12 replies to this topic

[KimberCT]

I stopped taking Hydroxyzine a week ago and switched to Cetirizine until last Friday.

I'd tried coming off the Hydroxyzine a few times before, but the withdrawal effects were too much for my schedule at the time. By switching to Cetirizine (a metabolite) first, I had hoped to lessen the withdrawal. Right now I'm suffering from nausea, fatigue, dizziness, and anxiety that seems to fluctuate throughout the day. At night I have insomnia and "itchiness".

Ginger has been helping with the nausea somewhat. Any suggestions for improving my symptoms?

Does anyone know how long it takes for H1 receptors to downregulate back to normal?

[waldemar]

Switching to newer-generation antihistamines is almost always a good idea, so I wouldn't suggest moving back. Try to change slowly, instead of going cold turkey.

Maybe you should slowly (!) switch to a different antihistamin, like Loratadin or Telfast, so that you don't get the same problem with Cetirizine.

[KimberCT]

Switching to newer-generation antihistamines is almost always a good idea, so I wouldn't suggest moving back. Try to change slowly, instead of going cold turkey.

Maybe you should slowly (!) switch to a different antihistamin, like Loratadin or Telfast, so that you don't get the same problem with Cetirizine.

Yeah, that's what I did by switching to Cetirizine for a week. My intention is to go off antihistamines completely. I did cold-turkey the Cetirizine. I considered doing a taper, but dismissed it thinking the withdrawal wouldn't be so annoying. Oh well, I'm already done with day 3 so things should only get better from here.

[Gripper]

For antihistamine "withdrawal", I would try Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), at least 1000mg every six hours .

[StrangeAeons]

I'm pretty sure most of your side effects are actually from anti-cholinergic withdrawal; but I don't have too much in the way of suggestions for you. I don't know any antihistamines without anticholinergic properties, so I don't know how you can address the itching without messing with your muscarinic receptors. Quercetin maybe? Any which way, good luck.

[KimberCT]

I've increased my Vitamin C and added Quercetin/Bromelain.  I do feel better since starting these, but I'm unsure if they are helping or I'm merely recovering.  I suppose I'll stay on them for a week then taper off the Quercetin.

Only one thing concerns me now... I feel like the morning nausea that has plagued me for the past 5 years is returning. I was taking these for this nausea. I wonder if the antiemetic effect is due to the antimuscarinic properties you mentioned StrangeAeons.

Edited by KimberCT, 28 July 2009 - 12:03 PM.

[StrangeAeons]

yup, that's exactly it. Nausea is due to a lot of things in medicine, but muscarinic cholinergic receptors mediate it. There are antiemetics that work on different pathways, most notably Zofran (ondansetron) which is a 5HT3 antagonist. I'd recommend asking for a prescription; of course be ready for a barrage of tests if you haven't determined an underlying cause for the nausea.

[KimberCT]

Yeah, I've already been through dozens of tests over the past few years. The best they can tell me is that I'm slightly anemic and have mild gastritis, but they cannot determine the cause of either.

I'm even tempted to try Marinol (or it's herbal equivalent) as it seems safest for long term use.

[StrangeAeons]

LOL@ "herbal equivalent". I had to look that up, actually.
I'm assuming that you've already tried ginger extract for the nausea, then?

[KimberCT]

Yeah, a combo of ginger and peppermint works very well. I basically pop this combo constantly from 5AM until lunchtime. Despite no appetite, by then I'm feeling good enough to eat something and things improve for the rest of the day.

The long half life of Hydroxyzine allowed me to take it before bed and not wake up nauseous. I'd then be able to eat breakfast. Right now, just the smell of food early in the morning makes me gag.

Sounds just like morning sickness!

[suprdupracetam]

KimberCt,

Have you considered gluten intolerance as a possible cause
of nausea and itching? May have nothing to do with it, but it'd be easy to rule
out with a short trial.

[KimberCT]

Yeah, I did the Lamb-and-Pears Elimination Diet about a year ago with no luck. The itching is recent and probably due to coming off the antihistamines (example). It's almost completely resolved now. The only thing that remains is my morning nausea.

[slpnght]

Antihistamines are not very good treatments for allergies as they block H1 histamine receptors and can cause upregulation of H1 histamine receptors leading to dead-end and while C vitamin may reduce histamine levels it can easily lead to sensification of H1 receptors leading to yet another dead-end.

Beta2-adrenergic stimulants can downregulate H1 receptors. For more detailed discussion, go here:

http://nonpsychiatry...e-h1-receptors/