History of Medication use

[chicachica888]

Hello, I am a 37 year old female. I have hay fever, seasonal allergies and I''m very allergic to animals, especially cats. when I was between 15 and 23 (around there anyway) I used OTC allergy medication frequently as most if not all of my friends had cats and I was suffering badly seasonally. By frequently i mean almost daily for up to a month at a time in the spring and summer. I remember vividly (as i was at my cousins wedding outside) I took some medication and apparantly forgot I took it and double dosed. I felt quite tired/weird dizzy though this wedding so I obviously overdosed. I remember that I use to take things like hismanol and sudafed which have since been banned as they have been found to be dangerous.
Could this have caused me any long term permanent damage?

A few years ago my dr found a strong heart murmur which is being monitored. Apparantly I have a small hole that they cant see on ultrasound.

Could the allergy medication have done this?
Should I be on the lookout for other organ damage?

[ohcalcutagirl]

I agree there is near zero possibility of problems from your childhood otc meds.
BUT as to now there r simple things u can do
1st, for seasonal geta 25$ kenalog shot takes few days to work and lasts 4 months
claritan is available generic and is cheap for 24 hr NON DROWSY antihistamine effect
STAY AWAY FROM dirty little animals like dogs and cats and if u touch them , wash your hands immediately to keep from rubbing in your face
allergy shots work wonders if u r inclined and u don't need to take them long (ignore what they tell u)

as to heart problem, KEEP AN EYE ON IT but otherwise unless dr says u need to do something; don't , HOWEVER do not engage in EXTREMELY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY like marathons, weight lifting etc. normal exercise and sex is always good
good luck

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

You are right.  Hismanal (astemazole) an H1 histamine receptor blocker was taken off the market because of the occurrence of a number of abnormal heart rhythms, some potentially fatal.  

Sudafed is still available in the U.S. but not OTC.

It is extremely unlikely that the double dosed medication you took would have caused any permanent damage to your heart or any other organ.  Therefore the murmur is unrelated to Hismanal or Sudafed.

The “small hole” in your heart should be monitored by a Board Certified Cardiologist.

There are a number of seemingly save drugs that you can use, for allergies,  including but not limited to Allegra, Zyrtec and Claritan.