Antihistamine Side Effects
Antihistamines are medicines that treat allergic reactions to dust, pollen, and other allergens. In most cases, people take antihistamines as a cheap over-the-counter medicine to relieve sneezing, nasal congestion caused by allergens, or allergies with few side effects. Many medicines containing histamines and their salts are used to treat allergy symptoms.
There are different types of antihistamines, including lamictal, claritin, doxazepam, zyrtec, atacor, and other over-the-counter drugs. A recent development in the medical field is the use of synthetic antihistamines to treat allergies.
Histamine is a substance that plays an important role in the immune system and in the development of allergies and allergic reactions. When an allergic reaction occurs in the body, histamines cause the body’s immune system to release chemicals called cytokines that cause inflammation in the body. Some inflammation is needed to allow the body to develop immunity to the foreign substance and fight infection.
Histamine is also produced when the body releases histamine from the gastrointestinal tract
Some of the chemicals produced enter the body but are not excreted. Histamine triggers an allergic reaction in the body by stimulating the immune system and causing cells to produce antibodies to fight the allergen. Histamine has been used for many years to treat allergies and is still used today. Read more about the treatment of diseases on the website iHealzy.
There are many side effects associated with histamine treatment. These include:
- drowsiness
- blurry vision
- anxiety
- nervousness
- muscle weakness
- constipation
- insomnia
- irritability
- depression
- diarrhea
- heartburn
- vomiting
- nausea
- dry mouth
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- nasal discharge
- wheezing
- coughing
- hoarseness
- dyspnea
- breath
People with allergies should never take antihistamines for more than seven days at a time and should avoid taking them in combination with certain medications such as aspirin, antidepressants, calcium channel blockers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and asthma medications.
If your doctor suspects that you may have a more serious or severe allergic reaction, they will likely order you an allergy test or allergy therapy. If this is done, he will prescribe you antihistamines or allergy shots. Other treatment options include decongestants (Benadryl, Motrin, Indocin, Allerject), steroid tablets (Flovent, Benicar), corticosteroids, immunoglobulin injections (Valdimmun, Accutane), and even steroids.
Before choosing an antihistamine or allergy therapy for your allergy, discuss your treatment options with your doctor. Your doctor will explain how long you need the medicine and what you need to do if you cannot tolerate the treatment.
Antihistamines can be taken as pills or injections. Oral antihistamines are often combined with other medications to reduce the likelihood of recurrent headaches and other side effects.
For a faster-acting antihistamine, an antihistamine nasal spray is usually used. They are less likely to cause rebound headaches and other side effects.
Other antihistamine side effects include: dry mouth, constipation, insomnia, irritability, dizziness, depression, stomach cramps, muscle weakness, and headache. It’s important to know the proper dose before beginning any antihistamine treatment. Don’t take too much of the drug if you’re pregnant. If you’re taking an antihistamine to treat your hay fever, don’t exceed a three-hour dosage unless your doctor advises you.
Because of the potential side effect of antihistamines, many allergy sufferers opt for an over-the-counter antihistamine. Nonprescription over-the-counter antihistamines can contain antihistamines and other medicines.
Prescription antihistamines should not be used during pregnancy or for people with asthma. The FDA has approved several over-the-counter antihistamines and antihistamine shots, including Vioxic, which contains the drug Alleroderm.
A more serious side effect from taking an antihistamine is a potentially life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. This condition can be fatal in severe cases. Serotonin syndrome is caused by excessive and prolonged use of antihistamines, such as Vioxx and Allegra.
Serotonin syndrome can be treated by discontinuing the antihistamine and treating the condition. Doctors often recommend switching to a nonallergic drug, such as Vioxx, while the antihistamine is still being used. In severe cases, doctors may prescribe medications such as Lidocaine, analgesic, antiemetic, or anticonvulsant.
There are some over-the-counter antihistamines that don’t cause serotonin syndrome and don’t cause other side effects. An antihistamine is very useful for relieving allergy symptoms. In mild cases it is also used for relief from a cold or a cough. Many people have found relief from allergy attacks when using an antihistamine and an all-natural approach to allergy relief.