Certain types of antihistamines are associated with confusion. Urinary leaks could happen during the day, and the patient might wet their bed at night. Keep reading to learn more about antihistamine side effects now. * HealthPrep does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Histamines are the part of the immune response that causes allergy symptoms, and antihistamines block a patient's histamine receptors. If experienced, these tend to have a Less Severe expression. In fact, studies show an antihistamine called diphenhydramine may be associated with memory loss and an increased risk of dementia in this patient group. Oral antihistamines were as effective as IV antihistamines. Common side effects. Side effects of antihistamines. When dizzy, individuals might have trouble keeping their balance, and they might feel like the ground is moving under their feet. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Researchers have not yet determined which antihistamines are least likely to cause an increase in appetite, and thus, more studies need to be done regarding the effect different antihistamines have on appetite and weight gain or loss. Some antihistamines can cause loss of appetite, particularly if they also cause an individual to experience nausea and vomiting, a gastrointestinal upset can lead individuals to eat less. Below are 10 side effects of antihistamines to be aware of. Experts told Self that antihistamines can reduce tear production and your eyes may become red and irritated and may even sting. The answer lies in how they affect a patient's histamine production. Learn more about antihistamines and what side effects you should watch for. The H1 first-generation antihistamines are considered to be more harmful, and they usually cause drowsiness. Emergency medical attention is necessary if the abdomen is swollen or if the patient experiences abdominal pain with shortness of breath. If the dizziness is serious enough, some patients even fall over or faint. Side effects: What should I do? A 2010 study conducted by Joseph Ratliff found that patients who regularly use prescription antihistamines tend to weigh 4.4 to 9.5 pounds more than individuals in a control group. Long-acting antihistamines provide symptom relief for up to 8-12 hours, while shorter acting agents last for up to 4 hours but begin working faster. Reveal additional side effects linked to antihistamines now. Stomach pain might be related to the urinary retention that can sometimes occur with these medications. It's important to treat mouth dryness as a dry mouth is more susceptible to infections and gum disease. The best beverage for this is water, but if individuals don't have water, any liquid is better than none. The most common adverse effect is sedation; this "side-effect" is utilized in many OTC sleeping-aid preparations. Serious side effects of Claritin include. In addition, the retention of urine could lead to abdominal discomfort or bloating, and patients may experience difficulty starting their urine stream. headache, drowsiness, fatigue, dry mouth, nervousness, and; difficulty sleeping. The first-generation antihistamines additionally exhibit sedating effects (because of their penetration into the central nervous system [CNS]), which some parents may consider desirable. The same study revealed antihistamine use increased the likelihood a patient would be overweight or obese. This could result in an involuntary release of urine, and the patient might not feel any urge to urinate. Dry mouth, dry eyes. The drowsiness that could occur with antihistamine use may reduce a patient's physical activity levels, and antihistamines themselves might increase appetite. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur: Less common or rare. In this case, antihistamines can cause sedation which translates to drowsiness. This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. This side effect is so well recognized that some types of antihistamines, including cyproheptadine, are even prescribed to patients who need to gain weight. … Dry eyes. Side effects. They might experience nausea, tinnitus, and stumbling. Some have specific daytime formulas designed to relieve allergy symptoms without triggering drowsiness. Some of the common side effects of first-generation antihistamines include: Drowsiness. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if this side effect bothers you or won't go away. Antihistamines are … Drowsiness is one of the most well-known and pronounced side effects of antihistamines. Antihistamine Side-Effects. In addition, this medicine may lead to constipation, and that could produce stomach pain. What are the side effects of antihistamines? Side Effects. Newer antihistamines have been optimized to target allergy-causing receptors without inhibiting sleep-wake ones. Cetirizine is a newer, second-generation antihistamine. Dry mouth isn't often a serious cause for concern, and most cases can be treated at home without any problem. When taking the older, sedating antihistamines be very careful driving or operating machinery unless you know the sedation effects … All rights reserved. Patients might want to keep a log of all episodes of stomach pain they experience while on antihistamines. If weight gain is concerning, patients may be able to switch to another medication that does not cause this side effect. Some people get side effects from oral antihistamines like: tiredness; drowsiness; headache; dry mouth; upset stomach; They usually don't last long. Adverse drug reactions are most commonly associated with the first-generation H 1-antihistamines. Most of these side effects are mild and will recede after your body adjusts to the antihistamine that you're taking. Even non-sedating antihistamines can make some people drowsy. However, it's more common for antihistamines to lead to an increase in appetite. Common side effects include headaches, dry mouth, feeling sick, dizziness, stomach pain and diarrhoea. Read more about the side effects of antihistamines now. Discover additional side effects of antihistamines now. Read this article to learn more about the types of antihistamines available and their side effects. This caused some problems since histamines are also essential to regulating an individual's sleep-wake cycle. Nausea and vomiting don't usually indicate a serious reaction, but patients should still keep an eye on their body. '+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble"); However, it's important to understand the potential risks of antihistamines and how to use them responsibly. The easiest way to treat dryness is by keeping a beverage nearby and taking small sips throughout the day. This side effect is particularly pronounced in individuals over sixty-five years old. Dizziness and headache. Antihistamines can give relief of most allergy symptoms but they can have some nasty side effects. The first-generation antihistamines, which are the oldest ones still in use, didn't have any nuance in which histamine receptors they blocked. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. An antihistamine can counteract the effects of histamines, which can make individuals feel hungrier than usual. Fexofenadine, levocetirizine, and cetirizine are particularly likely to cause weight gain. Moodiness is a recognized potential side effect of antihistamines. Discover more side effects of antihistamines now. Patients may wish to monitor their weight while taking antihistamines and make dietary adjustments as needed. Possible Side Effects of Antihistamine. UKU side effects scale scores were significantly elevated among outpatients receiving pheniramine. Continue reading to reveal more side effects linked to antihistamines now. For loratadine users, the likelihood of experiencing depression may be increased with the use of the twelve-hour tablets designed for extended-release. Possible side effects. Side effects of first-generation antihistamines may include: abdominal pain … Antihistamines are usually the first type of medication individuals try when they're !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u78wx"+(arguments[1].video?'. Antihistamines also differ in how long they work. When dizziness is related to the allergies themselves, it's because sinus congestion has become serious enough to affect the inner ear. Not every antihistamine on the market causes drowsiness. You and your healthcare provider should discuss specific antihistamines and decide together if the potential benefits of an antihistamine outweigh its potential side effects.