Asthma and anti-histamines

[born2swim]

I just wanted to warn those that are asthmatic that I found out why my asthma has been much much worse (where I haven't used asthma meds in over a year and a half... and the last couple of months my asthma has been getting bad). I woke up from a nap the other day suffocating. You know, the straining neck, gasping for air, wheezing, even coughing if I could. I had to rush and find my rescue inhaler. I was even dreaming that I was suffocating and couldn't find it! Scary. Anyways, I was talking with my pharmacology professor at the med school and she said anti-histamines are not recommended for asthma patients (especially uncontrolled asthma) because anti-histamines dry out the respiratory tract (great for seasonal allergies, bad for asthma). The drying causes irritation of the bronchioles and makes them constrict even more, causing more asthma symptoms.

I just wanted to let you guys know what I found out the hard way. I have to go back on my preventative asthma meds and/or stop the Atarax. I need to talk with my doctor soon about this becasue I need my rescue inhaler more and more.

[Sarojini]

Sorry you had a bad reaction.

I am controller meds for my asthma, and also take Atarax for IC as well as another condition. I haven't had a problem thus far.

It does sound like you need to speak with the doctor that handles your asthma care. Waking up "suffocating" is one sign that asthma is definitely worsening and it's time to get back on controller meds (as is increased rescue inhaler use). :grouphug:

[born2swim]

Yeah, I have been noticing a worsening with my breathing. I have been coughing a lot (waking up to cough even... not like I need to keep waking up considering my bladder too). I have been getting really winded with just a flight of stairs or even talking for several minutes straight (say presentations in class...)

I called my new internist and she can see me in 2 weeks, so I called my old internist to call in the prescription (but since I haven't been on it in a year and a half, I don't know if she wants to see me first...). I do plan to go back on my asthma meds, but I hate that I need to start them due to another med. Oh well... at least that is something I can control right!

[DebbieB]

So I am allegic to aspirin and not allow to take it as it bring on a asthma attack big time ...
So any thing with acetylsalicylic acid to watch out for any medication that start with a ace in it ..
Also NSAID like Advil ..

I can only take tylenol any thing with acetaminophen in it is alright for my asthma..

I sure found out the hard way by taking a aspirin and a trip to ER in the hospital was a really scary ordeal for me ..

Debbie

[born2swim]

Boy, you are lucky your asprin-induced asthma attack didn't kill you. I just studied that in school (asprin decreases postaglandins in someone like you and increases leukotrienes, which are nasty in asthmatics). I can't take any NSAID's either and Tylenol acts like a diuretic to me (so add that to my tiny bladder capacity, and I'm miserible!). I can only take Ultram, morphine, and dilaudid. I have adverse reactions to codeine and hydrocodone and wound up in the ER before (via ambulance after the codeine incident). Scary when you can't breathe! I haven't had an asthma attack in over a year and the one I had the other week woke me up becauase I was suffocating. Boy that's scary!

[DebbieB]

Yes I was lucky for sure..
I think that many people with asthma should be told right away not to take
aspirin which in my case I was not told this ..

Debbie

[sharon76]

It could also depend on what is causing the asthma. I developed asthma in college when studying in London. Was never a problem when I returned to live in NYC or anywhere on the east coast. Then I moved to San Diego and was using albuterol every night until I was put on control meds. This coincided with my IC diagnosis and now I take the 10mg of Atarax a night, so I think it's doing me good to be on the antihistamines too.

[sweetz0625]

yeah aspirin is a definite no no for asthmatics. Growing up in a family of asthmatics I was told that as a child, and have always stayed away from it