Allergies, antihistimines and race performance

Triathlon Forum
1

Eagleman is this weekend and the recent change in weather has inspired all these plants to eject their pollen into the air - I feel like hell. You know, the whole-body ache low energy head groggy syndrome.

I seldom if ever take drugs for allergies - but considering how unmotivated I feel right now I am considering some kind of over the counter antihistimine if this continues thru sunday…

I know from experience how dehydrated (and a little lethargic) antihistamines can make you - and it will likely be in the mid 80s and very humid on race day. This also goes against the cardinal rule of not trying anything new on race day.

So - I am trying to decide if I want to feel like shit when I race because of allergies, or feel like shit when I race because of the drugs that I am taking.

Any thoughts?

2

I used to resort to antihistimines which was the only thing that worked effectively. Unfortunately, they all but knock me out. However, last winter I was talking to a doc friend of mine who told me there have been some advances over the last several years in non drowsy versions including some that you spray in your nose and don’t affect the rest of the body. I’m going to give it a try this fall. Try calling you doc and see what he has to say.

3

Don’t they also raise your heartrate?

4

Claritin is good for allegies without making you drowzy, but any antihistimine can have a dehydrating effect, I think. Definitely don’t take it for the first time on race day. You could always split the baby and take a half?

5

Here’s my take:

  • Benadryl - has the same active ingredient as insomnia medications. Avoid except at bedtime

  • Zyrtec - effective, but I have correlated it with substantial decreases in performance

  • Allegra - similar to zyrtec

  • Claritin - not as effective but has no side effects I’ve experienced

Don’t mess with anything that has a ‘D’ in it, e.g. “Claritin D”. That usually means it has pseudoephedrine in it, which is a banned substance and can give you heart problems in a race.

-jens

6

I did a small duathlon - or attempted to do it - under the same conditions you describe (mid 80’s). I started developing cold symptoms a few days prior. I took Comtrex (antihistimine) the day of the race. I was doing fine on the opening 5k - in the lead - until about 1/4 mile from the transition area. My body started to shut down and it seemed like I was running in slow motion. I collapsed at the bike rack. I drank some liquids and started walking around and felt OK after about an hour with no residual effects. I do not take cold medicines to this day unless it is the off season. It scared the hell out of me!

7

Here’s my take…

Japple, your race is coming up, and you’re getting a little nervous. Don’t worry, it’s natural. Some of us pile on a months worth of bike mileage in the last week and a half, some of us get a last minute massage, some of us drink too much water, some of us worry that we’re getting fat during taper, and some of us worry that we’re gonna have an alergic reaction due to an increase in temperature.

It’s in your head.

Race Day is a celebration of your training…not the day to test drive Zyrtek…

Good luck!
(ps I use Nasonex…)

8

Here is a brief primer on antihistamines and nasal sprays. All this information can be retrived from the FDA, multiple research studies, The Medical Letter and the PI’s.

First off there are no studies that show increases or decreases in athletic performance in any of the antihistamines. That is ancedotal information, at best. There are studies that show significant CNS impairment and significant sedation with many antihistamines, mainly first generation antihistamines.

Claritin, Clarinex and Allegra do not impair CNS function meaning they will not make you drowsy. Allegra does not cross the blood-brain barrier. Claritin, and Clarinex, which is the active metabolite of Claritin, can cause anti-cholinergic effects such as drying of the mouth and also cause sedation and impairment if you take it at higher than recommended doses. Both are generally thought of as less efficacious than Allergra and Zyrtec. Allegra does not cause anti-cholinergic effects. Zyrtec, which was derived from Atarax which is a very powerful and very sedative antihistamie, can cause sedation even at normal doses. Personally, I’d stay away from Zyrtec before a race. Most allergists will give a slight nod to Zyrtec over Allegra for efficacy but you need to balance that out with any sedation/impairment issues you may have.

Claritin is available over the counter without a prescription. It’s compound name is Loratadine and there are several brand name and generic formulations in the pharmacy.

Benedryl is probably more effective than Allegra, Claritin, Clarinex and Zyrtec but can cause sedation and impairment of the CNS, as do all first generation antihistamines. These will be significantly less costly than claritin and state that they cause sedation on the label.

Nasal sprays are generally more effective than antihistamines but take longer to work - up to 1 week is the general rule of thumb.

As a side note, if one should choose to dope one can use a certain nasal spray to hide certain banned substances.

If you take any of the D formulations, you might notice even more drying and other side effects such as a increased feeling of restlessnes or sleeplessness. Also in higher concentrations the decongestant part is banned.

FWIW, I take Allegra and Allegra D, have raced on both and experience no problems with either.

9

As a fellow allergy sufferer I take allegra and Flonase everyday all year long… The sprays take at least a week to build up in your system. Don’t take Sudafed etc. - it can raise your BP and heartrate. I would try regular Clariten today and see if it helps. See you this weekend :slight_smile:

P.S. I never made it down to Cambridge last month, but had a great ride in Chestertown - what a beautiful place!

10

I’ve been taking Loratidine (Claritin generic) for a couple of weeks in the morning, and haven’t noticed any effects. But then again, I have nothing to which to compare it !

Hey Desert Dude, it is “anecdotal”, not “antidotal”! :slight_smile:

11

Flonase is the ticket. Get it from a doctor. I was told that OTC nasal sprays are not nearly as effective. Good luck.

12

Hey Desert Dude, it is “anecdotal”, not “antidotal”! :slight_smile:

Big Duke Six would say “PWOMPOOTHAECTSEAT”

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=407368;search_string=glossary;#407368

13

I’ve been experiencing the same problems. Low energy, watery, itchy eyes. I took some Allergy/Sinus medicine the past two days, (one pill instead of the two recommended) plus I swam indoors and then sat in the sauna yesterday. I don’t know if it was the chlorine or sweating out in the sauna, but today I’m feeling much better, I still feel it, but to a much lesser extent. However, it could be that my body is adapting too. Unless my allergies are incredibly bad I’m not planning on taking any pills later than tonight for Eagleman. I figure the salt water swim mixed with the race day adrenaline should pick me up enough to overcome any allergy problems. The last thing I want is some drug putting me in a stupor on race day, especially during the half marathon.

~Jason

14

Japple, your race is coming up, and you’re getting a little nervous. Don’t worry, it’s natural

Surprisingly not - this is my 5th year at eagleman (I live here) and am really training through the race with IMLP as my goal race - although your reassurances regarding the insecurities of tapering can never hurt. Especially with many who think that they are getting fat (LOL), out of shape, or need to lump on mega miles one week out.

*It’s in your head. *

NOT ANY MORE! This morning on my run I left a trail of Chincoteague oysters about a mile long. I am feeling better already -

Thanks everyone for the input - I think I’ll go au naturale for the race. At least then I know what the variables are.

Jude

15

I have definately noticed that if I take any allergy medicine with a decongestant component, heart rate is bumped up about 6 beats per minute. To the average person this is not a big deal. But as we all know WE are not average. During a race,this increase in beats per minute will mess up your aerobic/anaerobic limits.

16

except there is no such thing as an anaerobic threshold if you read the scientific literature.

17

Usually when there is an acute allergic response to pollen it is relatively short lived. The particular plant/tree to which you are sensitive probably has some environmental trigger and a pulsed pollenating event - that should last no longer than Sat.

At least that is what I am hoping…

18

I take mine at night. That way I don’t suffer the full effect.

19

Would you prefer I call it Lactate threshold?

20

I agree with Jens assessment wholeheartedly. Jens is obviously a lifelong allergy sufferer, too.

The only thing I would add is that Claritin makes me extremely photosensitive. I break out in blisters from sun exposure on that stuff, so don’t try it on race day for the first time. You already know how exposed the Eagleman course is.

I seem to have outgrown my allergies in the last few years. I’m 39 now and for the past 2 years I haven’t needed any medications - which totally shocks me as they’ve been constant - spring and fall, for my whole life.