Antihistamine Uses and Side Effects

Histamine is an amino acid that moonlights as a neurotransmitter. It is responsible for triggering inflammatory responses in the brain. When you hurt yourself, histamines are the ones that let your brain know about it. Then the brain makes the wound react or heal. Antihistamines are chemicals that help disable the histamines to a certain extent for a specific amount of time.

Our body and mind have a mutual relationship which is governed with the help of conditional and unconditional stimuli and responses. When the body feels a certain stimulus, it sends a message to the brain, the brain then responds to that message. So, if it is a stimulus that the body is used to, the brain will also be used to it. Hence the effect of that stimulus will gradually reduce. We know this as 'getting used to'. These are the conditional responses to conditional stimuli. The unconditional stimuli are the ones that we are not 'used to' and hence the response of the brain is more intense.

Knowing this, sometimes the body is not capable of conditioning itself to certain stimuli. This gives rise to unwanted activity of histamines to respond to the stimuli. Antihistamines, bring this unneeded use of histamines under control. They also help in reducing the intensity of response to an unconditioned stimuli, for example allergies and skin rashes. This means that the brain will respond to it, as it is conditioned. Like, if you are suffering from motion sickness, antihistamines would control your feeling of nausea. If you are violently allergic to the sun, they will help control the eruption of rashes of any kind. Antihistamines are also used to induce sleepiness in people who suffer from an inability to fall asleep.

However, adequate medical guidance is vital before the intake of antihistamines. Like a coin has two sides, antihistamines also have negative effects or 'side effects'. Drowsiness and sleepiness are the common side effects of antihistamines. The few uncommon ones are headache, dry mouth, blurred vision, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, difficulty in passing urine and irritation. These side effects don't last long.

A few more like palpitations and abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia), high blood pressure, allergic reactions (such as swelling, rash and breathing difficulties), dizziness, confusion, depression, disturbed sleep, tremor, convulsions (fits), blood disorder and liver disorder, over-excitement in children may have long-lasting effects. As all medications, the effects (or in this case, side effects) are more intense in children and adults above the age of 65 years.

When teamed with other medicines or foods, antihistamines may react in different ways. Like, when teamed with grapefruit juice antihistamines: terfenadine and mizolastine can cause abnormal heart rhythm. Hence, it is very important to make sure that your health status, diet and any other medical conditions are taken into consideration before starting antihistamines.

Good health is often a result of a healthy lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and adequate exercise. If these are maintained the body will itself stay in good condition. But if there are issues that your body needs help tackling, let the help be through a doctor and not on your own. Wrong decisions regarding medication can often lead to requiring to have more of it!!