Individuals who are sensitive to medicine may consider splitting an antihistamine to lower the dose and get some allergy relief. It may work for some but for me, it had unpleasant consequences.

I avoid taking antihistamines because they dry out the mucus membranes in my nose which eventually leads to sinus problems. This year’s allergy season on steroids recently lead me to follow a friend’s suggestion that I try splitting an antihistamine in half to reduce the side effects I experience.

I should have given this idea more thought before I plunged in. It was a recipe for disaster from the beginning because antihistamines, by design, shrink your membranes. Dried-out membranes just set off problems for sinus sufferers. In fact, antihistamines are not recommended for individuals with sinus problems.

This plan seemed to be working for a few days and my allergy symptoms were somewhat under control. Then, the dreaded sinus problems started. My body’s mucus-making machinery was totally shut down and my sinuses were backed up. The headache and pressure in my face was back. I hadn’t experienced these symptoms in more than a decade when I had my last sinus infection.

Theoretically, splitting a pill, like an antihistamine, seemed like a good plan. The reality is that even half the dose, still lasts the same time in your body. For example, a 10 mg. 24-hour pill cut in half becomes a 5 mg. 24-hour pill. Another problem is depending on how the medication was made, your pill once split could go from an extended release to immediate release.

My shriveled-up sinuses prompted me to stop the half antihistamines and start practicing nasal irrigation like crazy. Twenty-four hours later, my sinuses began to open up and started to clear out mucus once again.

The first lesson learned here is not all pills can be split. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before splitting any kind of medication. The second lesson relearned is don’t take antihistamines if you have sinus problems. They are a recipe for disaster.