Allergy medicines for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients - Which are safe and will not cause kidney damage or kidney failure? If you have Chronic Kidney Disease and Allergies, what anti-allergy medicines can you take to treat your allergies?
Like so many of you with Chronic Kidney Disease, I too suffer from allergies. Not only do I have seasonal allergies, but I also have allergies to cats. I rely on allergy medicines to treat my allergies and keep me breathing normal, my eyes clear, and my head clear so I can work and go about life. Finding something safe to use with Chronic Kidney Disease was important to me.
Allergy medicines come in a number of forms: Pills, Eye Drops, and Nasal Sprays.
Eye drops and Nasal Sprays can provide FAST relief and are very convenient. All are considered to be safe for Chronic Kidney Disease patients, but you should talk to your kidney doctor before selecting one. My preferences are:
Most people reach for a pill form, which means the pill will take a trip through the kidneys. One of the primary active ingredients is some type of Antihistamine. The great news is that MOST well-known brands are safe to take with Chronic Kidney Disease. Different brands work better for different people, and my personal favorite is Claritin (Loratadine – LOR AT A DEAN). It, or a generic version of it, is available at just about every store that sells allergy medicine, so it is easy to find and affordable.
There is one popular anti-allergy medicine you need to be careful with. If you use Zyrtec (cetirizine – SIT TEAR A ZEAN) and your kidney function is below 50% you should check with your Kidney doctor first. They may say that you'll need to reduce the dose you take, only take it every other day, or avoid it altogether. In my opinion, it is easiest to just avoid Zyrtec.
Benadryl can cause retention of fluid in your bladder. If you have a bladder infection, it could be possible for it to travel to your kidneys.
When selecting an allergy medication, ALWAYS read the label for all ingredients. Avoid those which contain NSAIDs like Ibuprofen.
Many allergy medications can also raise your blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause damage to your kidneys – so that needs to be taken into consideration.
It is best to ALWAYS talk to your kidney doctor about which allergy medication you will be taking to insure it doesn’t have any side effects that will be amplified by your Chronic Kidney Disease, and to make sure it won’t interfere with other medications.
Just because something is available over the counter and is FDA approved does not mean it is always safe for everyone to take. Any pill you ever put into your mouth, from vitamins to allergy pills, should be discussed with your kidney doctor first.
To learn more about the strategy I used in fighting and beating Chronic Kidney Disease, visit
IMPORTANT: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. Patients should always be under the care of a physician and defer to their physician for any and all treatment decisions. This video is not meant to replace a physician’s advice, supervision, and counsel. No information in the video should be construed as medical advice. All medical decisions should be made by the patient and a qualified physician. This video is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE.
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