Should I start taking allergy meds before or after surgery?

Question

Hi all! Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer my question. I have seasonal/pet allergies that give me a pretty much constant runny and/or stuffy nose. I usually don't take meds for them because they make me loopy. Due to my symptoms, though, I'm constantly rubbing, blowing and wiping my nose which I anticipate would be inadvisable following my upcoming surgery. I usually can only breathe through one nostril at a time when I'm at home (my guy came with a cat!), and I would think the inflammation from the allergies would exacerbate the post surgery inflammation. Would you advise a patient in my circumstances to start taking allergy meds before surgery, or after? If after, how soon after? Thank you again.

Tanveer Janjua, MD · Answer

Allergies can aggravate the rhinoplasty by causing more nasal obstruction after surgery than usual. The cosmetic result will not be affected but recovery can become more painful and annoying. Best thing is to start treating allergies in advance. You should see an Otolaryngologist and she/he might start you on the following;1. Saline nasal spray2. Steroid nasal spray such as Flonase or over the counter spray Nasacort3. Anti-histamine like Allegra 24h or Claritin 24h or Zyrtec 24h4. Singulair (Montelukast) pillGood luck to you with your surgery. RegardsDr. J

David C. Pearson, MD · Answer

My usual recommendation for my patients is to control their allergies as best we can BEFORE surgery. This includes a combination of antihistamines like Zyrtec, nasal steroids like Flonase, and perhaps leukotriene antagonists like Singulair.Those are also generally safe to take during the recovery period with the exception of the nasal steroids. I usually like patients to wait about two to three weeks after surgery before resuming the nasal steroids.All the best,--David C. Pearson, M.D.Pearson Facial Plastic Surgery®

Shahram Shahidi, BSc, MBBS, FRACS · Answer

It is best to check with your surgeon however I am happy for
my patients to take anti histamines after the operation as I usually combine
rhinoplasty with Septoplasty  and
turbinate surgery or possible sinus surgery.

Stuart H. Bentkover, MD (retired) · Answer

You should have a discussion with your surgeon about trying to get some better control of your allergies before the surgery.  Perhaps you might need to delay the surgery.

Should I start taking allergy meds before or after surgery?

Answers (4)

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Should I start taking allergy meds before or after surgery?

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