An Antihistamine Discovery

Post by **tex** » Sun Jun 18, 2017 3:08 pm

Thanks for the info. It may be too soon to expect remission from using antihistamines but if you are normally having allergy symptoms then antihistamines may well help to reduce your MC symptoms also.

Tex

MarinaA · Post by **MarinaA** » Sun Aug 12, 2018 11:39 am

Thank you for the useful information above. The pharmacist had put his wife on Allegra and Chlorpheniramine . Isn't Allegra also H1? Should I use a H2 antihistamine during the day along with the Chlorpheniramine at night time, or is it okay to only use H1.
I've learn't so much from your website, since being diagnosed with LC 2 months ago.

Post by **tex** » Sun Aug 12, 2018 12:26 pm

Hi Marina,

Welcome to the group. Yes, Allegra is a second generation type H1 antihistamine, whereas Chlorpheniramine is a first-generation type H1 antihistamine. Because some MC patients seem to react to H2 blockers and antacids (and many react to PPIs), it's usually prudent to try H1 antihistamines first. Sometimes they're sufficient. If they seem to help, but are not sufficient, then adding an H2 antihistamine might help. H1 receptors are located primarily in the upper respiratory system and the esophagus, and H2 receptors are located primarily in the stomach and intestines because they have different functions.

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.

Tex

MarinaA · Post by **MarinaA** » Fri Aug 17, 2018 9:44 am

Hi Tex, it's great to be here. I'm learning so much, more than what the GI doctor told me. I'm going to stick with the allergy medication as it has helped me tremendously. I'm wondering if I have to do this long term. What will happen if i stop? I'm hoping to eat a salad again, and some chocolate coconut almonds again. Have a great weekend! Thank you for all the info.

karenswans · Post by **karenswans** » Fri Aug 17, 2018 11:37 am

I know Benadryl helps me. When I take it, I can sleep in rather than being awakened at 4am with D. But, I'm concerned about taking it too much because I seem to remember it's been linked to Alzheimer's. I just ordered some Chlorpheniramine to try. I'm not sure if it's shown the same linkage to Alzhimer's….do you know, Tex?

Post by **tex** » Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:01 pm

Karen wrote:do you know, Tex?

Yes, unfortunately it does have similar potency as an anti-cholenergic agent.

Post by **tex** » Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:17 pm

Marina,

You should be able to wean off the antihistamines in a few weeks or months. And its probably prudent to do so because there is some evidence that long-term use of antihistamines depletes diamine oxidase enzyme (DAO). DAO is produced by the body to eliminate excess and unused histamine in circulation, so if DAO is reduced below a certain threshold, histamine problems develop or become worse as histamine levels climb. MC depletes DAO (inflammation of the intestines compromises their ability to produce most enzymes, including DAO), so that's why many of us have histamine issues in the first place. In other words, antihistamines may become counterproductive with long-term use.

After your digestive system heals, you will once again be able to tolerate more fiber and raw vegetables so you will be able to add salads back into your diet again.

You're very welcome — hope you have an enjoyable weekend also.

Tex

MarinaA · Post by **MarinaA** » Wed Aug 22, 2018 2:20 pm

Hi Tex, How are you? I was reading about DAO, and thought to order the enzyme, although it's a little pricey. Should I take Pepcid, Zantac or Tagamet instead of Allegra? The chlorepheniramine I take it at night. I had a glass of champagne on Saturday night, and it was so refreshing to drink a nice cold drink. I was fine after, even had a little cheese. Thank you for all your help. I cancelled my appointment with my GI doctor, as he is no help. He told me if I didn't take Entacort, Budenoside (or however you spell it) I would always have diarrhea, well not true.

Post by **tex** » Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:40 pm

Hi Marina,

I'm fine, thanks. It's good to hear that you're doing well, despite ignoring your GI doctor's false claim that budesonide is the only game in town for treating LC.

Theoretically, supplemental DAO should help to reduce histamine problems, but for some reason or other, no one has reported any great success story after using it.

For most of us, we may be better off sticking with H1 type antihistamines, because H2 blockers seem to make MC worse in a few cases. However, in some cases where an H1 type antihistamine helps, but does not seem to be enough to do the job, sometimes adding an H2 blocker may help. We're all different so there is no one-size-fits-all solution, unfortunately. We just have to experiment if our first attempt doesn't work.

Tex

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:44 am

Hi Tex,
Whenever I have a question, this is the place I come to. My MC is in remission, no WD or D. Clean colonoscopy. However, I still have a lot of digestive issues. I have Sjogrens and take LDN for that. The last 2 seasons my allergies have been terrible. Eyes watering, itchy, swollen lids and constant sneezing. Because of the Sjogrens I can no longer take antihistamines and just started immune therapy. When my allergies are bad, my digestion is also problematic. Last season when allergies were at their worst I began having mild D. Over a few weeks it got worse and worse. I started budesinide and that helped. When I left Florida for the summer and went to the mountains of North Carolina, allergy symptoms and D disappeared.

I have found I have the genetics that account for my allergies, MC and AI diseases. I think my allergic eye reactions are worse than they were because my eyes are so much drier due to Sjogrens.
So, I can’t take antihistamines and I don’t want to move from my home in Florida. It will take a long time to get any benefit from the allergy shots. What the heck can I do to control the allergic response to my environment (palm trees, grass, Oaks) without taking an antihistamine? I suspect there isn’t a lot I can do. I’m wondering if the digestive problems will be solved if the allergy shots control my immune response. Any thoughts on whether eliminating the immune response will also stop the digestive response?

Thanks Tex, for always being here. I still belong to the MC Facebook group and try to be helpful there, mainly by directing people here.

Sheila W

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Dec 19, 2018 2:05 pm

Sheila
hi there! that is great news about your MC.

re the allergies (and linked to autoimmune issues like MC and Sjogens) are you taking active B's and magnesium? if so how much?

given the genetic linked issue you may need higher doses of the the key things like active B6 and magnesium to abate the allergies
the other thing is excess histamine is also linked to needing things like Vit C, (check out Erica's recent post ways histamine build in the body it will be within the last 10 posts on main message board - i put some good info into that post yesterday)

Keep in mind that genetics are not 'forever' they are not a life sentence

Science has shattered the Central Dogma of molecular biology, proving that determinism—the belief that your genes control your health—is false. You actually have a tremendous amount of control over how your genetic traits are expressed, by changing your thoughts and altering your diet and your environment
In 1988, the experiments of John Cairns demonstrated even primitive organisms can evolve “consciously,” as DNA changes in response to its environment. The cell’s “consciousness” lies in its membrane, which contains receptors that pick up various environmental signals. This mechanism controls the “reading” of the genes inside the cell
The work of Dr. Bruce Lipton and other epigenetic researchers shows that the “environmental signals” also include thoughts and emotions—both of which have been shown to directly affect DNA expression

Contrary to the Newtonian belief in your body as a biological machine, epigenetic science reveals that you are an extension of your environment, which includes everything from your thoughts and belief systems, to toxic exposures and exposure to sunlight, exercise, and, of course, everything you choose to put onto and into your body. Epigenetics shatters the idea that you are a victim of your genes, and shows that you have tremendous power to shape and direct your physical health

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/arti ... inism.aspx

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Wed Dec 19, 2018 2:37 pm

Hi Gabes,
Thanks for the reminder re B vitamins and magnesium. I overloaded B12 a few years ago and I cut back. I also cut back magnesium from 800 mg. I have methylation issues and take active B12. I’m also hoping Quercetin will help long term.

I’m attempting to study epigenetics. It’s a really interesting topic albeit pretty complicated. My “bad” genes sat there for years not causing any trouble. The same trigger that gave me MC undoubtedly triggered all these other issues.

I’ll start up my Bs and increase magnesium as well. Thanks for helping, Gabes.

Sheila

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Dec 19, 2018 3:22 pm

Sheila
for histamine balance B6 in the form of P5P is more important than B12.

have you looked at N-acetylcysteine for the Sjogrens?

Principal Proposed Natural Treatments
N-acetyl Cysteine
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a specially modified form of the dietary amino acid cysteine. When taken orally, NAC helps the body make the important antioxidant enzyme glutathione. It is also thought to help loosen secretions, and for this reason it has been tried as a treatment for Sjogren’s syndrome.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial of 26 people with Sjogren’s syndrome, use of NAC at a dose of 200 mg 3 times per day improved eye-related symptoms. 1 The supplement also showed some promise for mouth-related symptoms, but the effects were less clear-cut. While these are promising results, a much larger trial would be necessary to fully document the potential benefits of this treatment approach.

For more information, see the full NAC article.

https://www.olathehealth.org/healthcare-library/38401

NAC is also an antioxidant so it helps immune, clearing toxins etc

Post by **tex** » Wed Dec 19, 2018 6:07 pm

Hi Shiela,

It's good to see a post by you again. I'm pretty sure that if/when the allergy shot treatment program becomes effective, your digestive issues should improve. Here's why:

Allergy treatment programs don't completely stop the body from producing antibodies, but the treatments cut the production level of antibodies down to a tolerable level, so that it's below your threshold for triggering a reaction. So the patient still has inflammation, but at a level that doesn't cause a major problem.

I avoided all dairy products for about 2 years while I was recovering. But after I was in remission for 6 months or so I discovered that by slowly reintroducing dairy products, I could tolerate them without any digestive issues. But after a while, casein began to cause osteoarthritis again, especially in my finger joints, so I had to avoid all dairy products after all. But they didn't bother my digestion.

Tex

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Wed Dec 19, 2018 8:47 pm

Thanks, Tex.

I hope the shots take care of both allergies and intestinal issues. I had no idea how miserable seasonal allergies could be. I appreciate your input.

My MC is in remission but I still have numerous food issues. My acceptable food list shrinks yearly and I can’t seem to gain weight. I can eat some Parmesan or Romano cheese but other dairy has become too painful to eat. Whey is my problem according to Enterolab.

My son is still struggling with MC. He isn’t reliably gluten free and that drives me crazy.

Thanks again, Tex. I do come back to the Forum to look for things in the archives. Invaluable always.

Sheila