How can I "sober up" after taking an allegedly non- drowsy antihistamine?
September 6, 2010 8:53 PM Subscribe
How can I "sober up" after taking an allegedly non- drowsy antihistamine?
As part of long-term management for infected sinuses, my doctor prescribed me the antihistamine Zyrtec. She told me that it was a non-drowsy antihistamine, but 14 hours after taking it (it's now 1:15 pm local time) I am still so tranked out that focusing on this computer screen - or even a chair across the room - takes almost more effort than I've got in me. Talking isn't much better. I'm blurry as hell.
I'm supposed to teach a class in two hours. (Sorry for last minute question - I just clawed my way out of bed.) In the short term, is there ANYTHING I can do to shake off the effects of the antihistamine - or should I just cancel the class, as I'm looking to do?
In the long term - should I just give up on the drug - as seems to be indicated threads, or is there anything that will help out here?
Disclaimer: It's possible that there are already answers to this question on askmetafilter. I'm pretty woozy at the moment and my search through the archives may not have been as thorough as it could have been. If so, I apologize - and please point me toward previous suggestions.
As part of long-term management for infected sinuses, my doctor prescribed me the antihistamine Zyrtec. She told me that it was a non-drowsy antihistamine, but 14 hours after taking it (it's now 1:15 pm local time) I am still so tranked out that focusing on this computer screen - or even a chair across the room - takes almost more effort than I've got in me. Talking isn't much better. I'm blurry as hell.
I'm supposed to teach a class in two hours. (Sorry for last minute question - I just clawed my way out of bed.) In the short term, is there ANYTHING I can do to shake off the effects of the antihistamine - or should I just cancel the class, as I'm looking to do?
In the long term - should I just give up on the drug - as seems to be indicated threads, or is there anything that will help out here?
Disclaimer: It's possible that there are already answers to this question on askmetafilter. I'm pretty woozy at the moment and my search through the archives may not have been as thorough as it could have been. If so, I apologize - and please point me toward previous suggestions.
Yep, I reckon you should cancel the class. A heavy dose of caffeine will make you jittery but your brain will still feel like it's full of porridge. I'd recommend a long walk followed by a shower and a nap (that has worked for me, I wake up refreshed and alert again), but I don't think you'll have the time.
Allegedly 'non-drowsy' antihistamines affect the allergic members of my family in very different ways. You'll need to experiment to find one that doesn't make you drowsy (assuming that it IS a reaction to the drug, and you're not coming down with a bug or something).
posted by malibustacey9999 at 9:37 PM on September 6, 2010
Allegedly 'non-drowsy' antihistamines affect the allergic members of my family in very different ways. You'll need to experiment to find one that doesn't make you drowsy (assuming that it IS a reaction to the drug, and you're not coming down with a bug or something).
posted by malibustacey9999 at 9:37 PM on September 6, 2010
Mr. Pants had a similar experience with Zyrtec but has had good luck with Claritin.
In a similar situation I tried to wake up by doing 10 jumping jacks and drinking a diet pepsi. I think the jumping jacks helped more than the pepsi did. I'd be tempted to try taking a single sudafed to see if it would help counteract the drowsiness (the mechanism is different than caffeine) but it's a slippery slope taking drugs to counteract other drugs so I wouldn't necessarily recommend that.
What does help me feel more awake, particularly during september allergy season is to rinse out my nasal passages with sterile saline. (I used a spray bottle from the drug store that cost about $4) I don't know if it's just rinsing out the mucus or removing the allergens which are causing inflammation, but when I did it the other day my head felt clear as a bell. Highly recommended - especially allergies or a cold might be contributing to your drowsiness.
posted by ladypants at 9:52 PM on September 6, 2010
In a similar situation I tried to wake up by doing 10 jumping jacks and drinking a diet pepsi. I think the jumping jacks helped more than the pepsi did. I'd be tempted to try taking a single sudafed to see if it would help counteract the drowsiness (the mechanism is different than caffeine) but it's a slippery slope taking drugs to counteract other drugs so I wouldn't necessarily recommend that.
What does help me feel more awake, particularly during september allergy season is to rinse out my nasal passages with sterile saline. (I used a spray bottle from the drug store that cost about $4) I don't know if it's just rinsing out the mucus or removing the allergens which are causing inflammation, but when I did it the other day my head felt clear as a bell. Highly recommended - especially allergies or a cold might be contributing to your drowsiness.
posted by ladypants at 9:52 PM on September 6, 2010
The same thing happens to me when I take Allegra, which, as previous posters have indicated, is supposed to be non-drowsy. I'm afraid I haven't found anything that helps aside from taking a sufficiently long nap.
Sorry you're feeling under the weather. I'd cancel the class.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 10:03 PM on September 6, 2010
Sorry you're feeling under the weather. I'd cancel the class.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 10:03 PM on September 6, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks very much for all your help.
I've called and canceled - I'll take a walk around the block (no shower - too dozy - worried about slipping) and go back to bed till it wears off.
posted by tabubilgirl at 10:06 PM on September 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
I've called and canceled - I'll take a walk around the block (no shower - too dozy - worried about slipping) and go back to bed till it wears off.
posted by tabubilgirl at 10:06 PM on September 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
This is tangential, but your doctor wasn't really lying - Zyrtec makes me drowsy too, and according to my pharmacist and doctor friends, it has that effect on roughly 10% of people who take it. We just lucked out. :(
posted by Xany at 2:19 AM on September 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Xany at 2:19 AM on September 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
It has the same effect on me- the feeling of tiredness, but not actually able to sleep. For some people, this is probably better than Benadryl and it's full on tiredness.
Claritin works almost as well for me, but sometimes I have to take two of them. When I do that, I get ever so slightly disassociated.
posted by gjc at 4:54 AM on September 7, 2010
Claritin works almost as well for me, but sometimes I have to take two of them. When I do that, I get ever so slightly disassociated.
posted by gjc at 4:54 AM on September 7, 2010
Good thing you cancelled. I have found that the only thing that works on antihistamine drowsiness is time, although a walk in the cool air can help, too. I've found that any Loratadine based antihistamine (Claritin, Reactine, etc.) works well for a full day and doesn't knock me out.
This page summarizes what's found in various antihistamines. It looks as if Zyrtec is less snooze-inducing than Benadryl (hell, a mallet to the head is less snooze-inducing than Benadryl), but it's still more risky than fexofenadine (Allegra) or loratadine.
posted by maudlin at 6:36 AM on September 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
This page summarizes what's found in various antihistamines. It looks as if Zyrtec is less snooze-inducing than Benadryl (hell, a mallet to the head is less snooze-inducing than Benadryl), but it's still more risky than fexofenadine (Allegra) or loratadine.
posted by maudlin at 6:36 AM on September 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
Zyrtec made me waaaaaay beyond drowsy - it was as if every last ounce of willpower was drained from me. I basically didn't move for 24 hours. It was horrible, and I felt really miserable and depressed to boot, as opposed to merely bleary and sleepy like I am on Benadryl.
It took 24 hours to go away, and I never touched Zyrtec again.
posted by Cygnet at 6:36 AM on September 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
It took 24 hours to go away, and I never touched Zyrtec again.
posted by Cygnet at 6:36 AM on September 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Wow, this explains where most of my long weekend went. Back to Claratin for me...
posted by advicepig at 6:50 AM on September 7, 2010
posted by advicepig at 6:50 AM on September 7, 2010
I was just at my immunologist last week and we talked about Zyrtec. She says it knocks about 20% of people on their collective asses, so you can't really call it non-drowsy. There is a spin-off, Rx only drug called... Xyzal, I think. She claimed Xyzal knocks a mere 4% of the population on it's collective ass. The point is that it's all a percentage game and you need to experiment and have options. 24 hours pills are terrible for experimentation.
posted by chairface at 4:31 PM on September 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by chairface at 4:31 PM on September 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
I find the most mild antihistamines make me feel either like I've been roofied or am on speed. They make me all strung out and awful, but I've sort of figured out they're just really effective at drying me out. I say drink LOTS OF WATER next time. Like, as much as you can possibly stand to drink and keep it up for a good couple hours until the medication works its way out of your system. Foggyness, and groggginess are symptoms of dehydration, so drinking water (putting some lemon in there will help even more) would be a good idea anyway.
posted by custard heart at 4:21 PM on September 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by custard heart at 4:21 PM on September 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
« Older Washington state must see places? | Abandoning a sinking (academic) ship: what career... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
And for the future, there are other non-drowsy antihistamines that might cause you less drowsiness/stupidity-- Allegra works pretty well for me. Claritin is somewhat similar and might also cause you less drowsiness. Best to experiment when you know you can sleep it off if you need to, though.
posted by nat at 9:12 PM on September 6, 2010