Alternatives to antihistamines?

[PFDorIC]

I am on continuous birth control (Loestrin) and Atarax, and my symptoms have gone from a 7-8 daily to almost nothing. Yay! Problem: The Atarax dries me out to the point where it's painful to have sex (was 100% fine, even with potential IC, before I started the Atarax)--and it's also made me gain 10 pounds (used to be one of those people who could eat anything--changed overnight).

I want to go off Atarax. Are there any pharmaceutical or natural alternatives?

Thanks so much!

[Tuckersmom]

I've never heard of antihistamines causing weight gain. As far as the vaginal dryness goes, you could try Replens or Astroglide.

[PFDorIC]

Yeah, unfortunately weight gain with long-term histamines is pretty well documented (fiance is a doctor, and showed me the studies). They not only increase appetite, but actually temporarily change your metabolism for reasons doctors are just starting to understand. Explains why I was always a tiny thing who could eat anything--and then a month after starting Atarax, had gained 5 pounds.

I've tried Astroglide, etc., but just don't want to be on something causing side effects that I'm not sure is even helping. :)

[keydawn]

I'm relatively new to IC, but you might look into some of the supplements that have antihistamine properties such as Cystoprotek. There is information here on this site- I have been on it a couple of weeks now and think I can see a reduction in my IC-related swelling.:pray:

Kelley

[Goldfinch]

I've decided against taking Atarax as I really don't like taking antihistamines, mainly because of the drying factor. I have fragile blood vessels and burst one in my nose last year. I also don't like the way they make me feel--I don't find they make me drowsy, just make me feel agitated or as if I ate food with MSG.

However I'm having some problems with post-nasal drip and coughing and am now seeing an ENT who isn't into prescribing meds. She believes that my sensitive bladder may be connected to other sensitivities, and thinks I should alter my diet even further. On the one hand she seems a bit nutty, but there is some sense to it. I'm going along with her ideas for a while to see if they help the sinus issues as well as the IC. Her first plan is for me to go off wheat for a couple of weeks and just see what happens. This will be extremely hard for me, but I'm going to try it. She believes that you can have sensitivities without having allergies, and that possibly I will see benefits even without totally eliminating all wheat but simply by cutting back.

She believes that peppermint tea is very drying. Has anyone experienced that? I drink a ton of it, of course, like most of us here do, but if that's the case, it's one more thing to reconsider. If you are drinking a lot of that, maybe switch to camomile and see if it makes a difference?

I have not taken Elavil, but I know it has some anti-histamine properties along with other things. Perhaps it wouldn't be as drying but might work for you? Worth checking out.

[PFDorIC]

Thanks so much for the ideas!

I'll look into Cystoprek--sounds like what I'm looking for (and hopefully without the side effects).

As to camomile tea--sounds like a great idea to switch. My fiance was just telling me camomile actually has anti-histamic properties of its own, so might be a terrific subsitute!