MENTAL PROBLEMS OF FOOD INTOLERANCE: PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ALLERGY DRUGS
Some of the drugs used to treat allergy may have side-effects that involve the mind and behaviour. It is easy to mistake these for direct effects of the allergy itself, so it is important to be aware of the possible effects of particular drugs.
Antihistamines tend to cause drowsiness, but some are better in this respect than others. If you or your child are affected it is worth asking the doctor to change you to another type of antihistamine.
Corticosteroids, if used for a prolonged period, can cause a type of dependency. When they are withdrawn the patient may suffer fatigue, headache, depression, weakness, and aches and pains. These drugs are only likely to cause such problems if they have been taken continuously, at high doses, for some months.
Ephedrine can cause anxiety, insomnia and restlessness. Although it is less widely used than it once was, it is found in some broncho-dilators and cough mixtures. Some of these can be bought without a prescription.
Pseudoephedrine can produce euphoria and delusions, if taken in very large doses, and even in normal doses it may cause nightmares and behavioural problems in children. It is widely found in cough mixtures (eg Actifed) and hay-fever medication, some of which can be bought without a prescription.
If the medicine you are taking is not listed there, ask to speak to the pharmacist at the shop where you buy it - he or she will be able to tell you if it contains any of these drugs. Consult your doctor before discontinuing any prescribed medicines. *214\180\8*
