Overusing antihistamines increases both the risk and severity of side effects.

Even over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines are drugs and both OTC and prescription antihistamines have a wide range of side effects.

Common side effects are difficulty concentrating; dry mouth, nose, and eyes; drowsiness; and slow reaction time.

Less common side effects include change in appetite (increase OR decrease), confusion, constipation, diarrhea, and poor coordination.

Rare side effects include anemia, blurred vision, glaucoma complications, difficulty sleeping, difficulty with urination (and kidney damage if this symptom is ignored), dizziness, heart rate changes (damage to the heart if this one is ignored), low blood pressure when standing, muscle weakness, vomiting and nausea, nightmares, restlessness and irritability.

Many over-the-counter and prescription sleep aids use antihistamines to make people drowsy so they can get to sleep. However, most people are not aware that anithistamines are in their sleep aid. Taking antihistamines in both a sleep aid and for allergies can easily result in overuse and actually defeat the use of them as a sleep aid (excessive anithistamine use can cause "difficulty sleeping").

If you suffer from allergies - stop using all forms of glutamate and aspartate (MSG and aspartame - Nutrasweet, Equal). Research by John Hopkins Research Facility showed that while these two substances do NOT cause allergic reactions, they do INCREASE the amount of histamine production by 150%. Eliminating them from your diet when your allergies are bothering you will decrease the severity of your allergic reactions. That means you will need less antihistamine to control your allergic reaction; you might even be able to go with out antihistamines.

Try to find the cause of your allergic reaction and eliminate it from your environment, if possible. Allergic reactions can be caused by allergies, intolerances, or sensitivities. The only difference between allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities is that in a true allergic reaction antibodies are formed. Intolerances and sensitivites do NOT form antibodies; but, they do cause histamine production and all the reactions that result from histamine production up to and including anaphylaxis.

There are many different websites that can help you track down the true cause of your problem. The first thing I had an allergic reaction to was bell peppers; then, some types of pollen, and more and more things started to cause reactions over the course of 26 years. Did I have more than one allergy - NO. It took several years to figure it out because the doctors didn't care about the CAUSE - they just prescribed antihistamines to treat the symptoms. But, I found out I am actually salicylate sensitive. By reducing the amount of salicylates I eat and am exposed to; I now take one OTC antihistamine MAYBE once a week and I have almost no allergic symptoms, instead of taking two different prescription antihistamines EVERY day and still having problems.

Antihistamines do have a place in maintaining our health; but, they are very easy to overuse and some of the side effects of antihistamines are identical to allergic reactions. This causes you to take more antihistamines and then you have more side effects which you mistake for allergic reactions; so, you take more antihistamines which.... It can easily become a cycle which just makes you sicker instead of better.

So try to identify what you are reacting to and, if possible, reduce or eliminate the source. Then use antihistamines to finish the job instead of using them first and you will not run the risk of over using them.

Learn more about this author, Ginger Kazay.
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