Sjogrens and antihistamines

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 8:33 am

Antihistamines have helped me stay in remission from MC and feel well. Since being diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome, the use of antihistamines has become problematic. I'm going to stop taking Zyrtec and hope that will help alleviate some of the dryness I'm experiencing in my eyes and mouth.
I'm not finding help on the few online Sjogrens boards that I've found. Our MC Board is the best there is. I need some suggestions about replacing Zyrtec with something that might provide similar protection without drying out my eyes and mouth. Living with auto-immune disease seems to be a one step forward, two steps backward situation. It seems Sjogrens is often secondary to other auto-immune disorders and I'm wondering if my celiac genes are also responsible for all of this other misery.

Thank you, friends for any and all suggestions.

Sheila W

Hopeful · Post by **Hopeful** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:48 am

Sheila - I share your diagnosis and I'm also new at both MC and Sjorgren's.

This seems to be working for me right now. I'm taking (from Amazon) Chlorpheniramine Maleate Anti-allergy 4 Mg 1000 Tabs - very cheap at about $10 for 1,000. Unlike some other folks, taking a 4mg. tablet all at once makes me spacy so I split the tab and take one in the morning and one in mid-afternoon. I also take 1/2 a Benadryl before bed.

I have not experienced any unusual dryness with this regimen despite living in cold weather with a wood stove. However, I also take Jarrow Formulas Nac Sustain 600mg, 100 Tablets (for $17.00). I take it before breakfast and it's sustained release. There is some credible research to indicate that N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine is effective at relieving the sicca symptoms of Sjorgren's.

On days when my eyes feel a little dry, I use Refresh Optive sensitive lubricant eye drops. But this hasn't been happening nearly as often.

Hope this helps. Keep us posted!
Chris

Post by **tex** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:29 pm

Hi Sheila,

I can't add much to what Chris has posted. In general, the second-generation antihistamines (including Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra, etc.) are claimed to be less likely to cause dryness than the older, first-generation antihistamines (such as Benedryl). And even antidepressants known to have powerful antihistamine effects (such as amitriptyline) are prone to causing that same problem.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

Tex

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 1:03 pm

Thanks Chris and Tex,
Chlor-trimeton is an old allergy remedy as is Benadryl and I'm afraid they would both exacerbate the dryness, even more than Zyrtec. Apparently I've had Sjogrens for quite a while and wasn't diagnosed. I changed primary care physicians and they picked up on symptoms pretty quickly and did the necessary tests. My rheumatoid factor levels were quite high. I'm also taking the Nac Sustain and think it helps some with the eye dryness. I don't want to lose the GI benefits I'm getting from the antihistamines but also don't want to make the Sjogrens worse. On a practical level. I'd rather tinker with my diet than cause an acceleration of the progression of the Sjogrens. Once those glands are compromised, there is no coming back.

I think I'll take a half dose of Zyrtec at night and hope for an improvement of dry mouth and no GI issues. It was recommended to take the Nac Sustain and curcumin for Sjogrens, which I'm doing. Keep doing what you're doing, Chris, as long as it works for you and thanks for the information. If I find any other helpful information, I'll post it for you and the other Sjogrens people. BTW, I'm noticing more fatigue recently and wonder if it's related to eye fatigue caused by the drier eyes.

By the way, when I did the saliva test for 23andme about 18-24 months ago, it took me a very long time to fill up that little container. I noticed someone else mentioned that issue as well. Be aware, that could be an indication of Sjogrens.

Sheila W

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 1:40 pm

Sheila,
Since balancing histamine inflammation with magnesium, Vit C, and zinc, I barely ever have to take anti-histamines. I only take small doses of the chrol-malate in high dust type situations. Ie when the large ride on mower is cutting the paddock of dusty grass.
18months ago I was taking antihistamines almost daily and having to use eye drops daily.

Active forms of B6 and B12, may also help as histamine/mast cell, AI issues are linked to methylation cycle.

Sheila, do you have your 23andme results?? If you do the methylation cycle report, it will provide guidance as to how to eliminate excess histamine.

Chris, glad to hear the NAC is helping. I got some, but since reviewing my methylation results, it is not ideal for me....

dfpowell · Post by **dfpowell** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 2:29 pm

Sheila,

Gables has some good suggestions and probably less expensive than the information I am sharing.

I spoke with a compounding pharmacist today and she recommended a product call D-Hist for mast cell stabilization, she is not sure how it works on the GI tract but it is good for seasonal allergies. Another product I have heard of is Quercetin ( also in D-Hist) being used for mast cell stabilization. I do not have any personal experience with these products, but would like to experiment with them at some point as I am taking daily antihistamines and would like to find an effective alternative. There is information on the internet regarding both products.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 2:45 pm

Donna
interesting that the ingredients of the D-hist are quercetin, bromelain, Vit C, Nac, Stinging Nettle leaf!

the tricky part of things like Quercertin and Bromelain, is they help certain types of inflammation, and do not always work for everybody.
neither worked for me for histamine type MC inflammation.

taking a product like this, if you react badly, then you may not know what you are reacting to.
if it was me and you were interesting in taking it, start out by taking the items as separates, if you tolerate them all well (and they help) then taking the one capsule with all products will work

Post by **tex** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 2:54 pm

Histame is a replacement for diamine oxidase (DAO) deficiency (DAO deficiency is commonly associated with IBDs). DAO (and histame) purges the body of unused histamine in circulation, to prevent a buildup. In theory it sounds great, but to date, I don't recall seeing any posts from members who have tried it, that indicated any satisfactory resolution of symptoms.

Tex

dfpowell · Post by **dfpowell** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 2:59 pm

Gabes,

What are the amounts or ratio that you take magnesium, vitamin C and Zinc.

Tex, I am familiar with Histame and have used it, however I could not decide if it was beneficial. The product I mentioned above works differently.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 3:08 pm

Magnesium i worked gradually up to 1000mg -1200mg per day (both oral and transdermally)
Vit C - worked up to 2000mg -2500mg per day

Zinc - the RDA is 15mg or 0.2mg/kg to correct deficiency is 10-90mg per day

I take higher doses as blood tests have confirmed high copper low zinc due to other health issues that I am trying to correct
I am taking 140mg per day, plus brushing gums with zinc liquid.

I would not exceed 50mg of zinc per day unless you have had blood tests to confirm levels.

Hopeful · Post by **Hopeful** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 3:11 pm

For the last 3 years, I took quercetin (with bromelain) for my spring and fall allergies and it definitely helped a lot. However, didn't touch my MC issues. In fact, my heaviest usage of quercetin (in the fall) coincides with the time of year when my MC seems to flare the most.

Everything is such a careful balance!
Chris

dfpowell · Post by **dfpowell** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 3:14 pm

Gabes, what form of vitamin C do you take? Sometimes it can cause GI upset.

Hopeful-your experience with quercetin is interesting, thanks for sharing..

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 3:28 pm

I use a powder, that had ascorbic acid as the main ingredient plus calcium ascorbate dihydrate, and hesperin.
I havent had gut issues from this product. I mix this powder with a mag powder and sip it over the course of a couple of hours. Do this three times a day.

it is said that Calcium Ascorbate is less irritating to the gut.
iHerb have this product - Now Foods, C-500, Calcium Ascorbate-C, 250 Capsules -

there are calcium ascorbate powders available on amazon, not sure how they taste.
my experience with the Mag and Vit C, so long as you spread the dosage as much as possible it can minimise/eliminate gut issues.

dfpowell · Post by **dfpowell** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 4:14 pm

Gabes, Thanks, Is your magnesium powder magnesium glycinate?

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 4:32 pm

It is a combination - from a practitioner range here in Aus
it has magnesium amino acid chelate, magnesium citrate, magnesium orotoate dihydrate, magnesium phosphate

each serve I have, is about 200mg of elemental magnesium.