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antihistamines and anxiety?

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Allergies
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percycat
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2005
Posts : 1952
Posted 11/9/2010 4:22 PM (GMT -7)
I've not been taking my usual double-dose of Claritin for the past 4 days, and oddly, it seems like my anxiety about my food allergies has decreased dramatically.  That seems like a weird combination, except that several of the same biochemicals that affect the brain (serotonin, for instance) also function in the immune system.  I found one web site that mentions that histamine is also a neurotransmitter.

Has anybody else experienced a change in level of anxiety when you're taking antihistamines regularly as opposed to when you aren't?

percycat

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couchtater
Elite Member
Joined : Jul 2009
Posts : 14475
Posted 11/9/2010 4:27 PM (GMT -7)
When I'm on strong antihistamines my nerves get bad.
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Joan M
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2006
Posts : 2092
Posted 11/11/2010 7:42 AM (GMT -7)
hi...the new ones have been created to make you feel "wide awake" so you can "function". The old ones like benedryl make you feel very tired and it was difficult to "function". I find that allegra (also in generic) works really well for me. Had to take double dose recently because my eczema came back. Did not notice any bad side effects. When I took claritin I felt like my chest was filled with glue...did not work for me.
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Red_34
Forum Moderator
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 11/11/2010 10:19 AM (GMT -7)
Any of the antihistamines that contain decongestants do a number on me. They make my heart race and ramps up my anxiety. I don't think regular antihistamines do that to me though. In fact, I tried going without my Zyrtec for a few days and it actually made me feel worse because my allergies came back with a vengeance which caused my nose to feel clogged (and sneezy), it made me feel as if I couldn't breathe and that upped my anxiety.
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percycat
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2005
Posts : 1952
Posted 11/11/2010 8:47 PM (GMT -7)
It's been nearly a week without my usual H1-antihistamines (I still take my Zantac H2-blocker for reflux), and the coincidence is just uncanny. My anxiety was outrageous for well over month, closer to two, *maybe* a little less debilitating last week, and then suddenly this week I feel almost "normal." Meaning I'm feeling realistic and reasonable about my food allergy fears. It's just too weird that such a long period of feeling freaked out would suddenly end right when I stopped the Claritin.

I see the allergist on Monday, and wonder what he will say...

percycat
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