[MAT52]

I happened upon a great discovery for myself. I started taking these antihistamines in an effort to find something that would improve my sleep - other than highly addictive sleeping pills or the antidepressant and anticonvulsant families. I had severe tolerance issues with three of these and not prepared to risk any more

I often used to take antihistamines regularly for severe eczema and allergies and had some left over unopened from a 2014 prescription. So I thought it worth a try at least as no contraindications with my BP meds - not strong drugs and I've tolerated them before.

Wonder of wonders it seems to help a lot with my neuro and vestibular symptoms! It may just be because of the sedative component of course but even when I wake in the early hours I don't have the burning in my hands half as badly. I just wonder if anyone else knows about this? Hoping it might help others perhaps. Here is what a friend from a lupus forum found out for me.

"Apparently
"Limited clinical evidence shows that [chlorphenamine] is comparable to several antidepressant medications in its ability to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and also norepinephrine (noradrenaline)."

and

"There are several different classes of medications commonly used to treat neuropathic pain. These include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioids, and topical treatments. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) consistently are recommended as first tier drugs across all guidelines ... TCAs consistently were selected as first-tier choices based on their efficacy and other factors such as cost and availability. Their mechanism of action is inhibition of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake."

Which looks like the link to me.

If there are no interactions/contraindications and it works - seems like an answer. Ask a pharmacist..."

[Patrick Winter]

So, you're saying just for sleep though right? This stuff makes ya pretty drowsy, they say you shouldn't be driving or operating heavy machinery on it.

Is it a case of just zombifying you like a gabapentin or neurontin or does it actually alleviate pain?

[mrsD]

Chlorpheniramine is chemically related to Unisom and Benadryl.
Its old trade name was ChlorTrimeton.

For many years it was RX like Benadryl was but is now OTC.

It is one of the first gen antihistamines, and therefore sedating.
People with dry mouth/eyes already would find it difficult to tolerate I would think. Men with prostate issues, also are warned not to use it. It has some anticholinergic properties therefore.
There was just recently in the media, a study warning adults to not use it long term as anticholinergic drugs have been linked to developing Alzheimer's. The jury is still out on that 100% but it is something to think about.

The long acting form, OTC was called Teldrin. That form is no longer available in the US.

[MAT52]

Originally Posted by mrsD

Chlorpheniramine is chemically related to Unisom and Benadryl.
Its old trade name was ChlorTrimeton.

For many years it was RX like Benadryl was but is now OTC.

It is one of the first gen antihistamines, and therefore sedating.
People with dry mouth/eyes already would find it difficult to tolerate I would think. Men with prostate issues, also are warned not to use it. It has some anticholinergic properties therefore.
There was just recently in the media, a study warning adults to not use it long term as anticholinergic drugs have been linked to developing Alzheimer's. The jury is still out on that 100% but it is something to think about.

The long acting form, OTC was called Teldrin. That form is no longer available in the US.

Yes I was aware of the possible link with Alzheimers and this concerns me of course. But I think there are also risks from the insomnia that comes with pain.

I also feel there are so many environmental factors that put us at risk of Altheimers, cancer etc - particularly in the States where food additives are far less closely regulated. The problems the human race is causing to the natural world - the consequences of fracking on the bee population which will impact on the survival of the human race for example. I don't think one antihistamine a night can be nearly as harmful as these things surely? But I'm mindful of what you say MrsD - every medicine has a downside and it is important to take it with our eyes wide open. Which is why I asked here.

I recall one very forthright doctor telling me many years ago that Piriton was a "dirty drug" because of its sedative properties. But compared to Zopiclone, Methotrexate, Imuran, Tricyclic antidepressants, anti convulsants or steroids, all of which I've tried, well it seems relatively clean and innocuous? Mat

Ps I have very dry eyes but they haven't become any worse since taking this.

[MAT52]

Originally Posted by Patrick Winter

So, you're saying just for sleep though right? This stuff makes ya pretty drowsy, they say you shouldn't be driving or operating heavy machinery on it.

Is it a case of just zombifying you like a gabapentin or neurontin or does it actually alleviate pain?

No I don't think so - I'm thinking it's helping a lot with the burning pain in my hands and wrists and feet and knees at night too. But sleeping is pretty important of course! And I'm asking if it's okay here rather than recommending it as such.

[mrsD]

It is possible that the side effects which you find helpful will fade with time. There is always a honeymoon period with drugs.
As you body gets used to it, you might find a different response.

[MAT52]

Originally Posted by mrsD

It is possible that the side effects which you find helpful will fade with time. There is always a honeymoon period with drugs.
As you body gets used to it, you might find a different response.

I'm sure you are right MrsD - it wasn't anything I was expecting to benefit from and, as Amitriptiline did after a few years, it will probably wear off. But interesting that an antihistamine can help me at all with nerve pain - wondering whether there's an allergic component to my SFN perhaps?

[en bloc]

My only concern with this is the anticholinergic properties with this drugs. You believe you are sero-negative Sjogren's and this is contraindicated for anyone with Sjogren's. This will compound the damage on any/all moisture producing glands...from salivary glands, eyes, joints, etc, etc.

I'm not sure why it's working for you, but my first thought would be the help with better sleep. Your body functions so much better as a whole with more fulfilling sleep. It would be interesting to know if the antihistamine properties have some sort of connection to nerve function. It's worth some Googling time to research.

How long have you been taking it, and how soon after did you notice the improvement?

[Patrick Winter]

When I have tried the anti-histamine treatment after seeing it was helpful for some in clinical trials years ago (most notably dextromethorphan), I found almost no relief from it. Aside from that I could not find a version that wasn't compounded with either sugar, artificial color or dyes. All of those things actually increase my SFN (burning) almost instantly.

[DavidHC]

I thought I'd post this thread (in the resources section): http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread161714.html

And this study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23494529

I've been looking into histamine issues myself, and have spoken with my GP about it. I get hives regularly, as well as itches that leave red marks on the skin upon scratching (can't recall the medical term for it at the moment). Clearly I now have a histamine problem along with whatever illness has given me SFN, whereas I didn't before. Histamine levels are high and I'm allergic to all sorts of things now. Clearly a GI and full body problem. When this happens my symptoms increase too.

My doctor recommended an anti-histamine, it was benedryl or reactine, can't recall now, throughout the day, but I'm inclined to first try diamine oxydase, and see if it's due to GI/ingested histamine first. Of course, I think my overall histamine levels are high, though I can't be sure. Regardless, histamine is implicated in whatever is going on with my body.