus congestion caused by hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Many decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), are available over-the-counter. A number of oral allergy medications contain a decongestant and an antihistamine. Examples include:
Nasal sprays and dropsNasal decongestant sprays and drops relieve nasal and sinus congestion if used only for a short time. Repeated use of these drugs for more than three consecutive days may result in a cycle where congestion recurs or gets worse. Examples include:
CorticosteroidsCorticosteroids relieve symptoms by suppressing allergy-related inflammation. Nasal spraysCorticosteroid sprays prevent and relieve stuffiness, sneezing and runny nose. Side effects can include an unpleasant taste, nasal irritation and nosebleeds. Examples include:
For people who are bothered by the feeling of liquid running down their throats or the unpleasant taste of these sprays, there are two aerosol formulas:
InhalersInhaled corticosteroids are often used daily as part of treatment for asthma caused or complicated by reactions to airborne allergy triggers (allergens). Side effects are generally minor and can include mouth and throat irritation and oral yeast infections. Some inhalers combine corticosteroids with long-acting bronchodilators. Prescription inhalers include:
EyedropsCorticosteroid eyedrops are used to relieve persistent itchy, red or watery eyes when other interventions aren't effective. A physician specializing in eye disorders (ophthalmologist) usually monitors the use of these drops because of the risk of problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma and infection. Examples include:
Pills and liquidsOral corticosteroids are used to treat severe symptoms caused by all types of allergic reactions. Long-term use can cause cataracts, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, stomach ulcers, increased blood sugar (glucose) and delayed growth in children. Oral corticosteroids can also worsen high blood pressure. Prescription oral corticosteroids include:
Skin creamsCorticosteroid creams relieve allergic skin reactions such as itching, redness or scaling. Some low-potency corticosteroid creams are available without a prescription, but talk to your doctor before using these drugs for more than a few weeks. Side effects can include skin discoloration and irritation. Long-term use, especially of stronger prescription corticosteroids, can cause thinning of the skin and abnormal hormone levels. Examples include:
Mast cell stabilizersMast cell stabilizers block the release of chemicals in the immune system that contribute to allergic reactions. These drugs are generally safe but usually need to be used for several days to produce the full effect. They're usually used when antihistamines are not working or not well-tolerated. Nasal sprayOver-the-counter nasal sprays include cromolyn (Nasalcrom). EyedropsPrescription eyedrops include the following:
Leukotriene inhibitorsA leukotriene inhibitor is a prescription medication that blocks symptom-causing chemicals called leukotrienes. This oral medication relieves allergy signs and symptoms including nasal congestion, runny nose and sneezing. Only one type of this drug, montelukast (Singulair), is approved for treating hay fever. In some people, leukotriene inhibitors can cause psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, strange dreams, trouble sleeping, and suicidal thinking or behavior. Allergen immunotherapyImmunotherapy is carefully timed and gradually increased exposure to allergens, particularly those that are difficult to avoid, such as pollens, dust mites and molds. The goal is to train the body's immune system not to react to these allergens. Immunotherapy might be used when other treatments aren't effective or tolerated. It is also helpful in reducing asthma symptoms in some patients. ShotsImmunotherapy may be given as a series of injections, usually one or two times a week. The dose may be increased weekly or every two weeks based on the patient's tolerance. Injections of the maximum tolerated dose may then be given every two to four weeks year round. Side effects might include irritation at the injection site and allergy symptoms such as sneezing, congestion or hives. Rarely, allergy shots can cause anaphylaxis, a sudden life-threatening reaction that causes swelling in the throat, difficulty breathing, and other signs and symptoms. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)With this type of immunotherapy, you place an allergen-based tablet under your tongue (sublingual) and allow it to be absorbed. This treatment has been shown to reduce runny nose, congestion, eye irritation and other symptoms associated with hay fever. It also improves asthma symptoms. One SLIT tablet contains dust mites (Odactra). Several SLIT tablets contain extracts from pollens of different types of grass, including the following:
Biological medicationsSome medications target a specific reaction in the immune system and try to prevent it from happening. These medications are given as injections. They include dupilumab (Dupixent) to treat allergic skin reactions and omalizumab (Xolair) to treat asthma or hives when other medications don't help. Side effects of biological medications may include redness, itchiness, or irritation of the eyes and irritation at the injection site. Emergency epinephrine shotsEpinephrine shots are used to treat anaphylaxis, a sudden, life-threatening reaction. The drug is administered with a self-injecting syringe and needle device (auto-injector). You might need to carry two auto-injectors if there's a chance you could have a severe allergic reaction to a certain food, such as peanuts, or if you're allergic to bee or wasp venom. A second injection is sometimes needed. As a result, it's important to call 911 or get immediate emergency medical care. A health care professional will train you on how to use an epinephrine auto-injector. It's important to get the type that your doctor prescribes, as the method for injection may differ slightly for each brand. Also, be sure to replace your emergency epinephrine before the expiration date. Examples of these medications include:
Get your doctor's adviceWork with your doctor to choose the most effective allergy medications and avoid problems. Even over-the-counter allergy medications have side effects, and some allergy medications can cause problems when combined with other medications. It's especially important to talk to your doctor about taking allergy medications in the following circumstances:
Keep track of your symptoms, when you use your medications and how much you use. This will help your doctor figure out what works best. You might need to try a few medications to determine which are most effective and have the least bothersome side effects for you. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is
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See more In-depth See also
. Can a person with high blood pressure take antihistamine?Antihistamines are the most common medication for allergies. Most of them seem to be safe if you have high blood pressure -- but again, ask to make sure. Don't take decongestants unless your doctor tells you otherwise. They may raise your blood pressure.
Can I take Claritin if I have high blood pressure?However, medicines containing decongestants — including Allegra-D, Zyrtec-D and Claritin-D — could increase your blood pressure and heart rate or interfere with your heart medication.
Can Benadryl help with high blood pressure?But because diphenhydramine has an atropine-like action, it may lower your blood pressure, and caution should be taken if you have hypertension (high blood pressure) and take medication.
Does Claritin 24 raise blood pressure?Claritin. Claritin is a brand name for the drug loratadine, which doesn't usually raise blood pressure. Claritin-D, a combination of loratadine and pseudoephedrine, can elevate blood pressure.
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Over the counter antihistamines for high blood pressure
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