Shellfish allergies....how do you make it through it?

Question

Aside from the obvious which is to just avoid altogether there are some times where it is beyond our control and we come into contact of this or any other allergen. Benaydryl, skin cream, albuterol are a few things I take to decrease the intensity of the anaphylactic shock however does anyone know of any other treatment/common household remedies to make this life more livable? Something I can purchase?

Answer 1

Obviously an epi-pen for the anaphylactic shock.

You can also use inhaled epi (Primatene Mist) for a quick turnaround if you catch symptoms of anaphylaxis early - ask your doctor if he might recommend it for you. Many people with chronic idiopathic anaphylaxis and systemic mastocytosis use Primatene combined with oral liquid Benadryl as a first line of defense for shock episodes.

One of the biggest problems with shellfish is that they are high in histamine - the chemical which your body produces during an allergic reaction. In fact, the common name for scombroid poisoning (the type of food poisoning associated with shellfish) is histamine poisoning. So if one allergic to shellfish, the safest way is total avoidance, as you have already noted.

The drugs we all think of as antihistamines actually only block one type of histamine, H1. The most common location for H1 receptors in the body is the skin and airways. The digestive system also has an abundance of receptors for H2 (histamine 2), so adding a blocker specifically for these may be helpful in food allergy. The H2's are more commonly thought of as ulcer meds - Zantac, Tagamet and Pepcid are the most common brands. Many people find that Zyrtec and Zantac (known as the Z/Z combo) work best together.

Also should note that antihistamines work by competing with histamine for the receptors in the body, so taking them after the fact - once a reaction has begun - is kind of like closing the barn door after the horse is gone. If histamine has already attached to the receptors, there is no place for the antihistamine drugs to attach so they can do their work.

A mast cell stabilizing drug called Gastrocrom (oral cromolyn) can also be helpful for food allergies. It works by preventing mast cell degranulation - when a mast cell degranulates, it fires off its load of chemicals, including histamine. If your allergy manifests with airway involvement, an inhaled form of cromolyn is also effective. It is sold in the US as Intal inhaler.

Answer 2

epipen yes, but avoid foods / drugs containing iodine- this include gluocasimine products- ask your doctor for a list of stuff you may be able to avoid - ask a retaurant not to cook your food near fish (i've seen that happen) - make sure people you are with know about the allergy , wear a bracelet, / I do not know of anything otc you can purchase so the pen is a must

Answer 3

If you have an allergy to shellfish, there's not much you can do. It's just a fact of life.

Answer 4

an Epipen - You need a prescription for it.