What are the effects of using antihistamines long term?

Question

I currently have three cats and a cat allergy and I have been using over the counter one a day antihistamines for about a year on and off when needed. I am sick of going through the sneezing and the watery eyes and the itching, so I am thinking of taking them on a more regular basis. What damage could that do to me if I were to take one a day over several years?

NB: Do not suggest that I get rid of the cats, that is not an option – they are family

…and for you smarty pants out there – I did not know I was allergic to cats until I got them – makes sense doesn’t it!

Any suggestions of alternative treatments would be helpful too.

The cats are not allowed in my bedroom or the spare bedroom, so I do have some respite. Thak you all for your advice. I feel much happier about using antihistamines now.

How do I choose a best answer??? Most of them are spot on (and just what I wanted to hear)
I will have to put it to the vote.
Thank you all

Answer 1

I have taken antihistamines all my life (40+ years), and I know many other people with the same medical problems I have who are also on them long-term. Most of us are prescribed off-label dosing, which is higher than is used for allergies (often double or more), and in combination with other antihistamines as well as leukotriene blockers, mast cell stabilizers, and other 'allergy' meds. And there are no known long term effects from this. None of the thousands of other chronic hive sufferers I've dealt with have ever had problems because of their meds. Antihistamines are not addicting. In a few people, for some reason some antihistamines can lose their effectiveness over time, but that is fixed simply by switching to a different antihistamine. Since there have been problems in the past with non-drowsy formulations of antihistamine (namely Seldane and Hismanal), I personally prefer to use the older antihistamines such as Atarax and Benadryl. Of the newer ones, Zyrtec has a great track record.

Plus antihistamines are a much better alternative in the long run to controlling symptoms than corticosteroids, which some people need to control severe symptoms. Steroids have a lot of bad long term side effects, ranging from osteoporosis to glaucoma. Not a drug to be taken lightly, but very helpful when a patient really needs it.

Alternative treatments.... I can tell you that Quercitin has been used successfully by many people with chronic urticaria, especially in controlling swelling/angioedema due to the release of PGD2 (see below regarding the chemicals released during an allergic reaction). It's mainly the salicylates in it that does this; you're better off asking your doctor about using aspirin therapy to control swelling if angioedema is a problem for you. Obviously, if you are sensitive or allergic to salicylates (active ingredient in aspirin), this is not an option, either. Quercitin is believed to have some antihistamine properties as well.... And it is rich in bioflavinoids.

There is a product made by Gaia Herbs, called "Turmeric-Catachu". Turmeric is stronger than Quercetin and Catachu is like a herbal cromolyn product which causes the mast cells to be less likely to degranulate. Again, the salicylate sensitivity warning applies. This is another remedy used by
some people with chronic urticaria with varying degrees of success.

Flax-seed Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acids can often be used as a substitute for aspirin and provide some control for hivers who are experiencing lots of joint
pain and swelling. They work by reducing inflammation, so may also lessen typical allergic reactions. If you are salicylate sensitive, Omega-3 may be an
alternative option.

Vitamin C - This is also known to be a natural antihistamine. Yet the stuff
I've read claims to get the antihistamine effect you
need high doses - 1000 to 2000 mg! (RDA is only 60mg
according to one article about it.)

Some people also find folic acid, selenium, and B12 helpful.


More of a concern, really, is the long term effect of the chemicals produced during the allergic response by the body. Allergy symptoms are generally caused by a chemical called histamine, which is just one of several chemicals released by mast cells. When something - an allergen in this case - triggers a mast cell to "degranulate" (release its load of chemicals), it releases not only histamine, but leukotrienes, heparin, and proteases, to name a few. When one mast cell fires off, it signals the other mast cells to fire off, so you have bunches of them releasing all these chemicals at once... And some of those chemicals attract other cells of the immune system, such as basophils, to join the party.

Here's what those mast cell chemicals are and what they do:

Histamine: vasodilatation, erythema, edema, pruritus, urticaria, bronchoconstriction, increased gastric acid, intestinal cramping, further degranulation of mast cells, leukocyte activation

Heparin: osteoporosis, inhibition of localized clotting; rarely, prolonged partial thromboplastin time

Tryptase: Inhibition of coagulation locally, bronchoconstriction, osteoporosis

Chymase: Inhibition of coagulation locally, activation of mast cells, blistering (possibly)

Cathepsin G and carboxypeptidase: Kinin generation, hepatic fibrosis (possibly)

Acid hydrolases: bone lesions, osteoporosis

Leukotrienes: Bronchoconstriction, increased vascular permeability and contractility

Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2): Pruritus, pain, rhinorrhea, hypotension, flushing, osteoporosis

Platelet-activating factor: Wheal and flare, pain, pruritus

Tumor necrosis factor: Recruitment of inflammatory cells

Interleukins: Chemoattractant for neutrophils

(from http://www.aafp.org/afp/990600ap/3047.ht...

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Long Term Use Of Antihistamines

Answer 4

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RE:
What are the effects of using antihistamines long term?
I currently have three cats and a cat allergy and I have been using over the counter one a day antihistamines for about a year on and off when needed. I am sick of going through the sneezing and the watery eyes and the itching, so I am thinking of taking them on a more regular basis. What damage...

Answer 5

Long Term Antihistamine Use

Answer 6

Hi - I found that taking tablets for hayfever when I was younger (for about 10years, every summer) meant that I actually became immune to them and they stopped working! I had a long break and now have found some that work. I havent noticed any side effects from taking them for so long, although admittedly its only for about 6months of the year. Have you spoken to a Pharmacist? They will know about what the pills are doing to your insides.

Re alternative treatments, I read in a mag last week about a vaseline type of goo that you put round the edge of your nostrils and it cures all symptoms of hayfever as it doesnt let the pollen in, so perhaps something like this would work with the cat issue? Good luck!

Answer 7

When I was allergy tested I scored high for cats too. But I couldn't get rid of mine. I had a ton of other allergies and I take 'zyrtec' for them. They keep my hives and headaches at bay. About a year ago, (after 10 years on allergy pills) I was retested. I am no longer allergic to cats. When you get allergy shots you are teaching your body not to react to allergens. By having your cats with you daily, think of it as a daily shot. It takes about 7 years for your immune system to evolve. I bet in the long run you will become immune to your cats. Meanwhile, of all the allergy medicines I have tried, Zyrtec manages my symptoms best. Who in their right mind would give up their kitty?! Hey... you could try just keeping your bedroom cat dander free though. That is where it would be the worst as you spend the most time there (8 hours). You just need that one room as a cat-free haven so you don't have to suffer all day. Good luck.

Answer 8

Cure Eczema Easily Naturally Forever

Answer 9

Antihistamines are pretty safe, a lot of people take them daily for years without any problems.

Answer 10

All of these are good suggestions but as a cat lover and chronic Allergy Suffer i would add bathing your cats at least by weekly. Keeping the off your pillow helps but is very hard to do. My cats do not bother me if a bath them every two weeks and when I pet a cat that has not been bathed they do bother me. The cats do not like it much but you can by allergy wipes and they do work but they are more expensive. My cats hate baths but love feeling clean after they dry off.