Can you take Allegra in the morning and Zyrtec at night?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
In this article, we will discuss the use of Allegra in the morning and Zyrtec at night on the same day. We will also talk about the potential benefits and risks of taking two antihistamines on the same day.
Can you take Allegra in the morning and Zyrtec at night?
You can take Allegra in the morning and Zyrtec at night if recommended by your healthcare provider. Both Allegra (fexofenadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine) belong to the same class of medications known as antihistamines (1,2).
They work by blocking the action of histamines, which are substances in the body that trigger allergy symptoms (3). Since they operate in essentially the same way, it’s generally not recommended to take more than one antihistamine dose in a day.
Taking both Allegra in the morning and Zyrtec at night is essentially like taking double the dose of one of these medications – or overdosing on Zyrtec or Allegra. This doubling of the dose doesn’t significantly enhance their effectiveness against allergies.
On the other hand, taking two antihistamines can increase the risk of side effects (4). It’s important to consider the safety and potential side effects of this combination before you actually start taking it.
Potential benefits of taking Allegra in the morning and Zyrtec at night
The only time the combination of Allegra and Zyrtec can be beneficial is in case of severe allergic reactions. Some doctors may prescribe a double dose of antihistamines or two separate antihistamines to manage a severe allergic reaction.
However, taking Allegra in the morning and Zyrtec at night is not proven to be beneficial for people having random allergy symptoms. Two antihistamines should generally not be taken in a single day.
Potential risks of taking Allegra in the morning and Zyrtec at night
There are some potential risks of taking Allegra in the morning and Zyrtec at night. Allegra and Zyrtec can stay active in the body for almost an entire day, which is why either of the medication should be taken once in a single day.
When you take Allegra in the morning and then Zyrtec at night, you’re essentially overlapping their activity periods. This can result in having some amount of both drugs in your system throughout the day and night.
The overlap of these medications isn’t considered dangerous or life-threatening, but it is generally unnecessary and can increase the risk of experiencing antihistamine-induced side effects. These side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, and other discomforts (4).
Taking two different antihistamines within such a short timeframe can potentially intensify these side effects. To achieve the most effective and safe use of antihistamines like Allegra and Zyrtec, it’s recommended to take one dose in a single day.
They are designed to provide 24-hour relief from allergy symptoms when taken as directed. If you find that one of these antihistamines is not effectively managing your allergies, it’s best to consult with a healthcare professional for alternative options or adjustments to your treatment plan.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the concomitant use of Allegra and Zyrtec. We have also discussed how two antihistamines should not be taken in a single day and doing so can increase the risk of side effects.
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References
1.-
Craun KL, Schury MP. Fexofenadine. 2022 Dec 5. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 32310564. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556104
2.-
Naqvi A, Gerriets V. Cetirizine. 2023 Jan 30. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31747183. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549776
3.-
Farzam K, Sabir S, O’Rourke MC. Antihistamines. 2023 Jul 10. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30844215. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538188
4.-
Borowy CS, Mukherji P. Antihistamine Toxicity. 2023 Apr 29. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29493943. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482318
