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From: sdyer@bbnccv.UUCP (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Allergies and antihistamines
Message-ID: <456@bbnccv.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 13-May-85 21:36:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: bbnccv.456
Posted: Mon May 13 21:36:40 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 15-May-85 02:36:14 EDT
References: <1668@bmcg.UUCP> <1966@topaz.ARPA>
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 33

> >2.  Is the long-term usage of antihistamine preparations known to be
> >    free of unwanted side-effects or is there some nastiness here I 
> >    should be aware of?
> 
> you become immune to the affects of sleeping pills and the like... both
> medications are based on the same type of formulation.
> 
More properly, most over-the-counter sleeping pills are antihistamines
which cause marked drowsiness: "Sominex 2" is diphenhydramine, the
same medication sold as "Benadryl" as an antihistamine; "Unisom" is
doxylamine, found in smaller doses in "NyQuil" and "Formula 44."
Also, most antihistamines have an atropine-like anti-cholinergic
effect, causing a dry mouth.  You might expect to become less sensitive
to these "side-effects" if you're taking antihistamines constantly
for allergies, although many people hate the "drugged" feeling they
give regardless of how long they take them.  There is no cross-tolerance
to most prescription sedatives, because they work in different ways.

Long-term use of antihistamines hasn't been associated with any
unusual side-effects, although one always prefers to take as little
medication as necessary.  Your doctor can comment on this.

The FDA has just approved a new antihistamine preparation which
DOESN'T cause any side-effects, especially drowsiness.  I don't know
much about it yet.  If it's different enough not to cause the
typical side-effects, it must be a new pharmacological entity,
which means it hasn't had the benefit of 25-odd years of clinical
experience.  Unless you really cannot take a tried-and-true
antihistamine, it might be best to stick to one.
-- 
/Steve Dyer
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