What antihistamine is easy on the LES?

  • Thread starter Thread starter janewhite1
  • Start date Start date
J

janewhite1

Guest
Slightly weird question, but I'm in a slightly weird situation here. My reflux was great, I went months almost completely symptom-free with no drugs and only very minor lifestyle changes.

Then my allergies exploded, I developed asthma for the first time in my life, and I don't know if it's the basket-load of medicines or allergies directly (yes, hayfever can mess with your digestion, see esinophilic esophagitis) but I've been having a rough time.

Further, it seems like antihistamines are the biggest offender. I take them and it's like my lower esophageal sphincter is completely comatose. Acid in my mouth all day long, no matter what or when I've eaten. Benadryl was awful, Claritin just didn't work, Zyrtec also hurt me AND didn't work. Right now I'm using hydroxyzine, which seems to improve the allergies, but it's also messing with my stomach somewhat.

Anybody find an antihistamine that doesn't mess with the GI system too much?
 
I have posted this before, but my first symptoms of reflux were not gut related but upper respiratory related. I developed wheezing and felt I had "liquid" in my ears.
I went to an ENT doctor who thought I might have reflux but put me on Singulair for the wheezing and congestion. I don't know if Singulair is an antihistamine per se, but it was very effective. When I went off it, I began to develop the heartburn. I think it must have dried me up a bit. The gunk in my ears and wheezing went away with the Singulair. I also use Benadryl when I need it without any problems, but I don't use it daily. I have heard others use Claritin for allergies and do not report problems with reflux.

Singulair is sold by prescription only.

Rose
 
I've actually considered Singulair. It's not an antihistamine, those work near the end of the allergic process, keeping the excess histamine from bothering cells in the skin, lungs, nose etc. Singulair it works a little earlier in the allergic process than that, something to do with mast cells. I don't know exactly what mast cells are, but they're a major player in allergic and inflammatory responses.

It appeared to have a higher risk of digestive side effects than most antihistamines, though, not to mention the fact that it costs like $3 per pill. My stomach is so outrageously drug-sensitive I can't even have tylenol.

I did have one other thought. Other than taking medicine with food, are there ways to make it easier on the stomach? Because it's not just the reflux, I think it's tickling the gastritis, too. Could crushing it in yogurt help? Or possibly coating the pill in something before swallowing?

I dunno. I went to my allergy doctor today, though, and he promised that if a horrible bubbling rash tries to eat my face again, he'll find SOMETHING to kill it. He wasn't specific, but he hasn't broken a promise yet.

You know, all my medical problems would be cake to handle if I could just deal with one at a time, instead of having problems that block so many of the treatments for other problems. But then my doctors might get bored :angel:
 
Back
Top