Which OTC antihistamines work for IC?

[jlove98905]

I've read here that people are taking Benadryl and Loratidine and having some good symptom relief with it. I wanted to try something over the counter before I call my doc.... just taking a mini-survey here of which ones work for people.

Thanks in advance,
Jen

[Janie Miranda]

Jen,
I have been taking loratadine (claritin) for about a week and it seems to be helping me a little. My IC hasn't flared up from it and may have actually improved a bit. It is also helping with the nasty sinus headache I've had since spring started. Plus loratadine doesn't make me too drowsy.

[jlove98905]

thanks!
-Jen

[2flyingdogs]

I like Benedryl alot. I think it has helped my urgency, especially at night. As an added bonus, it also helps me sleep. I think it works as well as some of the prescriptions without the nasty side-effects, but that may just be me.
Good luck finding something that works for you!

[Janisu7]

Hi,
I've had great success with loratadine, I buy a no-name brand which is much cheaper than Claritin. I had started with Benedryl which worked too, but it made me drowsy. I asked my doctor about long term use of loratadine and she said it had no known bad side affects and reccommended I take one everyday. I missed a day once (forgot) and was reminded when I started to get that uncomfortable feeling "you know where". It is the only drug I take now, other then Calcium Citrate with magnesium, ester C and a few other Vitamins. I've been in remission for about a month and did not have a flare during my last period.

[Katrina]

I want to add here that normally I recommend avoiding antihistamines that include an anticongestant...Benadryl includes an anticongestant...and although one dose in a day has not bothered ...two has. Since it seems to help some of you and I know it helped my allergies which I was getting desperate for more help there...I recomend some Prelief with it since many of us can't tollerate anti congestants well.

[jlove98905]

I'm glad to hear that it works so quickly that missing a single dose results in immediate symptoms. I bought loratidine for mornings and benadryl for PM.
-jen

[jlove98905]

Hi Katrina,
My Benadryl is strictly diphenhydramine. No decongestant added. I presume there are versions with decongestant in them as well, but not all of them do. Thanks for pointing that out, though.
-Jen

[sheryl*]

What are some of the prescription ones used. I could use the sleep at night, I have not done well with benydrl in the past, but was not using it for IC. Maybe I had the one with congestant in it??

[emilyrose197377]

I take Clartin but it is for my allergies it does not help my ic.

[kadi]

I heard that Benadryl has a new version out with no colorants/dyes. That sounds interesting to me b/c so many of us have trouble with colorants. I'll probably try that one next.

I really need an antihistamine, but can't tolerate Atarax. (It gives me a horrid pounding heartbeat & panic attack). It seems that frequently when my bladder flares, I also have a rash on my neck & itchy throat. I can't tell if it's allergy or stress, but I'm wondering if I could find an antihistamine I could tolerate, if it would help....

[dg2901]

I just used the Benadryl dye free soft gels last night (am dealing with a horrible allergic reaction). They are kind of hard to choke down due to their consistancy--takes a few extra chugs of water or a piece of bread to help them along.
stay well
diana

[mags]

i take claritin daily for allergies, but it does nothing for my ic. also been taking benadryl at night and it doesn't help.

[ICPrincess]

I love Bendaryl. I have taken it over the years to help me sleep at night and if I get nauseaus or my allergies are flaring. I only take the one with the deongestant added when I get really stuffed up (Those are the blue tabs by Benadryl that have the added Sudafed component). The pink Kapseals are just straight antihistamine with no decongestant. It does help with IC but probably not as much as Hydroxyzine which I cannot tolerate. I am going to give the Hydroxyzine Pamoate a try because I have heard that people can tolerate that better sometimes then the Atarax/Hydroxyzine HCI (which made me zombie like and feeling drugged).

Straight Bendaryl is the exact same main ingrediant in Sominex and Nytol.

[Lynn7]

It works for me somewhat initially I tried different OTC antihistamines for 6 months which didn't work at the time when I Just got diagnosed I had symptoms for 7 years though before formal diagnosis. Started having lots of pain late last year nothing worked. Didn't want to take amytriptilin or codein as they have bad side effects, was in pain every day or most days and nights. Was taken of all painkillers by my general doctor and took claratyne out of desperation and it worked within minutes pain subsided by about 40%. I still am not taking painkillers as long term use of codein with paracetamol was creating depression plus other side effects. OTC antihistamines seem to cause or contribute to my tension type headache though. Not sure could be coincidence but I feel helped by this med. Was told by uro that I used to see it takes months to work so could be coincidence as it didn't work before

[earthlady]

Dye free Benadryl without the decongestant added worked well for me but could only take it at night as it made me very drowsy. Good for sleeping but not so good for the daytime.

[naturegal]

Antihistamines tried and failed for IC: Zyrtec, Benadryl, Singulair. However, I took one dose of hydroxyzine and felt improvement in my bladder. But I am wondering if hydroxyzine can cause stomach pain and also a flare of restless leg syndrome? That is what I'm doing up at 1:20 AM; researching these as a side effects. Any comments?

[earthlady]

I had noticed some nausea and heartburn when I tried it. I'm already prone to acid reflux though. It was also very constipating for me.

[naturegal]

Had a very rough night with my trial of hydroxyzine. I took half of a 25 mg tablet. I can't tolerate it. I am going back to taking half a Zyrtec; it does nothing for my bladder, but I sleep really well on it and that is important, plus it helps with my seasonal and year-round allergies.

[Janisu7]

I first wrote back in 2005 that Loratadine was the first relief I had ever found, as long as I take one a day "FOREVER". If I forget for a fews days I'm under seige again and the Loratadine is just not strong enough to work fast enough for me. I take it but also take prelief, benedryl, lots of water and lots of sleep. It can take 10-14 days before I feel any real relief and believe me I do not forget to take my LORATADINE very often anymore and neither does my family!
I hope this message makes it clear that LORATADINE is for maintenance and not instant relief and that taken long term has not been a problem for me at all. I buy it at Costco and it is so much cheaper then Claritin, you get an extra 100 pills for the same price.
I hope you all find the path to pain free living, don't give up, have faith
Hi,
I've had great success with loratadine, I buy a no-name brand which is much cheaper than Claritin. I had started with Benedryl which worked too, but it made me drowsy. I asked my doctor about long term use of loratadine and she said it had no known bad side affects and reccommended I take one everyday. I missed a day once (forgot) and was reminded when I started to get that uncomfortable feeling "you know where". It is the only drug I take now, other then Calcium Citrate with magnesium, ester C and a few other Vitamins. I've been in remission for about a month and did not have a flare during my last period.

[Sand]

Atarax perscribed by my doctor really made a big difference to me. I am very food sensitive and the histimine was irritating my bladder wall. I still have to stick closely to the IC diet but the atarax sometimes can even stop a flare after it starts. I use 10mg three times a day and I don't have any side effects, although some people complain if makes them tired, in which case, you could take 25 mg at night. There were also some who said they were always hungry. I haven't noticed that either, but I did put on 3 or 4 pounds after starting on the Atarax. Also, there are a few who noticed retetion (difficulty peeing). In my opinion it is definitely worth a try. I didn't notice a difference with over the counter drugs. I don't know if I tried the right dosage or consistently. I take the Atarax at regular intervals as much as possible. Hope this helps.
:bunny:

[nekura]

I tried hydroxyzine but it turned out OTC benedryl worked better for me. Not even the dye free kind, just plain old benedryl. I take it during the day for flares. For better or worse, I have amazing resistance to grogginess inducing drugs. In fact I should be passed out by now but I don't feel like going to bed yet so I'm ignoring it for the next 20 minutes or so.

[karenann52]

I've tried all the antihistamines. OTC one's are easy to try/evaluate inexpensively. A pharmacist told me that most antihistamines will cause drowsiness in first 2-3 days and then won't - unless you stop and start again. Claritin doesn't cause drowsiness at all, so I use it regularly. My first choice would be hydroxzine, but I've found loratadine(Claritin) in a 90-day supply for $13? at Walmart - easy. Hydroxyzine has a wonderul muscle relaxing effect on the bladder, without taking a muscle relaxer such as Flexeril. Hydroxine will wipe you out the first couple of days and might affect your mood, positively. But it also might be a bad combo if taking multiple drugs affecting mood, such as migraine meds, pseudophed (ephedrine), anti-depressants, etc. Benedryl is only short acting, lasting about 4 hrs or so. Most can't use it during day because it can make you tired each time it's taken. Zyrtec is one that will cause initial drowsiness.

I use antihistamines in combination with other things that help with IC: Detrol (for frequency), estradiol (female pelvic health) probiotics ea day (some are helpful), Doxycycline (antibiotic) every 3-4 months, which clears up some type of returning infection. Lately, I've been eating raw ginger (an acquired taste) 3x day, size of a nickel. It seems to reduce a level of pelvic pain, as it has anti-inflammatory qualities. You can swallow it with food and avoid the taste. I also take a baby aspirin 1x day to reduce inflammation.

[nekura]

Lately, I've been eating raw [B]ginger (an acquired taste) 3x day, size of a nickel. It seems to reduce a level of pelvic pain, as it has anti-inflammatory qualities. You can swallow it with food and avoid the taste. I also take a baby aspirin 1x day to reduce inflammation.

Really?? Ginger was on the try it list so I didnt brave it. I wonder how likely it is to cause problems.

[soymilk]

Zyrtec works pretty well for me, but I have to take it consistently. I guess it has to build up in your system. During allergy season I take Zyrtec in the morning and Alatrax at night.