Medications for Allergic Rhinitis and Cough: In a Nutshell (Nursing)

00:01 Okay, so allergic rhinitis, if you haven't experienced it, I'm jealous.

00:06 because it's not any fun.

00:07 It's an inflammatory response to these allergens that involves your upper respiratory tract and it could either be short seasons or all year round, perennial.

00:17 The main medications we use and underline these with me as we walk through them, to treat allergic rhinitis you can use: antihistamines, which can be oral or intranasal.

00:27 Circle intranasal glucocorticoids and sympathomimetic decongestants.

00:33 So now that you've got those circled as we went through them, I want you to think through: What is the risk of using a sympathomimetic decongestant? What types of patients are most at risk for sympathomimetic decongestant? Why is intranasal medication for allergic rhinitis usually more effective than oral? Which route has more risks for systemic effects, oral or intranasal? Now, decongestants cause that vasoconstriction because they hit those alpha 1 receptors that activate them which causes vasoconstriction.

01:17 Oral routes have the most risk for patients to have systemic vasoconstriction and elevated blood pressure.

01:24 That's why we don't like using them with our cardiovascular patients.

01:28 Now, there are many brands in the US, there's one that's particular that's called, Corcidin.

01:33 You'll recognize it next time you go to the drug store.

01:35 It has a big giant red heart on it and those medications are used for patients with decongestant needs but they're not sympathomimetic.

01:44 So take a look for those the next time you're at the store.

01:47 Dextromethorphan is another over the counter medication and that deals with cough as does Codeine but it requires prescription.

01:56 Both medications will treat cough but the ones that contain codeine are more effective.

02:02 Thank you for watching our video on allergic rhinitis.