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You are here : Healthopedia.com > Drugs & Medications > Detailed Drug Information (USP DI) > Antihistamines and Decongestants : Side Effects

Antihistamines and Decongestants (Systemic)

Antihistamines and Decongestants | Before Using | Proper Use | Precautions | Side Effects


Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although serious side effects occur rarely when this medicine is taken as recommended, they may be more likely to occur if:

  • too much medicine is taken
  • it is taken in large doses
  • it is taken for a long period of time

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur :

Clumsiness or unsteadiness; convulsions (seizures); drowsiness (severe); dryness of mouth, nose, or throat (severe); flushing or redness of face; hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there); headache (continuing); shortness of breath or troubled breathing; slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat; trouble in sleeping

    For promethazine only

      Muscle spasms (especially of neck and back); restlessness; shuffling walk; tic-like (jerky) movements of head and face; trembling and shaking of hands

Also, check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

    Rare

      Back, leg or stomach pain; black, sticky stools; bleeding gums; blood, cloudy or dark urine, or sudden decrease in amount of urine; blood pressure increased; blurred vision; chest pain; confusion; diarrhea; dizziness; faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position; fever or chills; light-colored stools; mood or mental changes; nosebleeds; sore throat and fever; skin rash or hives; stillbirth; swollen mouth, throat, face, fingers, feet, glands or lower legs; sweating suddenly; tightness in chest; troubled breathing; twitching, twisting, or uncontrolled repetitive movements of face; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting of blood; weight gain suddenly; yellow or pale eyes or skin

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

    More common—rare with loratadine-containing combination

      Drowsiness; thickening of the bronchial secretions

    Less common—more common with high doses

      Blurred vision; confusion; difficult or painful urination; dizziness; dryness of mouth, nose, or throat; headache; loss of appetite; nightmares; pounding heartbeat; ringing or buzzing in ears; skin rash; stomach upset or pain (more common with pyrilamine); unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability; unusual sleepiness, weakness or drowsiness, extreme tiredness

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.


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Antihistamines and Decongestants: Precautions

   

Date Revised: 06/05/2003









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Page Last Updated: 6th April, 2009