Antihistamines.... for sleep - Interstitial Cystitis Network Support Forum

green_the_fish · 02-25-2005, 03:01 PM

I've been having trouble sleeping due to my constant pain. I don't experience nocturia, but I have a hard time getting my body calm enough to go to sleep when my nerves are firing out pain signals non-stop, y'know?
Some backround is needed here: I experienced strong insomnia from... hm, about ages 8-14. Ironically, right after my insomnia finally went away, I started to experience the first twinges of urinary pain

Anyway, from right around ages 8-14, I took OTC sleeping pills on-and-off, but on a fairly regular basis. I know it sounds odd to be taking sleeping pills at 8, but I did so under the guidance of a psycologist, and with the approval of both of my parents.
The point is: I have developed a strong resistance to OTC sleeping pills from a young age, so now they aren't effective.
However, OTC non-extended-release antihistamines are. Their famous sedative effects have been great for this purpose. I've been taking them, to get to sleep, on-and-off for the past few months. This is strange, yes, but it helps me sleep when nothing else does.
Is this going to hurt me? I wish I could ask a doctor this stuff, but I currently have no insurance

ICLori · 02-25-2005, 06:06 PM

Hi, Green (I love your poem at the bottom of your posts!

)

It's always best to ask your doctor, but I know many people are encouraged to take one type of antihistamine or another by their doctors as one type of treatment for IC. I myself take Atarax (a type of antihistamine) every night, and if I run out I take OTC Benadryl, and I am following what my urologists have all recommended. So at least some of us are being told it's just fine to take the appropriate dose (not too many) of antihistamines every night. But each case is different, so I'd feel best if only you were able to consult a doctor about this. Plus you are still growing, and I just don't know about the effects of medicines on people under 18.

Anyway I thought, until you can get to a doctor, it might reassure you to know that some of us with IC are actually being told to take antihistamines each day/night as part of our treatment.

I'm sorry you are still struggling with this. I hope that you feel better soon and that a cure or very good remedy comes soon for all of us.

Blessings, Lori

green_the_fish · 02-26-2005, 05:38 AM

Thanks, Lori

I didn't think it would be too bad to take these, I just thought that I might as well ask, since I don't know that much about medicines.
I hope I can get some insurance soon so I can go see my doc. My mom said she would apply for me this week. I'll just have to keep bugging her to do it

tjackson · 03-02-2005, 05:30 PM

Hi,
My doc prescribed Hydroxyzine, an antihistimine, for me to take every single night. It totally knocks me out.

This is what is says in the IC Handbook:

Hydroxyzine has been shown in scientific studies to be very effective for IC patients, particularly patients with a history of allergies. Often used in conjunction with Elmiron, Hydroxyzine is now one of the most important therapies for IC patients. The most common complaint of patients taking these drugs is that they cause drowsiness, dry mouth or irritability. Some people find that their drowsiness decreases in a few days.

I've been on Hydroxyzine for months and it still makes me very sleepy and a bit groggy in the morning. But I am sleeping like a baby, and sometimes don't even get up once to go pee!

It says a lot more in the IC Handbook about how antihistimines work to block mast cell histimine production which causes inflammation and utimately pain for ICers. Check it out in the "Oral Medications" section.

Hope this helped,
Tish

Dusty · 03-03-2005, 03:35 AM

Wonder if it can be used with high blood pressure patients?
Dusty

Stephanie2004 · 03-03-2005, 10:09 AM

Tish,
How much do you take? I've been taking two to three of the 10 mg tablets, and found the drowsiness pretty much went away after few days. (Darn - I would really like to sleep soundly!)

trytosmile · 03-03-2005, 01:05 PM

I am on Amitriptyline to help me sleep. I've been on it since 1988 and it was originally prescribed to help with muscle pain as a result of a car accident. Still take it today and if I don't I get an even "more" restless sleep than I do now (a restless sleep i think is normal these days...lol). I also take Hydroxyzine at night too. Now one with think with this combination I'd sleep like a baby.....nope ! Well then comes morning, heck I'm 2-3 hours coming around and at that point I have my am medication kicking in. In a nut shell I feel and look exhausted all the time. Wish so much it could be different. We have tried taking medications at different times, bla bla bla and it doesn't change. I'm still tired 24/7.

I'm sure others experiment this feeling, what do you do to help ?

tjackson · 03-03-2005, 05:40 PM

Stephanie, I take one 25 mg Hydroxyzine tablet at night before bed. Like I said, it does the trick for me and I sleep soundly all night. They are teeny tiny green pills that me and my boyfriend call the "green meanies" because they so totally knock me out!

ICLori · 03-04-2005, 06:25 AM

Hi, Dusty, if you are allergic to Atarax, then don't take Hydroxyzine because Hydroxyzine IS Atarax. I believe Hydroxyzine is the chemical name and Atarax is the brand name. (For instance, Motrin IS ibuprofen - ibuprofen is the generic name, Motrin is the brand name, but they are both the same drug.)

Atarax Generic (Hydroxizine) - Chemical Name: Hydroxyzine

Blessings, Lori