Antihistamine Addiction

If you suffer from allergies, you may be wondering about the risk of antihistamine addiction.

Antihistamines provide needed relief for people who suffer from allergies.

An antihistamine is a common type of allergy medication that works by blocking histamine, an inflammatory chemical that is released by your immune system during an allergic reaction. Antihistamines are very effective at treating allergic symptoms such as watery eyes, a runny nose, redness, or itching.

Popular over the counter antihistamines include:

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
• Loratadine (Claritin)
• Clemastine (Tavist)

Popular prescription antihistamines include:

• Fexofenadine (Allegra)
• Cetirizine (Zyrtec)

The most common side effect of antihistamines is drowsiness, which is why diphenhydramine is a popular ingredient in over the counter sleep aids. It is wise to avoid drinking alcohol while taking antihistamines, since this is known to increase the drug’s sedating effect.

Most nonprescription antihistamines are safe for use by children over the age of six. However, parents are wise to be cautious when giving antihistamines to young children. Several studies have found that a child’s learning ability and mental function is reduced when he/she is taking antihistamines. In fact, this impairment even outweighs the negative effects of the initial allergy symptoms.

Although it’s smart to be concerned about the potential risk of any medication, antihistamine addiction is somewhat of a myth.

From a physical standpoint, you can’t become addicted to antihistamines. Your body won’t develop a tolerance to the medication. If you’ve taken antihistamines for several years, you won’t eventually need to take larger doses to keep getting the same benefit. If you suddenly stop your medication, you won’t be any more sensitive to allergens than you were previously.

However, some experts do believe that is possible to develop a psychological antihistamine addiction. This is most common in people who have struggled with previous addiction problems.

Although antihistamines are very effective at treating allergies, they are not the only medication available. For example, Nasalcrom is an over the counter nasal spray that creates a protective barrier around the cells in the nose to stop the allergic response before it starts. The medication does not cause drowsiness and can be used for several months at time without the worry of addiction or rebound effects.

Allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, are an option to consider for the treatment of severe allergies. Over an extended time period, you’ll receive regular injections containing allergen extracts in order to desensitize you to specific allergens.

If you’re interested in antihistamine alternatives for allergy treatment, discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider.

Regardless of which type of allergy medication you decide to use, there are several steps you can take to reduce the severity of your systems. For example:

• Make it a priority to live in a smoke-free home.
• Keep your home between 68 and 72 degrees F at all times.
• Avoid using ceiling fans, since they serve to distribute allergens throughout your home.
• Place filters over air vents.
• Dust mites and mold increase in areas with high humidity, so keep indoor humidity levels as low as possible.
• Wash all blankets and bedding in hot water once per week.
• Damp dust your furniture to avoid distributing loose particles through the air.
• If you have collectibles in your home, place these and other hard to clean items in display cabinets with glass doors
• Invest in airtight, allergy-proof plastic covers for mattresses, pillows, and box springs.
• When making home improvements, choose hardwood floors over carpeting and wood, leather, vinyl, or rubberized canvas furniture over upholstered pieces.

If you’re interested in learning more about allergy treatment and antihistamine addiction, check out the following helpful links:

• Allergy Treatment
• Allergy Medications
• Allergy Treatment Begins at Home
• Allergy Treatment Guide for Children

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