Last January I started taking a medication for Narcolepsy called Wakix. A brief description of its mode of action:
Wakix, specifically pitolisant, blocks the histamine H3 receptor, a type of receptor on nerve cells that normally regulates histamine release.
By blocking the H3 receptor, Wakix prevents histamine from being "turned off" in the brain, leading to increased histamine levels and activity.
I do not know if increased histamine levels in the brain lead to increased histamine levels in the gut. Neither does the Neurologist who prescribed it. The company who makes it stands by the fact that this is not a reported side effect. I know that I was not allowed to take antihistamines because they would negate the effect of the Wakix.
Regardless, I developed MC. I, like all of you have no real idea why, and am here to learn how to heal and start to recover.
I filled the rx for budesonide and started taking it so that I could go to work without pooping my pants. I had no idea what I was getting into as my doctor assured me it was not like the other steroids I have been given in the past for Lupus flares.
It is still a steroid.
I have stopped eating gluten, and dairy. I have posted separately that I am vegetarian and unprepared to give up tofu, eggs and pea protein as they are my only sources of protein.
I am overwhelmed, I will admit. But I am very grateful to have found this site after reading Wayne Persky's Book "Understanding Microscopic Colitis".
Can other Medication Cause MC?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Re: Can other Medication Cause MC?
High histamine levels definitely seem to be associated with microscopic colitis (MC), although the association is probably complex. At any rate, it's poorly understood. MC depletes diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme. Normally, DAO purges excess (unused) enzyme In circulation in the bloodstream. When our DAO enzyme level is reduced, histamine can build up. Consequently, many of us have high histamine issues and have to severely limit our exposure to high histamine foods and medications that promote the release of histamine.
Likewise, artificially manipulating histamine levels is poorly understood, and whether that might have affected your MC diagnosis is difficult to say, based on the current level of understanding. However, I note that the vagus nerve maintains a direct connection between the brain and the digestive system, bypassing the central nervous system. That implies that regardless of the lack of research that makes these uncharted waters, I see no reason why imposing a high histamine level on the brain wouldn't relay that signal to the digestive system. Note that published research proves that psychological stress increases intestinal inflammation. And where does psychological stress originate? — In the brain.
Tex
Likewise, artificially manipulating histamine levels is poorly understood, and whether that might have affected your MC diagnosis is difficult to say, based on the current level of understanding. However, I note that the vagus nerve maintains a direct connection between the brain and the digestive system, bypassing the central nervous system. That implies that regardless of the lack of research that makes these uncharted waters, I see no reason why imposing a high histamine level on the brain wouldn't relay that signal to the digestive system. Note that published research proves that psychological stress increases intestinal inflammation. And where does psychological stress originate? — In the brain.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.