Long term use of some antihistamines may
increase your risk of dementia
. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) blocks the effects of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter is vital for memory and learning.
Is it OK to take antihistamines every day?
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.
Is it safe to take antihistamines long term?
First-generation antihistamines come with risk of more side effects and interactions, so
are not generally advised for long-term usage
. Additionally, frequent use of the first generation antihistamines may lead to excessive weight gain.
What are the side effects of taking antihistamines daily?
- Drowsiness or sleepiness.
- Dizziness.
- Dry mouth, nose, or throat.
- Increased appetite and weight gain.
- Upset stomach.
- Thickening of mucus.
- Changes in vision.
- Feeling nervous, excited, or irritable.
What are the dangers of using antihistamines?
Antihistamine Risks and Anticholinergic Syndrome
These antihistamines also are potent muscarinic receptor antagonists that can lead to serious anticholinergic side effects, such as
sinus tachycardia
, dry skin, dry mucous membranes, dilated pupils, constipation, ileus, urinary retention, and agitated delirium.
Are antihistamines bad for your liver?
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.
Are antihistamines bad for your heart?
“In general,
antihistamines are safe in patients with high blood pressure and other forms of heart disease
,” explains Richard Krasuski, MD, director of adult congenital heart disease services at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, but an antihistamine may elevate blood pressure or increase heart rate, according to the U.S. …
Who should not take antihistamines?
- Glaucoma.
- Trouble urinating (from an enlarged prostate gland).
- Breathing problems, such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis.
- Thyroid disease.
- Heart disease.
- High blood pressure.
What is the safest antihistamine?
Loratadine, cetrizine, and fexofenadine
all have excellent safety records. Their cardiovascular safety has been demonstrated in drug-interaction studies, elevated-dose studies, and clinical trials. These three antihistamines have also been shown safe in special populations, including pediatric and elderly patients.
Does antihistamines cause weight gain?
Do antihistamines cause weight gain? The short answer
seems to be yes
. While occasionally taking a Benadryl for sleep probably won’t lead to significant weight gain, chronic use of antihistamines can interfere with weight loss efforts.
Why you shouldn’t take antihistamines?
You can also experience side effects from taking a regular antihistamine—like Zyrtec, Claritin, or Benadryl—including dry mouth, confusion, flushing, visual impairment, and fever. What’s more—getting off
antihistamines can cause allergic reactions as well
.
What is the strongest natural antihistamine?
- Antihistamines.
- Stinging nettle.
- Quercetin.
- Bromelain.
- Butterbur.
Are antihistamines bad for your kidneys?
In general,
anti-histamines do not cause kidney problems
. Some, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can cause retention of urine in your bladder. Others such as Claritin and Zyrtec are generally very safe.
Do antihistamines affect the brain?
First-generation antihistamines like Benadryl not only block the effect of histamine, but as anticholinergics, they also
block the effect of acetylcholine
, a chemical in your brain that helps send messages between cells. Blocking acetylcholine can cause temporary drowsiness, confusion, and memory loss.
Is it bad to take antihistamines to sleep?
While some over-the-counter
antihistamines can cause drowsiness
, routinely using them to treat insomnia isn’t recommended. 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).
How long do antihistamines stay in your system?
For the average healthy adult, elimination half-life ranges from 6.7 to 11.7 hours. So between 6 to 12 hours after taking Benadryl, half the drug will be eliminated from the body.
Within two days
, the drug will be completely gone from the body.
