Taking allergy medicines with high blood pressure, or hypertension, can cause problems that range from minor inconveniences to serious health effects. Many heart patients already manage their hypertension with daily drugs. Allergy medications must fit into their regimens without causing drug interactions or cardiovascular effects.
By paying attention to medicine ingredients and dosing instructions, hypertensive people can manage their allergy symptoms safely and swiftly. Getting doctor recommendations for specific formulas will prevent interference with all of the medications that individuals may be taking.
Antihistamines
People with high blood pressure can take most antihistamines for relief of most allergy symptoms. Formulas that combine decongestants with antihistamines, however, can increase hypertension and should not be taken.
The Mayo Clinic notes that this limits antihistamine use to easing runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes, but not congestion.
Stand-alone antihistamine allergy medicines such as fexofenadine, cetirizine and loratadine offer a variety of dosing forms and schedules. Patients can choose from syrup, pills, nasal sprays and eye drops, some of which need to be taken only once in 24 hours.
Decongestants
Decongestants for stuffy nose allergy symptoms constrict the blood vessels, and hypertensive patients should seek alternative medications. According to the National Institutes of Health, the decongestant drug compounds pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine and oxymetazoline act on the nasal blood vessels to ease congestion.
This produces cardiovascular changes that pose risks to people with hypertension. It also counteracts their antihypertensive drug therapy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires the manufacturers of decongestant and combination anithistamine/decongestant drugs to warn consumers with high blood pressure not to take them.
Cromolyn Sodium
Cromolyn sodium nasal spray represents a safe alternative allergy medicine that prevents or reduces all respiratory symptoms and itching. With no hypertension or other serious side effects, cromolyn sodium provides reliable allergy relief for seasonal or year-round ills and doesn't need a prescription.
Heart patients with severe allergy symptoms may find the dosing requirements of up to six applications daily cumbersome. Those with moderate, seasonal conditions may find four doses adequate, but the regimen must begin prior to symptom onset, as noted by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
Nasal Steroids
Nasal steroids represent a second alternative class of allergy drugs that offer comprehensive symptom relief on a once- or twice-daily dosing schedule. A low-level corticosteroid nasal spray, this type of allergy medicine will not raise blood pressure or cause drug interactions. The AAAAI reports that patients need prescriptions for budesonide, fluticasone furoate, flunisolide and other nasal steroid formulas, but may safely take them year round for indoor and outdoor allergies.
