The trend: A new TikTok health trend encourages women to try taking the heartburn medication Pepcid AC with an allergy medicine like Claritin or Zyrtec in the days before their period, according to NPR. TikTokers claim the combination reduces irritability and boosts energy. Others say it relieved similar symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause.

Unpacking the trend: Unlike some questionable TikTok health hacks that have gone viral, experts told NPR this one has plausible logic behind it. That’s because allergy pills and Pepcid AC are histamine blockers. Because hormones such as estrogen can influence histamine activity, antihistamines could theoretically help ease physical and mental symptoms that flare up during hormonal shifts.

Yes, but: Other health professionals have suggested reported benefits may be due to the placebo effect, which can still provide meaningful symptom relief, per NPR. However, there is no clinical evidence or published research supporting TikTok users' claims about the effects of combining these medications.

The bigger picture: Consumers are increasingly taking a “DIY” approach to their health, relying on information from social media and other online sources. That trend is especially pronounced among women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause, according to Bonafide Health's The State of Menopause 2025 report. In that survey, 81% of women said self-education is the best way to navigate menopause, with most turning to online sources and social media. Among women ages 40 to 49, about one-quarter said they used TikTok to find information about perimenopause.

Implications for healthcare providers and marketers: Women have historically reported having their symptoms dismissed or overlooked by clinicians more often than men, prompting many to seek health information from alternative sources, including social media, AI chatbots, and online patient communities. As a result, they may accept health advice that is unproven or inconsistent with current evidence, increasing the risk of harmful behaviors. Healthcare providers and marketers will need to monitor emerging online health trends, even those with plausible biological rationale, and respond with evidence-based videos, explainers, and credible resources that help answer women's common health questions.

Go deeper with EMARKETER’s “Women’s Health Habits” report.

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