Antihistamine Side Effects: When to Stop Taking Allergy Medication (2023)

FAQs

How do you know when to stop antihistamines? ›

While there's no set timeline for when someone should stop taking an antihistamine, one should speak to a doctor or drug rehabilitation specialist if they feel like they have become addicted to your antihistamine. The severity and length of an antihistamine withdrawal will depend on the specific drug.

The main withdrawal symptom is called pruritus— itching and burning sensations of the skin ranging from moderate to severe. Other antihistamine withdrawal symptoms include interruptions in sleep patterns.

In general, wean gradually by 25-50% of the daily dose every 1-4 weeks. If reason for deprescribing is serious adverse effects, wean faster or cease immediately.

First-generation antihistamines come with an increased risk of certain side effects and drug interactions, so are not generally advised for long-term usage. “With first-generation antihistamines, some people note decreasing effectiveness if used daily for several days,” says Dr. Lin.

Sometimes this effect is mistakenly called an addiction; no, you're not becoming addicted to your allergy medication, but your tissues can become used to the effect of the medication. The result is that, when the dose wears off, you can feel a little worse.

Depending on your symptoms, you can take antihistamines: Every day, to help keep daily symptoms under control. Only when you have symptoms. Before being exposed to things that often cause your allergy symptoms, such as a pet or certain plants.

When is it safe to stop taking seasonal allergy medications? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Everyone's experience with seasonal allergies is different and can change from year to year. Stopping too early can cause your symptoms to suddenly appear and be difficult to get back under control.

Antihistamines are known to cause extreme drowsiness; however, in certain people, they can cause insomnia, excitability, anxiety, restlessness, and a rapid heart rate.

Stopping Cetirizine Produces Unbelievable Itching:

Like many others, I experienced severe itching and hives all over my body when I stopped taking it. One tablet would cover 36 hours free of symptoms. However, if I missed taking it right before the time limit, my skin started itching and hives would develop.

Natural antihistamines may help you control your seasonal allergies. Common ones are stinging nettle, vitamin C, quercetin, butterbur, bromelain, and probiotics. Some alternative practices—such as acupuncture, nasal irrigation, and exercise—may also help you manage symptoms.

Do antihistamines raise blood pressure? ›

Determining which allergy medications can raise your blood pressure comes down to the ingredients. Most antihistamines are safe for people with hypertension. But decongestants should be avoided, since they can raise your blood pressure further.

See your doctor if your mild allergy symptoms have not improved after three days of treatment with Zyrtec, or if your hives persist for more than six weeks despite taking Zyrtec. Discontinue Zyrtec once your allergy symptoms have resolved.

Claritin and Zyrtec are effective and safe for most people with minor allergies. However, as with all medications, there may be some side effects. Loratadine—present in Claritin—may not be safe for people with severe liver conditions.

Antihistamines block histamine activity, seeking to stop the allergic reaction. Many allergy medications on the shelves of your local drugstore work as antihistamines. But there are also certain foods and plant extracts that may similarly block the effects of histamine.

Adults—25 to 100 milligrams (mg) three or four times a day as needed. Children 6 years of age and older—12.5 to 25 mg every six hours as needed. Children 4 to 6 years of age—12.5 mg every six hours as needed. Children and infants up to 4 years of age—Use is not recommended .

Because antihistamines like Claritin and Zyrtec are now available over the counter, we can trust that they're generally safe for longterm use, says Shih.

Commonly used first-generation antihistamines have strong anticholinergic properties, and recently published data from the adult population have suggested that long-term use of these drugs may increase the risk for developing dementia.

They work on histamine receptor in the brain and spinal cord along with other types of receptors. Most notable about this generation of antihistamines is that they cross the blood-brain barrier, which results in drowsiness.

Although everybody processes medications differently, diphenhydramine, loratadine, and cetirizine are likely eliminated from your body about 2 days after your last dose. However, some studies have shown that loratadine and cetirizine may have residual effects for 1 to 4 days after stopping daily use.

Antihistamines, mainly used to treat symptoms of hay fever or other allergies, can induce drowsiness by working against a chemical produced by the central nervous system (histamine). These medications can be useful in certain situations, such as for treating sleeplessness related to travel.

Can antihistamines be taken long term? ›

Non-sedating antihistamines are used in the long-term control of allergy, as in hay fever, eczema, sinusitis, and chronic urticaria. No serious side effects have been reported. Tolerance is not a problem.

Newer “second-generation” antihistamines including Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are generally safe to use regularly. However, Nimmagadda says, some people find that a given antihistamine becomes less effective over time. Rather than increasing the dose, he recommends switching to a different antihistamine.

These include: Flushing, difficulty regulating body temperature, sudden excessive sweating. Hives, rashes, swelling, itchy skin, eczema. Racing heart, palpitations, arrhythmia.

Unrelated to the immune system, histamine is also produced in the brain, where it plays an important part in feeling awake. Antihistamines used to treat respiratory symptoms can get into the brain and interrupt this work, making you feel drowsy.

Side effects of antihistamines

sleepiness (drowsiness) and reduced co-ordination, reaction speed and judgement – do not drive or use machinery after taking these antihistamines. dry mouth. blurred vision. difficulty peeing.

But with this acute itching, a different type of cell in the bloodstream transmits itch signals to the nerves. Those cells produce too much of another non-histamine substance that triggers itch; therefore, antihistamines don't work in response to such signals.

"Itching can occur within one-two days of stopping Zyrtec or Xyzal after long term daily use (months to years). It usually lasts a few days and then resolves. The intensity of the itching can be from mild to severe. Occasionally, a brief burst of oral steroids may be needed to help the patient get off the drug.

However it's best to take cetirizine only for as long as you need to. If you take it regularly over a long period there's a very small chance of severe itching if you stop treatment suddenly. If you've been taking cetirizine every day for a long time, talk to your doctor before stopping it.

Side effects of antihistamines

sleepiness (drowsiness) and reduced co-ordination, reaction speed and judgement – do not drive or use machinery after taking these antihistamines. dry mouth. blurred vision. difficulty peeing.

When is it safe to stop taking seasonal allergy medications? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Everyone's experience with seasonal allergies is different and can change from year to year. Stopping too early can cause your symptoms to suddenly appear and be difficult to get back under control.

How do I stop histamine reaction? ›

Antihistamines block histamine activity, seeking to stop the allergic reaction. Many allergy medications on the shelves of your local drugstore work as antihistamines. But there are also certain foods and plant extracts that may similarly block the effects of histamine.

Adults—1 to 2 milligrams (mg) every eight to twelve hours as needed. Children 12 years of age and older—0.5 mg to 1 mg two times a day as needed. Children 4 to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. Children and infants up to 4 years of age—Use is not recommended .

In overdose symptoms can include dizziness, tachycardia, headache drowsiness or agitation. While the current generation of lesser sedating antihistamines do not affect the QT interval at normal doses (unlike the previous generation of medicines), there are concerns there may be some effect in overdose.

Claritin and Zyrtec are effective and safe for most people with minor allergies. However, as with all medications, there may be some side effects. Loratadine—present in Claritin—may not be safe for people with severe liver conditions.

Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, urinary retention, increased ocular pressure are relative contraindications to the use of antihistamines.

Most OTC medicines, including antihistamines and nasal steroids, are safe to use as directed for as long as your symptoms last, but there are some exceptions. Don't use a decongestant nasal spray for more than 3 days unless your doctor says to.

Although everybody processes medications differently, diphenhydramine, loratadine, and cetirizine are likely eliminated from your body about 2 days after your last dose. However, some studies have shown that loratadine and cetirizine may have residual effects for 1 to 4 days after stopping daily use.

Non-sedating antihistamines are used in the long-term control of allergy, as in hay fever, eczema, sinusitis, and chronic urticaria. No serious side effects have been reported. Tolerance is not a problem.

Water does aid in the removal of histamines from the body as more that 95% of excess histamines are removed from the body through the urine. Drinking adequate amounts of water helps keep histamines at safe and healthy levels that your body can process efficiently.

Histamine levels are another potent downstream target. Allergic symptoms exacerbate during nighttime and plasma histamine levels exhibit nocturnal peaks. In mastocytosis patients, peak levels of plasma histamine were observed in the early morning with the lowest in the afternoon (19).

What is a natural antihistamine? ›

Summary. Natural antihistamines may help you control your seasonal allergies. Common ones are stinging nettle, vitamin C, quercetin, butterbur, bromelain, and probiotics. Some alternative practices—such as acupuncture, nasal irrigation, and exercise—may also help you manage symptoms.

Diphenhydramine (e.g., Benadryl®) is a first-generation antihistamine medication [1]. In addition to treating allergy and cold symptoms such as sneezing and watery eyes, it also blocks the actions of acetylcholine. This is a neurotransmitter that is important for brain functions including learning and memory.

Non-sedating antihistamines can rarely cause acute liver injury. Although the liver damage is typically mild, if it occurs, antihistamines should be stopped. The liver function is usually only slightly deranged, and returns to normal with substitution of another antihistamine or cessation of the therapy.

You shouldn't take prescription antihistamines if you also are taking certain other prescription medicines. These include erythromycin (an antibiotic), or certain medicines used to treat fungal infections. These include itraconazole or ketoconazole.