Many allergy medications include decongestants that can raise blood pressure, create palpitations and interfere with some other heart medications. Medications that often can be safely used by people with significant allergies include nasal corticosteroids. In addition, antihistamines are very effective.

Can antihistamines cause high blood pressure? If you’re already taking medication for high blood pressure, combining that with an antihistamine can increase your heart rate and raise your blood pressure.

What Allergy Medicines Can I Take if I Have High Blood Pressure?

• Allegra (fexofenadine)
• Clarinex (desloratadine)
• Claritin (loratadine)
• Xyzal (levocetirizine)
• Zyrtec (cetirizine)

Coricidin ® HBP is the #1 selling† brand of powerful cold medicine specially formulated for those with high blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), nasal decongestants in common cold medications may raise one’s blood pressure.

Although allergies don’t usually directly increase blood pressure, they can indirectly contribute to high blood pressure.

Phenylephrine. For those with high blood pressure, phenylephrine is an alternative to pseudoephedrine. They are in the same drug class known as nasal decongestants, which help relieve sinus congestion and pressure. You can buy products containing phenylephrine right off the shelf at the pharmacy.

Decongestants relieve nasal stuffiness by narrowing blood vessels and reducing swelling in the nose. This narrowing can affect other blood vessels as well, which can increase blood pressure.

Yes, it’s fine for you to take Mucinex DM if you have high blood pressure. It contains two active ingredients: dextromethorphan and guaifenesin. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant.

Can FLONASE products increase blood pressure? When used as directed, FLONASE products do not increase blood pressure.

Zinc supplements are most effective if they are taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. However, if zinc supplements cause stomach upset, they may be taken with a meal.

Zinc may stay in the bone for many days after exposure. Normally, zinc leaves the body in urine and feces. More information on how zinc enters and leaves your body can be found in Chapter 3.