Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. non-prescription medications and supplements: The This particular side effect generally isn’t serious, but if you’re trying to Similar to dry mouth, dry eyes is also a common antihistamine side effect. If that movement is slowed thanks to a medication messing with acetylcholine, you Increased urinary retention—meaning that your bladder doesn’t empty all the way when you pee—is another possible side effect of antihistamines that’s related to their actions on acetylcholine. Then there are the newer, second-generation antihistamines (also sometimes called nonsedating for reasons which will become obvious), which include many of the oral allergy medications you’ll find at the drugstore, like cetirizine (Zyrtec), levocetirizine (Xyzal), fexofenadine (Allegra), and loratadine (Claritin).All of these medications work generally in the same way: by targeting the body’s histamine-production system, which generates many of the symptoms we think of as “allergies.” Normally, when your body is exposed to an allergen that you’re sensitive to—tree pollen, cat dander, dust, etc.—it erroneously interprets that substance as a threat and sets off an immune response to combat it. It’s thought that some antihistamines can actually Yep, antihistamines can have an effect on your bowel habits as well! In the case of massive overdosage, gastric lavage should be performed together with the usual supportive measures. So, if you’re not sure what’s right for you—particularly if you’ve tried a few over-the-counter options without success—it’s worth talking to an allergist about what might work. The newer anti-histamines loratadine (Claritin®) and desloratadine (Clarinex®) may have less side effects than older antihistamines. Cetirizine (Zyrtec®) may or may not have less risk. To date there is no specific antidote. Having severe sleep or allergy issues every single night probably warrants a better insomnia- or allergy-management strategy.Newer antihistamines tend not to cause as much sedation, but they still can in some people, Dr. Lane says. WebMD provides important information about Zyrtec-D Oral such as if you can you take Zyrtec-D Oral when you are pregnant or nursing or If Zyrtec-D Oral dangerous for children or adults over 60. Generally, though, dry skin is affected more directly by other factors, such as changes in the weather or your environment.If you feel like the antihistamines you’ve been taking aren't working as well as they used to, you’re not alone. Severe coronary artery disease. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.All the best health and wellness advice, tips, tricks, and intel, delivered to your inbox every day. It’s so common, in fact, that diphenhydramine is actually However, if that’s starting to become a regular issue, you may want to talk to your doctor about other options. Topical eye or nose sprays/drops have the least risk of these side effects. Urinary retention from nerve disease occurs at the same rate in men and women. Copyright © 2018 by RxList Inc. RxList does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This happens when the proteins in an allergen bind to IgE antibodies on the surface of mast cells, which causes the cell to release histamine, Dr. Lane explains. Normally, this neurotransmitter plays a role in the control of your gut muscles, which help move things along. That histamine goes on to bind to histamine receptors, which then sets off reactions such as a runny nose, watery eyes, and other classic allergy symptoms.Antihistamine medications bind to histamine receptors on cells throughout the body, blocking them from setting off the immune system response downstream. Here are some of the most common antihistamine side effects that you should know about.Feeling drowsy or sleepy is one of the most common antihistamine side effects, especially in regard to first-generation antihistamines. As a result, these drugs generally have fewer side effects, and those they do produce tend to be less severe.Figuring out the right allergy medication for you depends on your symptoms, your preferences, and a careful weighing of the side effects that drug might produce.