Allergies, sneezing, stuffed up, nose, sinus - antihistamines and what to use for allergy relief

[ingridphoenix]

Hi MaryDavid,

I am on a regimen of Allegra now. I had been sneezing like crazy, sinus issues and not sure if allergies (I am not outside much, sooo??) 

Anyhow, I used to take Allegra, so I started it again. I also have the real Sudafed.

The past few days have been bad - headaches and all - so the Allegra, with the decongestant and Ibuprofen have helped greatly.'

I can't say that the issues i am treating now are related to the tapering etc - but this is my story about antihistamines.

I rarely take Benadryl, as it makes me sleepy - I have it though - as i get food allergies.

Hope this helps?

[MaryDavid]

Thanks Ingridphoenix for your response.

 

Compsports, i was asking about it, because it does help me with sleep as it can make you drowsy.

[Shep]

 

Thanks Ingridphoenix for your response.

 

Compsports, i was asking about it, because it does help me with sleep as it can make you drowsy.

 

 

 

 

Hi, MaryDavid.

 

Here's a thread you may find useful:

 

Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) for withdrawal insomnia

 

Some people find antihistamines like Benadryl can turn paradixocal and make sleep more difficult in the long run. And some people have issues with dependency.

 

Here are a couple threads on non-drug alternatives for sleep:

 

Sleep problems - that awful withdrawal insomnia

 

 

Guided Meditations, Calming Videos, Sleep Hypnosis

 

I've been afraid to try antihistamines because they were the precursor to the SSRI. If you do try it, only use a very small dose in case there's a problem. 

 

The insomnia is one of the worst symptoms because it makes everything else worse. I hope you find something to help. 

 

[Junglechicken]

Hi folks,

 

Just wondering if anyone else has been affected by the Springtime rising pollen count, especially tree pollen?

 

The UK has a very high pollen count right now, especially the south where I am.  Have had a really sore throat and have been a bit wheezy for the last 2 weeks which co-incides with the rising tree pollen count.

 

Haven't taken any antihistamine yet because of the whole WD thing.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thx

JC x

[KarenB]

Try this thread:  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1829-sinus-congestion-sneezing-and-runny-nose/

And also:  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/505-antihistamines-and-what-to-use-for-allergy-relief/

*topics merged

 

It sounds like people do have issues similar to yours.

Edited May 17, 2016 by Petunia
updated

[Junglechicken]

Thank you Karen x

[FeralUrban]

I combined the antihistamine topics so everything is in one place.

 

 

I have springtime allergies, too.

 

I use Pataday eyedrops for itchy eyes and fluticasone (Flonase) nasal spray.

 

I'd avoid taking an antihistamine if you have withdrawal symptoms. They affect the histamine receptors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histamine_receptor , which may be involved in withdrawal syndrome.

 

Saline rinses (use sterilized water!) can reduce nasal symptoms.

How did you come to the conclusion that histamine receptors are involved in withdrawal syndrome? I'm not a scientist, so I'm having trouble getting from the Wikipedia article to there. I'm aware that some ADs, such as Lexapro, cause sinus congestion, and that just being in withdrawal aggravates whatever medical problems a person may have, but that's about all.

 

Look at the Wiki page, and the table.

 

H1 receptor (this is what most antihistamines act on): modulate circadian cycle

 

See http://www.cnsforum.com/imagebank/item/antidep_receptor_spec/default.aspx (Lundbeck)

The side effects produced by many of the antidepressant drugs arise from their ability to block muscarinic cholinergic receptors, H1 histamine receptors and α1-adrenergic receptors.

Potency of antidepressants to block H1 histamine receptors

97_antidep_histamine_lundbeck.png

The usual suspects fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and venlafaxine (Effexor) are the worst.

 

H3 receptor: Neurotransmitter in CNS

 

 

 

So am I reading this correctly…

 

Venlafaxine acts as an antihistamine? 

 

Therefore, my sudden resurgence of very bad allergies this year, much worse than previous years is due to the decreased venlafaxine…

And the fact that AD DS makes underlying conditions worse?

 

OK -- I'll be more diligent about using  my neti pot. 

I'm on the eye drops -- Pazeo, (Same as patapay) and they are helping a little bit. 

I'll    talk to me PCP about flonase.

 

I tried Claritin, but it knocks me out cold a few hours after I take it and then only works for about 12 hours (with 1x day dosing)

Perhaps I'll adjust taking that to evening until I can figure something else out. 

 

Darn this whole thing is so complicated!

[Junglechicken]

I have had really awful hay fever this season both in the UK and Portugal (vacation).

 

Stuck to Citerizine Hydrochloride rather than switching to the Fexofenadine the doc gave me, as it would have been tricky when I was on the GERD meds.

 

It seems to have eased thank goodness the last couple of days.

[Junglechicken]

Just a note to those with bad eczema.

 

I have started applying AVEENO cream on my face, arm and neck, which seems to have considerably reduced the itch and dryness.  Hydrocortisone wasn't working, nor was anything else.

[Area1255]

Butterbur extract works great for seasonal allergies and pet allergies!

[pete333]

Can anyone hear take allergy medicine?

If I take it I get depressed and anxious in the extreme.

 

I just tried one Benadryl for the first time in years.  I could always take it before as needed.

 

I have moderate fall allergies due to ragweed and a little trouble with tree pollen in the spring.

 

Anyone know any good solutions?

 

Thanks.

[Altostrata]

You might try a non-steroidal nasal spray such as azelastine.

[FeralUrban]

Neti pot, or nasal douching with warm water and sea salt.
Also Alkalol. is a an OTC mentholated nasal wash.
Nasal steamer -- for when you are too blocked up for nasal rinsing. 

[pete333]

In my early years on AD I could take benadryl and not even notice.  In fact it sometimes took the edge off the anxiety and reduced the need for lorazepam.

But about 2 years ago I took one and I became very, very anxious and even slightly suicidal or something like it.           

That is not normal for me.

But this year I am having allergy trouble.  Ragweed.

Can a neti pot help the fatigue by reducing the onboard allergens?

Thanks

[ravijaua]

I think histamine receptors do play a role in withdrawal. From my own personal experience, when I was starting out in tolerance, poop out on paxil back in 6/2015, I started having anxiety and insomnia. I took doxylamine to sleep like half a pill 12.5 mg each night for like 4 months, it helped enormously with anxiety and sleep but now I look back maybe that messed up my withdrawal healing process.

[Cruizer]

Hi all. Currently tapering sertraline from 150mg. On 50mg at present. This is the second time in 3 months that i have gotten a swollen eye which the doctors are saying is an allergy. It looks like ive been bitten by a spider or something. I took an antihistamine the first time but after 3 or 4 days it sent me into bad withdrawal symptoms so dont want to try that again. Judging from previous pages i can see why this occurred. Does anyone have any suggestions for other ideas for what appears to be an eye allergy? Never had this before.

[AliG]

Maybe you could try something like " Lacri - Lube " eye ointment. It seems to work for most  eye conditions including allergy.

[LexAnger]

OPC 3 has worked for me like a wonder for allergy before meds time, and I have been taking it in the past few months during my fast taper. Check it out at Amazon. It's a pure natural strong antioxiapdant

[gigi63]

I have seasonal allergies. After I crashed last year, unable to use my typical allergy meds. I used neilmed sinus rinse once or twice daily and a eustacie product I found on Amazon and it worked all the way through. When you rinse the sinuses, somehow the saline works into the lacrimal glands in the eyes so the sodium may be helpful.

[ShakeyJerr]

My overall question to members is: do you have a history of taking antihistamines?

 

I have been reading about antihistamines today. There are people who recommend Benadryl for withdrawal symptoms. My doctor gave me hydroxyzine for withdrawal symptoms. I tried both (no, not at the same time!) and generally did not like how they made me feel. It was kind of like I was slowing down, like I was about to "turn off" like a robot for good. Still, sometimes I will grab a hydroxyzine if things are really bad in the morning and I know I won't be lying down. It takes a couple of hours to give me any sort of relief, bit I do get some. Still, I hate using it.

 

So today I remembered I had some old chlorpheniramine maleate. I remember it as being rather "mild." But I didn't take any. Instead I jumped on here and searched it. Found out that a Dr. Healy recommends it as part of withdrawal management. But the members here were not too keen on it. Mainly because it is in reality an SRNI.

 

That made me start to think about my own history... And lo and behold! Allergy medicines were a staple for most of my life! Heck, I almost always had a bottle of chlorpheniramine maleate with me through my teen years and early twenties. I had horrible seasonal allergies.

 

Now here's the interesting part... I pretty much do not recall having need for my antihistamines once I started using the psych meds! Heck, the bottle I found here at home has been sitting there for years and years.

 

So, did my early dependence on antihistamines set me up to be a candidate for the meds?

 

I also examined my behavior during the years I was heavily dependent on antihistamines compared to the way I acted on the meds. And lo and behold, another discovery! My rise in anger and rage during my teen years and twenties was very similar to the anger and rage I felt on the psych meds.

 

SJ

[Baz66]

Don't know if this is correct but may help someone

http://www.diagnosisdiet.com/histamine-intolerance/#i19

[Hibari]

As I started to taper Remeron/Mirtazapine and got to the lower doses,  I started to get affected by allerigies.  The medication has antihistamine properties so I was shielded from them over the past few years.

 

But my allergies got bad one weekend while we were at our house, which is surrounded by trees.  I didn't want to take an antihistamine so I did a some research.  I read that Stinging Nettle helps with allergies, so I tried it.  It worked so well!  I used the liquid tincture from a health food store.  I started with two droppers and took another dropper two hours later and then two hours after that to get it into my system.   Now I use it all the time when I start to get sneezy.   There are various combinations you can buy but I only use the ones that have Stinging Nettle in them only. 

 

Again, this is my personal experience and it's important to research what works for you. 

[Jaywill]

I stopped taking paxil 5 years ago and went through withdrawal hell. I started taking aerus an antihistamine because my allergies were out of control. I finally feel quite well from the paxil withdrawal and would like to wean off the antihistamine. I have multiple chemical sensitivity and have improved with brain retraining. I didn't take the aerus for three days but my sensitivity was terrible. I took an aerus and i was so dizzy etc and I felt like i did in withdrawal. Anyone know how I can slowly go off it without feeling terrible. I just started feeling well from Paxil after 5 years and I am not ready to go through anything like that again anytime soon

[DMV64]

I am experiencing allergy to my new pet dog. I have been taking (for three days) this new antihistimine XYZAL, but now I read it might mess with my taper and symptoms. I read through the info here but there doesn't seem to be one clear answer. I Netipot already, I have a homeopathic remedy called BioAllers Animal Hair and Dander. I have Flonase. I am even getting something to rub on her to supposedly help. 

I am not on any AD, on Antipsychotics taper.

Anyone have any experience of suggestions with this as oppossed to another or no antihistimine?

[Hibari]

I have had great success with Stinging Nettle. When I got off Remeron/Mirtazapine I had issues with allergies. They had been surpressed  by the medications antihistamine properties.  I used a liquid tinture that I bought at the health food store and took it throughout the day when I felt allergy symptoms. 

 

These allergies were not related to dogs but more dust, leaves and pollen. 

 

H

[Petunia]

On 6/9/2011 at 1:03 PM, Punarbhava said:

I blame all of my sinus problems on WD. I've had blocked sinuses, pain in the sinuses, tons of sneezing, stuffed up feeling. Also itchy eyes. Allergy like reactions. These symptoms are definitely WD induced.

Things are alowly improving but despite the improvements I can get hit with hours and/or days of bad flare ups.

Histamine is a neurotransmitter.

Many ADs have antihistamine properties but Paxil and some of the TCA (especially the sedating ones) have a more powerful antihistamine effect.

Consequently, when we WD from such, we experience a histamine rebound effect. 

Also, our immune systems are affected by WD and thus, can be compromised in ways that can cause us to become temporarily more suseptible to allergens whether it be from diet, environment etc. which in turn can cause the problems discussed in this thread.

 

I've been having intermittent sinus and allergy like symptoms on and off since stopping Lexapro in 2010, but since I used to have these issues occasionally before ever starting psyche drugs, I thought it was probably me just going back to 'normal' without the anti-histamine properties of the medication, I didn't have allergy symptoms during the 13 of SSRI use.

 

But lately, as I'm becoming more active again, this has become much more of a problem. But it's not the same as how it was before withdrawal, previously it was triggered by allergy season, cat dander or dust etc, but at the moment, there's no patterns to when I'm getting attacks. It's not allergy season here and no cats, so I'm thinking this is my histamine system in chaos. I will be fine, then suddenly for no apparent reason, my nose and eyes become irritated, the sneezing starts then my sinuses become congested. I've been like this for about a week now, so thought I would search the site to find how many others have this.  Seems like its fairly common...getting a rebound histamine effect.

[Junglechicken]

I'm glad this topic re-surfaced.

 

Since my involvement with ADs, I have suffered from sub-clinical migraine (after CT 2015), sinus issues and headaches accompanied by nausea.

 

They usually last no more than 2 days, although more recently 3-4 days.

 

I also have itchy eyes and ears.

 

 

[tryingtosurvive]

Anyone else who developed dizzyness and food allergies long time (4 years) after quitting prozac ?

Very grateful to replies!

/trying to survive..

[Toulouse]

I developed several allergies to some foods and environmental while I was tapering Paxil. Still have the allergies almost 3 years later 

[Bluebird2009]

On 6/5/2018 at 11:33 AM, tryingtosurvive said:

Anyone else who developed dizzyness and food allergies long time (4 years) after quitting prozac ?

Very grateful to replies!

/trying to survive..

 

On 6/5/2018 at 11:33 AM, tryingtosurvive said:

Anyone else who developed dizzyness and food allergies long time (4 years) after quitting prozac ?

Very grateful to replies!

/trying to survive..

Hi I was in the dreaded prozac for 18yrs and developed allergies the last year in and now multiple allergies and can't tolerate drugs or supplements and react to

foods. Very unwell at times and then not so bad other times. Fully of drug 2 years now. Anxiety and stress is horrendously, take care

[tryingtosurvive]

On 9/9/2018 at 7:52 PM, Bluebird2009 said:

 

Hi I was in the dreaded prozac for 18yrs and developed allergies the last year in and now multiple allergies and can't tolerate drugs or supplements and react to

foods. Very unwell at times and then not so bad other times. Fully of drug 2 years now. Anxiety and stress is horrendously, take care

I was on it for 14 years sadly they put me on it as a teenager,,..How old where you when you started?

Do you get any help from taking antihistamines or mast cell stabilizers if you have tried  ?

/trying to survive

I

[Bluebird2009]

20 hours ago, tryingtosurvive said:

I was on it for 14 years sadly they put me on it as a teenager,,..How old where you when you started?

Do you get any help from taking antihistamines or mast cell stabilizers if you have tried  ?

/trying to survive

I

Hi I went on when I was 25yrs old and came off at 42, I tried antihistamines but had a very bad head reaction which lasted 6weeks so I do t try anymore. But everyone is different some can tolerate. Take care in this awful journey 

[primekittycat]

I have a cold and really need to take an antihistamine to dry myself up. Are there any antihistamines I can take that don't interact with Effexor? No doctors seem to be aware of this.. same with cough medicine (dextromethorphan).  Edit: I already use Flonase and it's not doing much, I accidentally took a Claritin last night and was able to sleep without my nose running everywhere.  Then I remembered the interaction.

[Mewmewkitty]

23 minutes ago, primekittycat said:

I have a cold and really need to take an antihistamine to dry myself up. Are there any antihistamines I can take that don't interact with Effexor? No doctors seem to be aware of this.. same with cough medicine (dextromethorphan).  Edit: I already use Flonase and it's not doing much, I accidentally took a Claritin last night and was able to sleep without my nose running everywhere.  Then I remembered the interaction.

When I had seasonal allergies I took Desloratadine which don't contain antihistamines. It was hard for me to distinguish what was causing what but the allergy was revving me up badly, anxiety mainly.

 

 Try to just ride the cold out. Take care.

[DavidfromTexas]

Will the regular use of anti-histamines create drug withdrawal problems like anti-depressants do? Since they are somewhat related in their action, I would think it might be possible. 

Also, that would make the regular use of  ANY anti-histamine a bad thing when you’re already regularly on an anti-depressant, right?

 

Overall, during the almost 20 years I’ve been on antidepressants, I have not had many problems in the way of allergies. I developed more serious post nasal drip/drainage after moving to Los Angeles from Texas, and in the last year or so I have started sneezing more often, but still not “a lot”. 

I am now wondering if the antidepressant use when I was stable was preventing allergies from showing symptoms in me.

My doctor might want me to start taking  something like OTC Claritin every day to help reduce my allergy symptoms—extra drainage, sneezing— but I will be hesitant to agree knowing that there might be some kind of interaction between the antihistamine and the antidepressant. 

 

I wouldn’t consider my allergies bad at this point. They are not making me feel horrible, I just mainly have a considerable amount of drainage and a couple/few sneezes every couple days. 

 

Also currently only on 1/1.5/2 mg Cymbalta-Duloxetine while I try to reinstate. 

 

I am wondering if adding Vitamin C to my daily regimen of Vitamin D and Cymbalta would help with my immune system and be worth it? 

Or does anybody have any experience taking a multivitamin that was beneficial?

Edited August 2, 2019 by DavidfromTexas

[ChessieCat]

45 minutes ago, DavidfromTexas said:

I am wondering if adding Vitamin C to my daily regimen of Vitamin D

 

There are topics on these.