Drug Interactions between Bonine and Flonase

Ask your doctor before using meclizine together with ethanol (alcohol). Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking meclizine. You should be warned not to exceed recommended dosages and to avoid activities requiring mental alertness. If your doctor prescribes these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment to safely take this combination. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

It has been suggested that the anticholinergic effect of antihistamines may reduce the volume and cause thickening of bronchial secretions, resulting in obstruction of respiratory tract. Some manufacturers and clinicians recommend that therapy with antihistamines be administered cautiously in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Antihistamines may infrequently cause cardiovascular adverse effects related to their anticholinergic and local anesthetic (quinidine-like) activities. Tachycardia, palpitation, ECG changes, arrhythmias, hypotension, and hypertension have been reported. Although these effects are uncommon and usually limited to overdosage situations, the manufacturers and some clinicians recommend that therapy with antihistamines be administered cautiously in patients with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and/or hyperthyroidism.

Prolonged use of corticosteroids may cause posterior subcapsular cataracts and elevated intraocular pressure, the latter of which may lead to glaucoma and/or damage to the optic nerves. Therapy with corticosteroids should be administered cautiously nonetheless in patients with a history of cataracts, glaucoma, or increased intraocular pressure. Although adverse effects of corticosteroids may be minimized by local rather than systemic administration, the risks are not entirely abolished. Inhaled and nasally applied drug may be absorbed into the circulation, especially when large doses are used. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

It has been suggested that the anticholinergic effect of antihistamines may reduce the volume and cause thickening of bronchial secretions, resulting in obstruction of respiratory tract. Some manufacturers and clinicians recommend that therapy with antihistamines be administered cautiously in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Antihistamines often have anticholinergic activity, to which elderly patients are particularly sensitive. Therapy with antihistamines should be administered cautiously, if at all, in patients with preexisting conditions that are likely to be exacerbated by anticholinergic activity, such as urinary retention or obstruction; angle-closure glaucoma, untreated intraocular hypertension, or uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma; and gastrointestinal obstructive disorders. Conventional, first-generation antihistamines such as the ethanolamines (bromodiphenhydramine, carbinoxamine, clemastine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, phenyltoloxamine) tend to exhibit substantial anticholinergic effects. In contrast, the newer, relatively nonsedating antihistamines (e.g., cetirizine, fexofenadine, loratadine) reportedly have low to minimal anticholinergic activity at normally recommended dosages and may be appropriate alternatives.

Antihistamines often have anticholinergic activity, to which elderly patients are particularly sensitive. Therapy with antihistamines should be administered cautiously, if at all, in patients with preexisting conditions that are likely to be exacerbated by anticholinergic activity, such as urinary retention or obstruction; angle-closure glaucoma, untreated intraocular hypertension, or uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma; and gastrointestinal obstructive disorders. Conventional, first-generation antihistamines such as the ethanolamines (bromodiphenhydramine, carbinoxamine, clemastine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, phenyltoloxamine) tend to exhibit substantial anticholinergic effects. In contrast, the newer, relatively nonsedating antihistamines (e.g., cetirizine, fexofenadine, loratadine) reportedly have low to minimal anticholinergic activity at normally recommended dosages and may be appropriate alternatives.

Prolonged use of corticosteroids may cause posterior subcapsular cataracts and elevated intraocular pressure, the latter of which may lead to glaucoma and/or damage to the optic nerves. Therapy with corticosteroids should be administered cautiously nonetheless in patients with a history of cataracts, glaucoma, or increased intraocular pressure. Although adverse effects of corticosteroids may be minimized by local rather than systemic administration, the risks are not entirely abolished. Inhaled and nasally applied drug may be absorbed into the circulation, especially when large doses are used. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

The use of corticosteroids may rarely precipitate or aggravate conditions of hyperadrenocorticism. Although adverse effects of corticosteroids may be minimized by local rather than systemic administration, the risks are not entirely abolished. Inhaled and nasally applied drug may be absorbed into the circulation, especially when large doses are used. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used. The development of symptoms such as menstrual irregularities, acneiform lesions, cataracts and cushingoid features during inhaled or nasal corticosteroid therapy may indicate excessive use.

Antihistamines may infrequently cause cardiovascular adverse effects related to their anticholinergic and local anesthetic (quinidine-like) activities. Tachycardia, palpitation, ECG changes, arrhythmias, hypotension, and hypertension have been reported. Although these effects are uncommon and usually limited to overdosage situations, the manufacturers and some clinicians recommend that therapy with antihistamines be administered cautiously in patients with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and/or hyperthyroidism.

Antihistamines may infrequently cause cardiovascular adverse effects related to their anticholinergic and local anesthetic (quinidine-like) activities. Tachycardia, palpitation, ECG changes, arrhythmias, hypotension, and hypertension have been reported. Although these effects are uncommon and usually limited to overdosage situations, the manufacturers and some clinicians recommend that therapy with antihistamines be administered cautiously in patients with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and/or hyperthyroidism.

The immunosuppressant and anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids, particularly in higher dosages, may decrease host resistance to infectious agents, decrease the ability to localize infections, and mask the symptoms of infection. Secondary infections may be more likely to develop. Therapy with corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in patients with an infection, particularly active or quiescent tuberculosis or in hepatitis B carriers. Monitor patients for any new or worsening infection and use with caution in these patients. A serious or even fatal course of chickenpox and measles can occur in susceptible patients. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

Limited pharmacokinetic data are available for the older, first-generation antihistamines. Many appear to be primarily metabolized by the liver, and both parent drugs and metabolites are excreted in the urine. Patients with renal and/or liver disease may be at greater risk for adverse effects from antihistamines due to drug and metabolite accumulation. Therapy with antihistamines should be administered cautiously in such patients. Lower initial dosages may be appropriate.

Pharmacologic dosages of corticosteroids may increase the risk of corneal perforation in patients with ocular herpes simplex. Therapy with inhaled and nasal corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in such patients.

Prolonged use of inhaled corticosteroids may be associated with a reduction in bone density. This effect appears to be dose-related and has been reported primarily with high dosages (800 mcg/day or more of beclomethasone or equivalent for 1 year or greater). Reduced levels of total body calcium have also been demonstrated in patients receiving lower dosages. Long-term therapy with inhaled and nasal corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in patients with osteoporosis. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

Limited pharmacokinetic data are available for the older, first-generation antihistamines. Many appear to be primarily metabolized by the liver, and both parent drugs and metabolites are excreted in the urine. Patients with renal and/or liver disease may be at greater risk for adverse effects from antihistamines due to drug and metabolite accumulation. Therapy with antihistamines should be administered cautiously in such patients. Lower initial dosages may be appropriate.

The immunosuppressant and anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids, particularly in higher dosages, may decrease host resistance to infectious agents, decrease the ability to localize infections, and mask the symptoms of infection. Secondary infections may be more likely to develop. Therapy with corticosteroids should be administered cautiously in patients with an infection, particularly active or quiescent tuberculosis or in hepatitis B carriers. Monitor patients for any new or worsening infection and use with caution in these patients. A serious or even fatal course of chickenpox and measles can occur in susceptible patients. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded and that the lowest effective dosage be used.

Antihistamines often have anticholinergic activity, to which elderly patients are particularly sensitive. Therapy with antihistamines should be administered cautiously, if at all, in patients with preexisting conditions that are likely to be exacerbated by anticholinergic activity, such as urinary retention or obstruction; angle-closure glaucoma, untreated intraocular hypertension, or uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma; and gastrointestinal obstructive disorders. Conventional, first-generation antihistamines such as the ethanolamines (bromodiphenhydramine, carbinoxamine, clemastine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, phenyltoloxamine) tend to exhibit substantial anticholinergic effects. In contrast, the newer, relatively nonsedating antihistamines (e.g., cetirizine, fexofenadine, loratadine) reportedly have low to minimal anticholinergic activity at normally recommended dosages and may be appropriate alternatives.