Allergy season is upon us and it sends us to the drug store to find an antihistamine to help with my husband’s perpetual runny nose (also known as rhinorrhea, a symptom of PD anyway). There are many options out there but are they the right ones for my husband with PD? How will they affect his symptoms and could they interact with his carbidopa levodopa?

The first step in adding anything to my husband’s medication plan is research. I know that supplements and o-t-c medications will impact him differently thanks to his PD. Using the example of allergy meds, I have checked into what is available and potential side effects. If it can cause drowsiness or confusion, things his PD meds create anyway, it might be a bad choice for him. Once I have all the information together, I can talk with my husband and his Primary Care Physician, then give the medication a try.  

I haven’t always been as careful in urging my husband to take supplements. He recently had a bad experience with fish oil supplements that thinned his blood and complicated a surgical procedure he was undergoing. I had encouraged him to take it without first talking with his PCP and his surgeon. Now, we make sure that every medical professional he interacts with is aware of everything he is taking, including supplements and over the counter medications, before they treat him. They know the medical implications and I know my husband; between us we can surely come up with a plan that is safe and effective.

Visit Allergy medications: Know your options – Mayo Clinic to learn more about the many types of allergy medications available today. For more specific information about OTC meds and PD, visit Over the Counter & Complementary Therapies | Parkinson’s Foundation.