Using antihistamines properly- Guidance by allergy experts

But you may be taking your medications incorrectly, says Derek Chu, a McMaster University allergy expert and clinical scholar.

"People need to rethink what they stock in their home cabinets as allergy medicines, what hospitals keep on formulary, and what policymakers recommend. The message needs to get out. This publication is on time for the spring allergy season and as COVID vaccines roll out, for which rashes are common and antihistamines can be helpful," said Chu.

Co-author Gordon Sussman, professor of medicine at University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, agrees.

"There are new modern second generation antihistamines that are potent, specific, fast acting and of proven safety which everyone should be using to treat allergic rhinitis and hives," he said.

This team's study is published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), and list five facts to know:

1. Antihistamines are among the most commonly and incorrectly used medicines worldwide.