Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttidcc.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe From: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) Newsgroups: net.med,net.kids Subject: Re: Allergies Message-ID: <415@ttidcc.UUCP> Date: Tue, 14-May-85 14:44:22 EDT Article-I.D.: ttidcc.415 Posted: Tue May 14 14:44:22 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 16-May-85 04:58:08 EDT References: <1668@bmcg.UUCP> Reply-To: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) Organization: The Cat Factory Lines: 38 Xref: linus net.med:1343 net.kids:1205 Summary: In article <1668@bmcg.UUCP> yrdbrd@bmcg.UUCP (Larry J. Huntley) writes: > >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? I used to have to take anti-histamines and decongestants pretty regularly, but now only need them for colds and flu. My experience has been that a given type of antihistamine will loose its effectiveness for me after having been relied on for a period of time. I've had this effect from both over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Eventually they just stop working and I have to find another one. Once they stop, they never work for me again. Be aware that some over-the-counter drugs contain a lot of junk besides antihistamines. Contac, for example, contains belladonna. At least two doctors told me not to use it even before I told them it gave me the shakes. >3. Have the methods of allergy testing advanced any? What is the > current state of the science? > I know other people > who have had the "back scratch" type of testing. Are things any better > these days? A friend went to an allergist who did what she called "sublingual" testing. As I understand it, this involves spraying a solution containing an allergen under the patient's tongue and watching for a reaction. My friend was determined to be allergic to wheat when she very nearly fell asleep on the spot after they sprayed that solution. -- -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe) Citicorp TTI 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 (213) 450-9111, ext. 2483 {philabs,randvax,trwrb,vortex}!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe