#179 - What Pharmacists Around the World Recommend for Allergies

The pharmacist is often the first person you talk to about allergies. So what are they thinking about when they hand you that box of antihistamines?

Dr. Gupta and pharmacist Dr. Suzanne Soliman went to the World Congress of Pharmacy in Montreal. They asked pharmacists from the UK, Ghana, Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay, and Malaysia about three patients they might meet at the counter. Kortney joins Dr. G to talk through what the pharmacists shared: check that it’s really allergies, skip the older antihistamines, and look at the whole person.

What we cover in this episode about pharmacist recommendations for allergy medicine

• Allergies or a cold? Pharmacists ask three questions: Is there a fever? Is it itchy? Does it keep coming back? Itch and symptoms that return every season point to allergies.
• When to see a doctor. A fever, pain on one side of your face, or coughing and wheezing can mean an infection. You may need a medicine the pharmacist can't give you.
• Old vs. new antihistamines. Older antihistamines can make you sleepy and slow your reaction time. Pharmacists around the world now choose the newer, non-drowsy ones, like fexofenadine and loratadine.
• Anticholinergic side effects. Older antihistamines can also cause dry mouth, constipation, trouble peeing, blurry vision, and confusion. These side effects hit older adults harder.
• Bring your medicine list. If you have kidney or liver disease or take other medicines, your pharmacist can still help. Bring a list of everything you take, including what you buy yourself.

Thank you to the pharmacists who shared their thoughts with us: Ahuti Lakhani (UK), Bernard Opoku Ware (Ghana), Adwoa Mensah (Ghana), David Pires (Portugal), Romina Takesyan (Argentina), Cecilia Maldonado (Uruguay), and Susan YH Pan (Malaysia).

More resources

• Ep. 151: What Allergists Think About Antihistamines
• Ep. 150: What Allergists Really Think About Your Allergy Nasal Spray
• Ep. 116: Why Fexofenadine Is Considered a Truly Non-Sedating Antihistamine
• Ep. 116 infographic: Which antihistamines cross into the brain

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Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Opella for supporting today’s episode.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.