Hypertension patients must choose allergy medicines that will treat respiratory symptoms while maintaining a healthy blood pressure, or BP, level. Some drug mechanisms affect the body's normal cardiovascular conditions, either by dilating or constricting the blood vessels.
Decongestants to treat stuffy noses produce adverse effects in hypertensive people by narrowing the vascular space in the nasal and sinus areas. By choosing medicines in other classes of drugs that ease congestion, heart patients can avoid BP problems while they address hay fever or perennial allergy symptoms.
Antihistamines
If patients place a greater priority on reducing seasonal itching, sneezing and runny nose than congestion, antihistamines may be the only allergy medicines they need. The majority of drugs such as loratadine, ceterizine and diphenhydramine will not cause changes in blood pressure, although some may carry drowsiness and other side effects. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) reports a plethora of prescription and over-the-counter choices, with convenient dosing in tablet, capsule, liquid, granule, nasal spray and eye drop forms.
Heart patients should carefully read ingredients, or better yet, check with their physicians for help in choosing hay fever medications that don't add a decongestant element. Otherwise, they might mistake combination formulas for stand-alone drugs from the same manufacturer. For congestion symptoms, BP patients should choose alternative medications or use home remedies.
Cromolyn Sodium Nasal Sprays
Cromolyn sodium addresses all types of hay fever symptoms, including congestion, without blood pressure or other serious side effects. It needs no prescription. Patients can take this nasally administered allergy medicine for temporary periods before and during the pollen season to prevent respiratory problems from arising. When used year round, it prevents or reduces allergic reactions to pet dander, dust mites and mold.
The timing and frequency of dosing takes a little more work than many of the slow-release antihistamines, as the University of Maryland Medical Center relates. But cromolyn sodium is non-habit-forming and safe enough to take as often every day.
Corticosteroid Nasal Sprays
The action of nasal corticosteroids requires daily dosing, but BP patients with perennial allergies or multiple pollen sensitivities need nonstop symptom relief. The AAAAI notes a range of prescription nasal spray corticosteroid formulas that all work without raising blood pressure.
Like cromolyn sodium, steroid allergy medicines such as flunisolide and fluticasone propionate need to be taken for a brief period before they start to suppress hay fever symptoms. The level of effectiveness is high after that, with only minor nose bleed or headache consequences in some individuals.
