When Should You Opt to Buy Allegra Over the Counter?


In many locations, allergy medication like Allegra is treated as a prescription medicine. This is mainly because misuse of this drug could lead to some dire consequences - ones that you must be familiar with if you are looking to buy Allegra over the counter.

Many pharmacists don't allow a person to buy Allegra over the counter - that is, without a legitimate prescription - because Allegra may pose some complications if a person is already suffering from some significant health risks. Persons with heart problems, for example, may suffer some chest pains and palpitations when taking Allegra. The seriousness of the chest pains will depend on the nature and severity of the person's heart condition.

A person with a liver or kidney problem may also wish to take extra care not to take Allegra without a prescription, as this drug may complicate existing conditions. When there are conditions such as these present in the body, allergy medication is ideally dispensed only at a doctor's discretion.

The best course of action is to consult a doctor before taking any sort of allergy medication. If you suspect that you may be suffering from any of these conditions, and have not yet seen a physician, it is good not to pre-empt any sort of diagnosis, and to refrain from taking any allergy medication.

Allergy drugs such as Allegra possess some potentially serious contraindicative properties. This means Allegra's effects is altered - either they are enhanced or diminished - when they are mixed with other substances. Antacids that have a magnesium or aluminum base, for example, should be taken at least 15 minutes before taking Allegra, to prevent their components from conflicting with Allegra.

Fruit juices have also been shown to diminish the effectiveness of Allegra, especially acidic juices such as apple, orange and grapefruit juice. And like many drugs, Allegra may have adverse effects when taken with alcohol. Alcohol has been proven to amplify the side effects of many medicines - in the case of Allegra, side effects would include headaches, nausea, drowsiness and backaches. It is therefore not recommended that Allegra tablets be taken and washed down with anything except water.

A lot of allergy medications out in the market are called "antihistamines" - a substance that inhibits allergic reactions. But some people are allergic to these anti-allergenic substances! If in the past you have shown evidence of being allergic to antihistamines, avoid using Allegra before consulting your physician.

Pregnant and nursing mothers are also not advised to take Allegra without the doctor's go signal. There is a chance that Allegra will pass on to the baby, either through the mother's bloodstream or through breastmilk. It is unknown if Allegra actually does this, and what effect it would have on the baby if so, but just to be on the safe side, a pregnant or nursing mother should consult her doctor before taking any sort of medication, even if it is available over the counter.

Allegra is considered prescription-only in many areas of the United States, but you may be able to purchase buy Allegra over the counter in or from other countries. If you are based in the United States, make sure that the pharmacy you select is trustworthy. And make sure that the pharmacy you will contact will be able to ship Allegra to your location without problems!