How to manage both ADHD & allergies

There are various ways to manage ADHD and allergies, including medications and lifestyle changes.

Medicine

Each condition will be treated separately; no medicine can treat both simultaneously.

For ADHD, stimulants are one possible treatment option a clinician may consider. They usually work by boosting chemical neurotransmitters involved in focus, attention, and concentration.

Allergies are often treated with antihistamines, which work by blocking histamine from being released. This stops symptoms like itchy eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing.

Research has suggested that combining certain stimulants with an antihistamine is more effective for people who have both ADHD and hay fever than treatment with either medication alone.¹

Lifestyle changes

There are lifestyle changes you can make to improve the symptoms of both conditions.

Eat a healthy diet. A well-balanced diet, with plenty of fibre and nutrients, can improve focus and attention in people with ADHD.

Avoiding food allergens can help reduce inflammation, improving symptoms of both conditions.

Minimise exposure to allergens. Use an air purifier and wear a mask during allergy season to reduce your exposure to allergens and reduce inflammation.

Manage stress. Stress may worsen both conditions, so it's important to manage it well. You can do this with activities like meditation, breathing techniques and exercise.

Sleep well. It can be hard to get good quality sleep with ADHD and allergies, but try to find ways to help you sleep better. For example, use a weighted blanket, minimise noise, or avoid blue light a few hours before bedtime.

You should also avoid taking stimulant medications a couple of hours before bedtime, as these increase alertness, making it harder to fall asleep.

Exercise regularly. Exercising is a great way to reduce inflammation and de-stress. If you have hay fever or seasonal allergies, avoid outdoor exercises to prevent an allergic reaction.

References:

1. Melamed, I., & Heffron, M. (2016). Attention Deficit Disorder and Allergic Rhinitis: Are They Related? Journal of Immunology Research, 2016, 1596828.