ANTI ALLERGIC DRUGS

ALLERGY

Allergy is the immune response of the body to any substance or any organism. Concept of allergy was introduced by VEINNESE PEDIATRICIAN CLEMENS VAN PIRQUIT in 1906.

Before studying about antiallergic drugs we would know about allergy. We should know about the meaning of allergy. Allergy is also known as hypersensitivity. There are five types of allergy:–

1)   ANAPHYLATIC.

2)   CYTOTOXIC.

3)   IMMUNE COMPLEX.

4)   CELL MEDIATED OR DELAYED.

5)   STIMULATORY OR ANTIRECEPTER.

An allergic reaction can be caused by any form of direct contact with allergen, eating or drinking a food , you are sensitive to , breathing in pollen perfume or pet dander, brushing your body against an allergy causing plant.

Due to allergy, many diseases takes plkace like hay fever, allergic asthma and food allergies. these all are chronic allergic stages and this is called atopy.

There are two types of distribution of allergy:-

1)   ATOPY

2)   SYSTAMIC ANAPHYLAXIS

There are many types of drugs which act as antiallergics. These are classified into many categories:-

1)   ANTACIDS: – Over production of acid in stomach causes irritation , allergy and pain. Antacids are used to cure such problems.

2)   ANTIHISTAMINES:- Synthetic drugs brompheniramine (dimetapp) and terfenadine (seldane) act as antihistamine.

3)   ANTI MICROBIALS:- These are the drugs which are used to bcure allergies caused by a variety of microorganisms such as bacteria, virus, fungi and other pathogens.

Some anti allergic drugs are:-

1)   FEXOFENADINE :-  It is prescribed for relieve from allergy symptoms and hay fever including running nose, sneezing, tearing eyes etc. this drug functions by blocking the histamines.

SIDE EFFECTS: – Headache, cough, dizziness, back pain etc.

2)   CETRIZINE: – Its common brand name is zyrtec. it is available in the form of tablets and syrup. this drug has many side effects, like stomach pain, dry mouth, excessive tiredness, difficulty in breathing and sleepiness etc.

3)   CROMOLYN SODIUM: – It is a bischromone antiallergic drug, first discovered in 1965 as a result of series of pharmacological experiments. This drug inhibts the release of various mediaters from human mast cells. This drug inhibts both the early and late airway reactions after allergen challenge by its effect.

Some other antiallergic drugs are:-

CHLOROPHENAMINE, AZITHROMYCIN, TRNILAST, OFLOXACIN, ERYTHROMYCIN, TETRACYCLINE, PRONTOSIL ETC.

So that’s all about the allergy and anti allergic drugs.