Parkville Pharmacy

18/08/2024

05/07/2024

Stand up for Your Health at Work
Standing and regular walking breaks at work advised to help prevent chronic illness tied to sedentary lifestyle

Eyeing that sit-stand desk at work? It may help curb the health risks of sitting all day.

United Kingdom health officials recently released guidance advising office workers to be on their feet for at least two hours every day during work hours.

Eventually, this daily standing quota should be bumped up to four hours every day, said the researchers behind this new guidance. They also advised walking around the office regularly.

John P. Buckley, PhD, of the Institute of Medicine at the University Centre Shrewsbury and University of Chester in the UK, wrote the guidance with an international group of experts.

Dr. Buckley and team wrote that there was not enough “guidance relating to affecting a number of factors that may best help realise the promoted health benefits … of standing and active breaks required at work within the office environment.”

This new guidance noted that more research is suggesting that staying seated for long periods of time may greatly increase the risk of serious illnesses.

"The UK health officials have responded with impressive agility to news appearing over the last year regarding the hazards of prolonged sitting," said Deborah Gordon, MD, a nutrition expert based in Ashland, OR, in an interview with dailyRx News. "Sitting all day has been found to be associated with a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and death, and those risks are only slightly reduced if the all-day sitter is also a dawn or evening athlete. Working out hard for part of a day or on the weekend will not protect us from the hazards of long days spent sitting."

Dr. Buckley and team noted that, "For those working in offices, 65-75% of their working hours are spent sitting, of which more than 50% of this is accumulated in prolonged periods of sustained sitting."

These researchers also noted that sedentary behavior may account for 70 percent of those at high risk of having or developing a chronic health condition.

"The evidence is clearly emerging that a first 'behavioural' step could be simply to get people standing and moving more frequently as part of their working day," Dr. Buckley and team added, saying that this was more likely to be achieved than targeted exercise.

These researchers didn't stop at standing, however. They said that standing still for long periods of time could be just as unhealthy as sitting down. That's why Dr. Buckley and team emphasized that workers should take regular walking breaks to break up extended periods of both standing and sitting. Among these researchers' other recommendations were efforts to improve employee posture while sitting to avoid back pain and other musculoskeletal problems and encouraging workers to adopt other healthy behaviors, such as not smoking, eating healthily, limiting alcohol and lowering stress.

Workers who move from sitting all day to standing may feel some discomfort and tiredness at first, Dr. Buckley and team said. These researchers recommended taking breaks and short walks to reduce any discomfort tied to standing more frequently at work. If the problems persist, patients should speak to a doctor.

Dr. Gordon offered some strategies to help patients reduce their sedentary time.

"I recommend that people get creative if their work requires them to remain in one position throughout the day," Dr. Gordon said. "Look at your own sitting posture: left leg crossed over right? Reverse that when you're sitting. If you can stand to work ... vary that posture: shift your weight from one leg to the other. Spend more time on the leg that feels 'weaker' to you. And most important of all: identify the strategy you need to get yourself up and walking for just one or two minutes every hour. Lots of water and frequent bathroom breaks? Less efficiency on errands so you need to head to the copy machine more often?"

Dr. Buckley and team noted that most of the evidence they drew on for their recommendations was based on observational and retrospective studies.

"While longer term intervention studies are required, the level of consistent evidence accumulated to date, and the public health context of rising chronic diseases, suggest initial guidelines are justified," Dr. Buckley and team wrote.

Eyeing that sit-stand desk at work? It may help curb the health risks of sitting all day. United Kingdom health official...

26/06/2024

8 Tips to Prevent Medication Errors
Preventing medication errors can keep your family safe

Unfortunately, medication errors occur relatively often — and they can harm you and your family. The good news is there are ways to avoid medication errors.

By following these eight safety tips, you can help prevent medication errors at home and keep yourself and your family safe.

1) Ask Questions and Disclose as Much Information as You Can
Ask your doctor or pharmacist questions about your medications and what they treat. Knowing what medications you take and why can help you identify possible problems. These potential issues include duplicate therapy (taking two of the same medication or two of the same type of medication), drug allergies, changes in dose and discontinuation of medications.

If you are allergic to a certain medication or have had a past issue with one, it is critical that you relay that information to all of your doctors and pharmacists. This will help keep you from receiving that medication or a similar one in the future.

2) Use One Pharmacy and One Doctor
Having multiple doctors and pharmacies can be problematic. When you have multiple doctors, one doctor may not be aware of what the other is prescribing. This can result in you getting medications of the same type and medications that interact with each other.

Furthermore, if you use more than one pharmacy, neither pharmacist will have enough information to identify these issues. Filling all of your prescriptions at one pharmacy can prevent you from receiving duplicate therapy and medications that may interact with each other.

If you must have multiple doctors, keep an up-to-date medication list that you can give to each of them.

3) Keep Your Medications Separate
Keeping medications separate can keep you from confusing them and taking them incorrectly.

Some medications require certain storage conditions. For example, nitroglycerin tablets used to treat chest pain must be kept in an amber (dark-colored) glass bottle to keep their potency.

4) Follow Doctor or Pharmacist Instructions and Stay on Schedule
Do not take more medication than instructed by your doctor and pharmacist. Taking more than recommended can result in more side effects and may harm you. Following instructions also includes not missing doses.

Always get your refills on time to avoid missing doses. Missing a dose of your medication can be considered a medication error through omission.

Missing doses can delay your recovery or make it more difficult to manage your health condition. When you miss doses of certain medications and for certain health conditions, you can become more ill and may have to be treated in the hospital.

5) Use the Right Tools
If you need to use a measuring device to take your medication, always use the appropriate one, such as the one provided with your medication.

Kitchen spoons do not count. Using the appropriate measuring device ensures you are receiving the correct amount of medication.

6) Don't Chew or Crush Medications
Unless your doctor or pharmacist says so, that is. Patients who have trouble swallowing pills often try to cut, chew, open, or crush the tablet or capsule. This may become an issue with long-acting medications like those that are available in XR, XL, SR and ER formulations.

When the long-acting formulations are cut, crushed or chewed, they may release the medication too quickly and not last the way they are designed to. Also, they may actually harm you if they are not administered as instructed.

Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about the best way to administer your medication. If you have trouble swallowing pills, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Health professionals can recommend a suitable formulation.

7) Get Rid of Old Medications
Properly dispose of all medications you are no longer taking or those that have expired. Expired medications are no longer as effective because they lose potency after their expiration date. Furthermore, some medications can be harmful when taken after the expiration date.

8) Keep a List
Keep an updated list of all medications you take, including over-the-counter medications and herbal and nutritional supplements. You can provide this list to your doctor and pharmacist.

It's also very important to tell your pharmacist and doctor about all of the medications you take, including vitamins, supplements, over-the-counter drugs and prescriptions. Even over-the-counter medications can interact with other drugs or your prescription medications.

In addition, some products may not be safe to take if you have certain health conditions. That's why it's critical that you disclose all of the medications and products you take to all of your health care providers.

Written by Anyssa Garza, PharmD, BCMAS

Unfortunately, medication errors occur relatively often — and they can harm you and your family. The good news is ther...

21/06/2024

Medicine Storage and Disposal
Where and how you store your medication matters

The bathroom cabinet may be convenient, but there are better, safer places to store your medications.

When you get your prescription, the first step when you get home should be to store it properly. Medications are expensive, and you want to store them in a way that ensures they do not go bad. You must also think about protecting others — no one wants to see a child injured because that pretty pink pill looked so much like candy.

Skip the Bathroom
Although the bathroom may be convenient — after all, it is called a "medicine cabinet" — it's not really a good place for your medications. The heat and moisture common to a bathroom environment can make your medications less potent or make them break down and go bad early.

Storage Recommendations
Generally, you want to make sure you store your medication in an environment that has a consistent temperature (does not fluctuate). Make sure you store your medication according to its instructions, whether that entails storage at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Take the following precautions:

Keep your medications in a cool, dry, dark place to prevent damage from heat, light, air or moisture.
Store your medicine in a cabinet or drawer with a child-proof latch or lock.
Store medications out of the reach or sight of children.
Keep your medication with you when you travel.
Don’t put medicine in the glove compartment of a car.
Don’t leave medicines where a pet could get into them.
Don't combine medications and store them all together in one medication bottle.
Store medicine that might have street resale value under lock and key.
Be Safe
Even if your medication is properly stored, it may expire earlier than expected or go bad.

If the medicine looks odd in some way — the color has changed, it smells bad or the texture has changed — don’t take it, even if it hasn’t officially expired. Nor should you take pills that have cracked, stick together, or seem harder or softer than normal. And do not keep medicine beyond its expiration date.

If you have a question about storing your medications, ask your pharmacist.

The bathroom cabinet may be convenient, but there are better, safer places to store your medications. When you ...

19/06/2024

The Invisible Toll of Stress

High blood pressure may be more common among stressed, young men

Attention all you young guys out there — if you're stressed out a lot, it may be something to worry about.

A new study from Sweden found that men who were more susceptible to stress in early adulthood were also more likely to develop high blood pressure later in life. If left untreated, high blood pressure can increase the risk of both heart attack and stroke.

While past research has found a link between high stress reactivity and blood pressure, researchers said this study is the first to look at the link over many years.

Casey Crump, MD, PhD, led this study of more than 1.5 million men. All of these men were 18-years-old when they enlisted in the Swedish military between 1969 and 1997, and were followed through 2012. At the time of enlistment, none had high blood pressure. Dr. Crump is an associate professor of medicine at Stanford University.

Each man completed an interview with a psychologist at the time of enlistment. The goal of these interviews was to determine how well the men could cope with military service and armed combat. Each man was rated on a scale of 1 to 9, with 9 indicating the highest resilience to stress.

Between 1969 and 2012, 93,000 of these men were diagnosed with high blood pressure. The average age at the time of diagnosis was 49.

Men who scored on the low end of the stress resilience scale were more likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure later in life. In fact, those who scored in the bottom 20 percent of the scale had a 40 percent increased risk of high blood pressure compared to those who scored in the upper 20 percent.

Being overweight was another risk factor, according to Dr. Crump and team. Men who were overweight and also had low stress resilience scores at age 18 were more than three times as likely to develop high blood pressure in their later years.

The study was published Feb. 1 in the journal Heart.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Swedish Research Council and Lund University funded this research. No conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Attention all you young guys out there — if you're stressed out a lot, it may be something to worry about. A new study...

17/06/2024

Working in the Cold: What You Need to Know
Practice these tips to stay safe while working outside in cold weather

It's wintertime again — when temperatures take a dive. But don't let your health take a dive, too.

Frigid temperatures can be dangerous without the proper precautions. The colder it gets outside, the more energy your body needs to remain warm. And if your occupation requires you to work outdoors, you may face a greater risk for certain cold-related problems, such as hypothermia (low body temperature) and frostbite (freezing of the skin).

Another cold-weather injury is trench foot. This can happen when your feet are wet and cold for too long. Trench foot can actually happen in temperatures as high as 60 degrees Fahrenheit if your feet are constantly wet. This because wet feet lose heat 25 times faster than dry feet.

Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, loss of coordination, confusion, slurred speech, slowed heart rate or breathing and unconsciousness. Frostbite often affects the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. Symptoms of frostbite include reddened skin and developing gray or white patches as well as numbness, tingling or stinging. Symptoms of trench foot include blisters, leg cramps, numbness, reddening skin, swelling and tingling.

If you are working in cold weather, the best thing you can do is be prepared. Wear warm clothing and limit your time outdoors.

Wear Warm Clothes
1) Wear several layers of loose clothing; layering provides better insulation. Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing. Avoid cotton, because it cannot provide insulation when it becomes wet. Instead, opt for the following:

Opt for wool, silk or synthetic for the inner layer. This helps keep moisture away from the body.
Choose wool or synthetic for the middle layer. This will provide the insulation your body needs even when wet.
For the outer layer, choose one that protects against wind and rain. This will allow some ventilation and prevent your body from overheating.
2) Wear insulated gloves to protect your hands. You may need some gloves that are water-resistant.

3) Wear a hat and/or hood to protect your head. Make sure it covers your ears.

4) Opt for a knit mask to cover the face and mouth (if needed).

5) Wear insulated and waterproof shoes that have good traction.

Finally, make sure your clothing will not restrict your movement or block your eyesight.

Limit Your Time Outside
It does not have to be extremely cold for you to experience cold-related illnesses or injuries. These kinds of problems can occur when it is as warm as 60° F. With that in mind, try the following tips to keep yourself safe:

1) Take breaks where it is warm and dry, such as inside a vehicle or another sheltered or heated area.

2) If possible, try to schedule heavy outdoor work for the warmest part of the day.

Other Things You Can Do
1) Know the signs and symptoms of cold-related problems like hypothermia, frostbite and trench foot.

2) Monitor yourself and coworkers while working outdoors. The buddy system can help you monitor each other for signs and symptoms of cold-related problems.

3) Immediately take action if you start to see signs or symptoms of cold-related problems.

4) Drink warm, sweetened fluids like sports drinks and sugar water. These types of drinks can help prevent dehydration.

5) Avoid alcohol and drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, soda and tea. Caffeine and alcohol can cause your body to lose heat.

6) Keep an extra set of clothing with you, including underclothes, in case you get wet and need to change.

You may face a higher risk of cold-related problems if you take certain medications or have certain conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. Discuss your risk with your doctor.

It's wintertime again — when temperatures take a dive. But don't let your health take a dive, too. Frigid tem...

17/06/2024

Parkville Pharmacy

13/06/2024

A Healthy Diet for a Longer Life !!

Healthy eating could add more than 10 years to your life, new study finds.

A healthy diet could add more than a decade to your life, according to a new study.

Health professionals and researchers have long known that healthy diet choices, such as eating fruits and vegetables and avoiding added sugars, could have beneficial impacts on health. Now, this study has quantified those impacts.

To be specific, this research found that a woman who began eating a healthy diet at age 20 could add a decade to her life span. And a man who did the same could add up to 13 years to his life.

The study authors noted that dietary risk factors were thought to cause roughly 11 million deaths around the world each year.

The researchers behind this study dug into the data from a global study that tracked dozens of health risk factors, hundreds of health problems and people in hundreds of countries.

They found that participants who ate more fruits and vegetables — legumes like beans and nuts, in particular — were more likely to live longer. Also, those who ate less processed meat like bacon and sausage, as well as less red meat in general, were likely to live longer.

Using their findings, the study authors created a free online calculator that you can use to estimate the impact of various dietary changes on your life span. You can try it here.

While it is generally a good idea to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, it's important to always discuss any major diet changes with your health care provider before you make them. For some people, certain changes in diet can be unhealthy or even dangerous.

This study was published in the journal PLOS Medicine.

The authors of this study disclosed no outside funding sources or potential conflicts of interest.

A healthy diet could add more than a decade to your life, according to a new study. Health professionals and resear...

19/04/2024

A Positive Attitude Lifts the Heart
Heart disease patients who had a positive outlook were more likely to exercise and live longer

Don’t underestimate the power of positive thinking. Patients with cardiovascular disease who keep up a sunny view may increase physical activity and add years to their lives.

Previous research has shown that focusing on the positive may not only improve mental health but heart health as well. For example, those who look on the bright side of life may find it lowers stress, which in turn may lower blood pressure.

Lending further support to past findings, a new study shows that heart patients who maintained good moods were more likely to be active and less likely to die or be hospitalized compared to those who did not have an optimistic outlook.

"Maintain a positive outlook to help improve heart health."

Susanne S. Pedersen, PhD, professor of cardiac psychology in the Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology at Tilburg University in the Netherlands and adjunct professor of cardiac psychology at the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital in Denmark, and her colleagues based their investigation on surveys completed by 600 coronary artery disease patients.

These patients had ischemic heart disease, meaning their arteries had narrowed or been blocked, restricting blood flow to the heart. All participants were from a single hospital in Denmark and answered questions regarding their moods.

After five years, the researchers observed that those with the best attitudes were more physically active and had 42 percent less chance of dying for any reason.

Deaths among the most positive were less than 10 percent, compared to 16.5 percent among those with less positive attitudes.

An optimistic outlook and exercise were also linked to lowering the rate of heart-related hospitalizations.

The authors mentioned that exercise seemed to improve heart health among both the happy and the sad. The differences in death rates among the upbeat and downbeat who exercised were not significant. Types and amounts of exercise, however, were not available from the data collected.

"We should focus not only on increasing positive attitude in cardiac rehabilitation, but also make sure that patients perform exercise on a regular basis, as exercise is associated with both increased levels of optimism and better health," said Dr. Pedersen in a press release.

She noted that mood and exercise may be a chicken-and-egg scenario — each boosting the other.

“Physical exercise may lead to a sense of well-being, which may occur through the release of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin,” Dr. Pedersen told dailyRx News. “Serotonin helps to regulate mood.”

In comments to dailyRx News, she added that patients might “...engage in conscious exercises that seek to induce positive mood,” such as “...thinking about things that make them feel good.”

Sarah Samaan, MD, cardiologist and physician partner at the Baylor Heart Hospital in Plano, Texas, told dailyRx News, “Sometimes it's hard to put on a happy face, but other research shows us that sometimes you really can fake it 'til you make it. Just pretending to be in a good mood can often lead to healthier choices which in turn will make us feel better and keep the good work going. Choosing friends who are positive, rather than hanging out with others with a negative attitude, can also help."

She also said that keeping a positive outlook may help reduce some of the stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which may impact blood pressure, heart rate, sleep and stress eating, all of which are connected to heart disease.

Although the participants were mostly white and three-quarters were male, the researchers said that the results were likely to apply to a wider range of cardiac patients, including those living in the United States.

This study was published on September 10 in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. The Research Council of the Region Sjælland, Danish Heart Foundation and the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development funded the study.

Don’t underestimate the power of positive thinking. Patients with cardiovascular disease who keep up a sunny view may ...

13/04/2024

Sick with the Flu ? Here's What to Do Next
Health officials offer advice on what to do if you get sick with the flu.

In all the chaos surrounding COVID-19, the flu may be easy to forget — until you start feeling sick. Here's what you should do if you get the flu.

Of course, the best way to prevent the flu is to get the flu vaccine. But if you're past that point and already feeling sick, consider taking the following steps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends.

Stay Home and Rest
According to the CDC, you should stay home if you have the flu, with the only acceptable outings being for medical care or absolute necessities. And you should stay home until 24 hours after your fever has gone away without the use of fever-reducing drugs.

That means no work, school, shopping, public gatherings or travel until you've been feeling better for at least a day.

Avoid Contact with Others
The flu can only spread from you to someone else if you're in contact with someone else. To prevent the spread of the flu, avoid contact with others.

This can be difficult if you live in a home with other people, but you can whip out a trusty COVID-19 prevention tool if you must have contact with someone else. It's your face mask. In much the same way that masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19, they help prevent the spread of the flu, too.

Call Your Doctor if You're at High Risk
The very young, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are considered to be at high risk of serious complications from the flu. If you fall into one of those groups or have a pre-existing condition that may increase your risk, immediately call your health care provider when you start to feel sick. Even if you're not sure it's the flu, it's important to give your doctor a call so they can advise you on your next steps.

Watch for Severe Symptoms
While most people recover from the flu without needing to see a health care provider, the flu can become serious. If your case becomes serious, you need to seek immediate medical care.

Here are some of the serious flu symptoms to watch out for in adults:

Severe muscle pain or weakness
Seizures
Trouble breathing
Persistent pressure or pain in the upper abdomen or chest
Not urinating
And here are some of the serious flu symptoms to watch for in children:

Rapid breathing or difficulty with breathing
Chest pain
Ribs visibly pulling inward with each breath
Dry mouth, not urinating and other signs of dehydration
A fever higher than 104 degrees Fahrenheit (or any fever in children younger than 12 weeks)
Seizures
Severe muscle pain
Bluish face or lips
If you have any concerns about your condition or that of your child, reach out to a health care provider right away.

In all the chaos surrounding COVID-19, the flu may be easy to forget — until you start feeling sick. Here's what you s...

08/04/2024

Signs of Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia can be problematic, but you can spot it if you know the signs

Worried you might have iron deficiency anemia? Here are the signs to look out for.

Iron deficiency anemia is a condition that causes your blood to have too few healthy red blood cells. Because red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body, the condition can cause everything from tiredness to heart problems.

As its name suggests, iron deficiency anemia is the result of a lack of iron in the body. That means that, in many cases, iron deficiency anemia is preventable. If you choose iron-rich foods on a regular basis, you can lower your risk of iron deficiency anemia. Iron-rich foods include leafy greens, eggs, meat, beans and seafood.

If you suspect that you have iron deficiency anemia, you need to see a health care provider as soon as possible. In the meantime, these are the signs of iron deficiency anemia to watch for:

Weakness
Extreme tiredness
Cold hands and feet
Pale skin
Shortness of breath
Chest pain or rapid heartbeat
Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
Brittle nails
Cravings for unusual things that aren't food, such as dirt or ice
Reduced appetite (particularly in infants and young children)
This is not a complete list of possible signs of iron deficiency anemia, and it's important to reach out to your doctor even if you only have a faint suspicion that something may be wrong.

Also keep in mind that, while over-the-counter iron supplements can certainly be helpful as you try to get more iron in your daily diet, you can go too far. That's why you always need to speak with your health care provider before starting any new medication, supplement or diet.

Worried you might have iron deficiency anemia? Here are the signs to look out for. Iron deficiency anemia is a ...

26/03/2024

Ways to Improve Your Sleep
Seven sleep habits that can make all the difference

It doesn't just help you feel rested — sleep is important for your overall health and well-being.

That's why it's important to make sure you're getting high-quality sleep every night. For help, check out the sleep health tips below.

How to Improve Your Sleep
To improve your sleep, try these seven simple and healthy sleep habits:

1. Set and stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. This includes weekends and holidays.

2. Avoid drinks and foods that may keep you awake. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and ni****ne. Be mindful that there may be caffeine in some unexpected foods, beverages and medications. Avoid these items for at least four to six hours before bedtime, if possible.

Eating a big meal right before bed can keep you awake. In addition, avoid drinking too much liquid before bed. Drinking too much may cause you to get up several times during the night to use the restroom. In terms of alcohol, you may think alcohol makes you feel tired, but it may actually disrupt your sleep throughout the night.

3. Create a comfortable sleeping environment. This may mean turning down the temperature, turning off the TV, avoiding electronics and making the room dark. Avoid bringing computers, iPads, TVs or work into the bedroom. The bedroom should be reserved for sleep. Furthermore, make it a point to stop using your electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime. The light from your cell phone can actually stimulate your brain.

4. Get ready for bed. Engage in activities that will tell your body it is time to relax. This may include taking a bath or listening to soothing music.

5. Avoid taking naps during the day. Taking long daytime naps can affect your ability to fall asleep when it's actually time to go to bed. If you decide to take a nap, make sure your nap does not exceed 30 minutes.

6. Exercise. Physical activity can promote sleep. However, you need to pay attention to what time you exercise. Try to avoid exercising too late in the day. If you exercise too late in the day, you may have trouble falling asleep.

7. Go to bed when you are actually sleepy. It can be very frustrating if you struggle to fall asleep. So if you don’t fall asleep after 20 minutes, try getting out of bed. Head to another room and engage in a relaxing activity. And whatever you do, do not look at the clock. This can make matters worse. Instead, turn the clock around. When you notice your eyelids drooping, return to bed and give sleep another shot.

Over-the-Counter Sleep Aids
If the above sleep habits don't do the trick, you may be tempted to turn to over-the-counter sleep aids. Although sleep aids can help you fall asleep on occasional sleepless nights, there are a few things to consider.

Most over-the-counter sleep aids contain antihistamines. For example, Unisom contains doxylamine or diphenhydramine. Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in Benadryl.

The fact that these sleep aids contain an antihistamine can pose several problems:

If you take a sleep aid that contains an antihistamine, this may be an issue if you are already taking an antihistamine to treat allergies. Taking two antihistamines results in duplicate therapy and can lead to unwanted side effects.
Taking these types of sleep aids for a long period of time can lead to tolerance to the sedative effects of antihistamines. This means that, the longer you take them, the less likely they are to make you sleepy.
Taking these types of sleep aids can result in grogginess the next morning, which can be dangerous for some people, especially the elderly.
Besides sedation, side effects of antihistamines include dry mouth, dry eyes, blurred vision, constipation, dizziness and even irritability. These medications can cause urinary retention that can even lead to urinary tract infections. These side effects can pose several problems in the elderly and, therefore, should be used with caution.
Just because these sleep aids are found over the counter does not mean they don't pose a risk of medication interactions. These medications can interact with other medications you are taking.
Always speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking a new product.

When to See Your Doctor
It is normal to have an occasional sleepless night, but if you find yourself having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep on a regular basis, speak to your doctor. Certain health conditions could be affecting your sleep patterns. Furthermore, certain prescription medications can help you fall asleep or stay asleep.

It doesn't just help you feel rested — sleep is important for your overall health and well-being. That's why ...