A Brief History of Antihistamines
Oral antihistamines are effective in reducing the symptoms caused by your body's reaction to allergens. They work by blocking the action of histamine, a substance produced by the body in response to allergens like dust and dust mites, pollen from ragweed, grass, or trees, or fur from dogs and cats.
These products have been approved and used for quite some time, but several advances have been made in the last few decades.
The earliest antihistamines (like chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine) used in Benadryl* and Chlor-Tripolon®) only brought up to six hours of relief and often caused undesirable side effects like sleepiness. Newer antihistamines are usually easier to tolerate and can help relieve allergy symptoms for up to 24 hours, and most don't cause drowsiness. One drawback that has been noticed, however, is their general inability to help relieve nasal congestion.
Until now, allergy sufferers with blocked noses have had to combine their antihistamine with decongestants such as pseudoephedrine to relieve their sinus congestion. However, because pseudoephedrine is related to adrenaline, it has similar effects – making users susceptible to many possible side effects including nervousness, restlessness, dizziness, difficulty sleeping and increased heart rate. Combining antihistamines with pseudoephedrine in order to alleviate nasal congestion may not be appropriate for some patients - including those suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, glaucoma and certain other conditions.†
Allergy sufferers with blocked noses used to have to choose between congestion and the undesirable effect of pseudoephedrine. Now, with Aerius, there’s relief from allergy symptoms including congestion, without pseudoephedrine or its side effects.
Discover How Aerius Helps
Aerius uses desloratadine, a metabolite of loratadine, to make a powerful and long-lasting antihistamine. It has been proven to effectively relieve nasal congestion without an added decongestant like pseudoephedrine.
It is a non-drowsy antihistamine that allows allergy sufferers to function normally, both at school‡ and at work - those times when being able to be at your best really counts.
Aerius is also a convenient choice of antihistamine since it has no restrictions with respect to usage with food or alcohol.
Doctors and pharmacists actively recommend Aerius for their patients. You can find it in the antihistamine section of your pharmacy. It provides fast, effective, 24 hour relief of the following allergy symptoms:
sneezing
runny nose
hives
itchy
watery eyes
Of the above symptoms, nasal congestion is experienced by nearly 70% of allergy sufferers and many consider nasal stuffiness to be the most bothersome symptom of this condition. So if you suffer from allergies to dogs, cats, pollen, rag weed, dust mites, or hay fever, you should know about the relief Aerius can offer. In clinical trials with thousands of patients, Aerius has been proven to be an effective choice of antihistamine. So ask your doctor or pharmacist if Aerius is right for you!
† Patients with one or more of these conditions should consult a physician before taking any medication containing pseudoephedrine.
‡ Aerius Tablets are indicated for children 12 and up.
Aerius Kids' Syrup is indicated for children 2 years of age and up.
* All other trademarks are the property of their respective owner(s).
Chlor-Tripolon®: ® Schering-Plough Canada Inc
