you can't be allergic to an antihistamine. You can only be _allergic_ to things which are proteins, which antihistamines aren't. (Er, I don't think.) You could be otherwise sensitive to them, but you can't be allergic.
The hives I get from some antihistamines aren't an allergy? Ok, thanks. What's the technical difference between an allergy and a sensitivity when you're talking about stuff that isn't life-threatening, only annoying?
This is predicated on my assumption that that antihistamines aren't protein-based; as far as I can tell, they aren't, but that doesn't mean they aren't for sure. You could be allergic to one of the binding agents in a common prep of those antihistamines, rather than the antihistamine itself. Hives don't always mean allergies; I get hives from touch if I don't dope up on antihistamines.
The difference is in exactly what's happening, and how it's treated. An allergic response is a specific series of events involving your immune system. The symptoms can be very similar with a sensitivity, but the standard anti-allergen regimes won't work.
Apologies for my long-windedness and general incoherence. I just got up and haven't had any tea yet.
Thanks for that clarification (and the clues to further info in a later comment) of how alergies work. That falls squarely in the "I really should've known that" category, and I'm glad to be able to re-file it under "I know that now." Yay for knowledge.
When I saw this, I was about to ask about allergies to binders or fillers in the pills, but I see you've answered that below. (That wouldn't be quite as ironic -- less so on a scientific level but plenty enough so on a personal level -- but would still suck.) At least one person on my friends list is allergic to most birth control pills because of the binder used.
I agree, with anniemal...with as many health issues as you have my dearheart, I would be careful and trust your instincts. I wouldn't be surprised that if something isn't working for you, it may be giving you a bad reaction, or simply not working at all, and in that case I would say you have to switch.
I have to switch every so often because each antihistamine eventually stops working for me, but I don't think that's because I become allergic to them. This really was an "out of nowhere" thought.
I actually am sensitive to all but one antihistamine and can't take them. There is one I can use if desperation kicks in otherwise no antihistamines for me. Its not a helpful thing. I am also incredibly sensitive to insect bites (can one be allergic to bites?) and should take antihistamines if I get bitten, but I can't.
Er... carry an epipen? That will at least help you if anaphylaxis (sp?) becomes an issue... I'm pretty sure most people aren't allergic to synthetic epinephrine at least...
I feel your pain. I lived in texas for 14 years; when I got there, a fire-ant bite on my finger would swell up the whole joint of that finger, but when I left, a fire-ant bite on the same finger would swell my arm up to the shoulder! I used to have to take precautionary Benadryl every time, to keep the level of response from growing. Fortunately there are better antihistamines available now.
Fortunately I can take antihistamines (when I can get my hands on ones that still work for me). But I can't take decongestants. This shouldn't be a problem except when I have a cold, since for me if an antihistamine works the allergy-caused congestion goes away ... but there's this habit drug companies have, of adding decongestants to their antihistamines.
So I know about "I can't take an entire class of drugs". But I would not trade with you -- yours sounds worse. *hug*
Not allergic, but I'm sensitive to cortizone cream. Which means I have to use blotchy pink calamine lotion if having bad bugbites etc. (Or dries-up-and-falls-off-in-patches-leaving-itchy-bits-behind baking soda. Though that is very helpful right after a bite.)
This conversation has been helpful to me in many ways. Thank you, kathrynt and all others who chipped in! Nothing's sent me anaphylactic yet, but I overreact to so many substances, bites, and stings, that no one has ever answered the question "So what am I allergic to?" "Everything." seems the most likely answer. Sensitive to much.
And it doesn't help that obvious answers to that question change over time. I can eat eggs now. I couldn't without getting an ulcer-grade stomach ache for 18 or so yrs. Don't want to go there again, so not too many eggs get in for too many days in a row. I like eggs.
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The difference is in exactly what's happening, and how it's treated. An allergic response is a specific series of events involving your immune system. The symptoms can be very similar with a sensitivity, but the standard anti-allergen regimes won't work.
Apologies for my long-windedness and general incoherence. I just got up and haven't had any tea yet.
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When I saw this, I was about to ask about allergies to binders or fillers in the pills, but I see you've answered that below. (That wouldn't be quite as ironic -- less so on a scientific level but plenty enough so on a personal level -- but would still suck.) At least one person on my friends list is allergic to most birth control pills because of the binder used.
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It would explain certain phenomena, but more likely explanations exist for those phenomena.
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Oh the fun!
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Fortunately I can take antihistamines (when I can get my hands on ones that still work for me). But I can't take decongestants. This shouldn't be a problem except when I have a cold, since for me if an antihistamine works the allergy-caused congestion goes away ... but there's this habit drug companies have, of adding decongestants to their antihistamines.
So I know about "I can't take an entire class of drugs". But I would not trade with you -- yours sounds worse. *hug*
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And it doesn't help that obvious answers to that question change over time. I can eat eggs now. I couldn't without getting an ulcer-grade stomach ache for 18 or so yrs. Don't want to go there again, so not too many eggs get in for too many days in a row. I like eggs.