Now I'm sure it's histamines!

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:00 pm

Hi all. just wanted to post a little update on the histamine issue. Most of you know that i am mostly OK and that I have been able to add many things back into my diet. And although I usually only hit the bathroom once in the morning, normans are not the "norm" for me. I started taking Allegra in the am and that seemed to help somewhat.

Then I realized while camping, I am actually better ... and realized it was because I take Tylenol PM to help me sleep. The "sleepy" stuff in it is actually an antihistamine ( the same that is in Benadryl). So recently I decided to take a couple of Benadryl at night for a few nights... and low and behold, NORMANS EVERY AM!

So, I am pretty sure that histamines are my biggest issue. I also have HISTAME on hand to take when I know I will be eating a food that is high in histamines. You may be asking why I even eat/drink these foods. Well, we all have to decide how much we are willing to give up and for me, condiments with vinegar ( ketchup, mustard, mayo), avocados, and sometimes some white wine are all things that i am not willing to give up completely. So, my decision to keep these foods in my diet is a conscious one. Each day, I decide if I will take a Histame and/or Benadryl .... and I can live with that.

Okay, just thought I'd share.
Have a great day
Leah

Post by **tex** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:34 pm

Good detective work!

Tex

robinc2525 · Post by **robinc2525** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 5:50 pm

Leah it's so great that you figured this out. So, does this mean you will always have an issue with histamines? Or is it that you are still healing and once you are entirely healed high histamine foods will not bother you? How much Benadryl do you take, I am thinking of testing this out for myself. Thanks

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:02 pm

Leah,

Glad you confirmed the histamine issue. Do you have other histamine intolerance symptoms or was it just confined to your gut?

Mary Beth

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:21 am

I too am sure that I have a histamine issue but will not cut the white wine out of my diet. It is my one true vice other than cigars. Is there an over-the-counter histamine that you would recommend? Would like to start trying it in the next couple of days.

Thanks, Maggie

Post by **tex** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 9:42 am

Hi Maggie,

For use in the morning (or other times during the day), some members here use Claritin Redi-tabs, because they do not contain lactose (which is in the regular Claritin). Some of us (including myself, because Claritin doesn't seem to do much for me) use Allegra. If you take an antihistamine at night, Benadryl seems to work well, but since it's an older medication, it causes drowsiness (as you are probably well aware), so many people avoid it for daytime use.

If you only drink wine (or eat high histamine foods) at only one time of the day, then taking a 4-hour version of an antihistamine before eating or drinking high histamine food/drinks should be adequate. Most of us probably use a 24-hour version (or take scheduled doses of 8-hr or 12-hour antihistamines), in order to get round-the-clock protection.

Since you're dealing with heart issues, beware of Allegra D or Claritin D, because both drugs use the same decongestant drug, pseudoephedrine, to treat nasal congestion. Pseudoephedrine works by restricting blood flow to the sinus cavities in order to reduce inflammation, and that can obviously increase one's heart rate and cause a feeling of excitability or irritability.

Love,
Tex

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 12:31 pm

Thanks so much Tex. Will go with the redi-tabs. Doc put me on Claritin D about 6 months ago and I quit it after a day due to racing heart. Hopefully, this will work for me.

Love, Maggie

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 1:19 pm

Leah - I am glad you found what works, and that you know for sure about histamine being an issue for you.

I've tried taking 3/day of the Claritin Reditabs for 5 days with no results, and also have taken 2/night of benedryl for a couple of weeks and that doesn't do anything either. I think I'll try Allegra next. If none of these work, would this mean I don't have a histamine issue? And rather it is something else preventing Norman from coming?

Just wondering if anyone knows the answer to this. Or, could I still have histamine issues and need to try something else?

Congratulations on your detective work, Leah.

Paula

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 3:12 pm

Good question Robin. i don't know if this histamine thing is forever or if it gets better as we heal. I'm guessing it is forever because the reaction happens before the gut is involved. As Tex has said Benadryl is good for night time... and the bonus is that I get a great night sleep! I will take one or two depending on what I have eaten for dinner. But in the morning, I take one Allegra since it is non-drousy and I buy the name brand because it doesn't have g,d, or soy.

Let us know if you try it and what the results are.
Leah

maestraz · Post by **maestraz** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:27 pm

So, now that I'm home for a stretch, I'm testing some histamine questions that arose before my recent trip to Ireland.

Maggie, I hear you on the white wine. Tonight, we had a bottle open at dinner. I quickly got very red in the face. This does not seem to happen with scotch, or bourbon, which are pretty much the only liquors I drink. Took a Claritin, just to see what would happen, and within a half hour was much less red. I will be curious about the morning situation. Histamines? PS, I also used to like a cigar now and then...

Also, Maggie, are you watching the terrific PBS Nature series about birds?

Good tip about Claritin D, as I had issues with atrial fib back in the 90's when I was a majorly stressed out city teacher. None since leaving that job.

I got myself some Betaine and once I try a couple other things, will test it.

I just love seeing what others have to say here...

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Thu Sep 26, 2013 4:17 am

Hubby is finding the redi-tabs for me today and will see what the results are.

Definitely watching the bird series and enjoying every minute of it.

Love, Maggie

carolm · Post by **carolm** » Thu Sep 26, 2013 4:57 pm

Go Leah!

You did a great job sorting that out. Thanks for sharing.

Carol

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Thu Sep 26, 2013 6:22 pm

Claritin Redi Tabs have mannitol as an inactive ingredient. Does anyone know why?

I have used Allegra for a month and don't think it's working for me.

I am taking Benedryl before bed, but it interferes with a my sleeping....restlessness.

I would like to try something else, but Zyrtec has both mannitol and sorbitol. I don't do well with sugar alcohols.

What else is there?

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Thu Sep 26, 2013 7:42 pm

Linda,

I took Zyrtec in the evening when I had my skin rash last year. I don't know if it has mannitol.

I initially took Benadryl, but found that 50 mg. was too large of a dose, so I cut the pill in half. It allowed me to sleep better, but it eventually stopped being effective for me. I take the Claritin RediTab in the morning now.

Gloria

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 5:59 am

Lactose is in Zyrtec: Inactive ingredients are: lactose monohydrate; microcrystalline cellulose; colloidal silicon dioxide; croscarmellose sodium; magnesium stearate; titanium dioxide; hypromellose; and polyethylene glycol.

Mannitol is in Claritin RediTabs: CLARITIN REDITABS (loratadine rapidly-disintegrating tablets) also contain the following inactive ingredients: citric acid, gelatin, mannitol, and mint flavor.

Allegra: ALLEGRA (fexofenadine hydrochloride) (depending on the dosage strength) and the following excipients: croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and pregelatinized starch. The aqueous tablet film coating is made from hypromellose, iron oxide blends, polyethylene glycol, povidone, silicone dioxide, and titanium dioxide.

Allegra is not working and the syrup forms of the other two have sugar.....are there any other antihistamines (non-drowsy) that I could try? Benedryl (1/2 tablet) is having a positive effect but not with my sleep patterns.