Sometimes you sneeze continuously, your nose runs a watery liquid, your eyes are red and itchy... It's really annoying when you have these allergy symptoms, isn't it? One of the medications that doctors give us at times like this is Pyrilamine. So today, let's talk about this medication and the things you need to be careful about when using it.
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What is this Pyrilamine?
Simply put, pyrilamine is an antihistamine . When our body has an allergy, a chemical called 'Histamine' is produced. This is the main reason for the sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes that we mentioned. So what this antihistamine does is to control the activity of that histamine. Then the allergy symptoms gradually decrease.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before you use this medicine, it is very important to tell your doctor about any other medical conditions or special conditions you have, as this information will help determine whether this medicine is right for you.
| Illness / Special Occasion | Why should you inform? |
|---|---|
| Lung-related diseases (e.g. COPD, chronic bronchitis) | Because this medicine can have some effect on breathing. |
| Glaucoma condition | Because this can increase eye pressure. |
| Allergies to pyrilamine or other medications or foods | To prevent a severe allergic reaction. |
| If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant | To ensure the safety of the baby in the womb. |
| If a mother is breastfeeding her child | Because the medicine can pass to the baby through breast milk. |
How should I use the medicine?
This medicine should be used exactly as the doctor tells you.
- Accurate measurement: Use only the special spoon, cup, or dropper that comes with the medicine to measure it. Do not use household teaspoons , as they may not give an accurate measurement.
- Recommended frequency: Do not use more than the frequency prescribed by your doctor.
- If given to children: This medicine is sometimes given to children over 2 years of age. But this should only be done on the advice of a doctor. Never give this medicine to children on your own.
What to do if you take too much medicine (overdose)?
If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, that is, overdosed, the first thing to do is to call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital. Or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital. Don't put this off.
Remember, this medicine was prescribed for you by your doctor. Never share it with anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you.
Other things that may interact with this medicine (Interactions)
When taking this medicine, you should tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking, alcohol you drink, or smoking. Some things can interact with this medicine. This means that the side effects may increase or the effectiveness of the medicine may decrease.
Things to be especially careful about are:
- Alcohol
- Sedatives or sleeping pills
- Medications for depression (e.g. amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline)
- Medicines for seizures (e.g. phenobarbital, primidone)
- Anesthetic drugs used in surgery
- Narcotic pain medicines
- Other antihistamines for allergies, coughs, and colds
What should you be careful about when taking the medicine?
This medicine may make you feel drowsy and dizzy.Therefore, avoid driving, operating machinery, or doing anything that requires concentration until you know exactly how this medicine affects your body.
Especially if you are older, don't get up from a sitting position suddenly. Wait a while and then get up carefully. Otherwise, you may feel dizzy and fall. If your symptoms do not improve or worsen, be sure to talk to your doctor again.
Side effects of the medicine
Like any medicine, this can cause side effects in some people.
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Severe allergic reaction | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, difficulty breathing. If you notice anything like this, go to a hospital's ETU immediately. |
| Common, less serious side effects | |
| Drowsiness/dizziness | This is something that is often seen. That is why they say don't drive. |
| Dry mouth, nose, throat | This can be controlled by drinking a little more water. |
How do you store and dispose of the medicine?
Keep this out of the reach of children and pets. Store at room temperature (between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius). Do not use after the expiration date.
How do you dispose of expired or unwanted medications? The best thing to do is ask your doctor about this. In general, if it's not safe to flush down the toilet, before throwing it in the trash, take the medication out of the bottle, mix it with something like used tea leaves, coffee grounds, or soil, and put it in a sealable bag and throw it in the trash. This will prevent small children or animals from getting into it.
💡 Take-Home Message
- Pyrilamine is an antihistamine that controls allergy symptoms.
- Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you have (especially lung disease, glaucoma) and any other medications you are taking.
- Use only the special spoon/dropper that comes with the medicine to measure it. Do not use household spoons.
- This can cause drowsiness. Therefore, avoid driving or doing work that requires concentration while taking the medicine.
- If you experience severe allergic symptoms such as swelling of the face, lips, or difficulty breathing, go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
- If you suspect an overdose, call the National Poisons Information Center or go to the ETU.
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