The Role Of Anti Histamines In The Treatment Of Asthma
Though the formation of histamines due to allergic triggers is the main symptom of asthma the specialists and doctors have traditionally avoided using antihistamines to treat asthma. It is because of the nature of antihistamines to dry up the secretion in lungs. This worsens the asthma condition. Such a trend has caught on with drug manufactures as well as those who explicitly state on the labels that their antihistamines should not be used by patients with asthma.
Many studies have proved this theory to be wrong. Most patients with mild or moderate asthma can safely take antihistamines for their sinus disease or hay fever without aggravating their asthma. Many pa¬tients with mild asthma may even stop wheezing when they take an antihistamine. But if anyone experiences increased coughing and wheezing after taking antihistamines he should avoid their use.
Older generation anti histamines had limitations when it came to the treatment and management of asthma as they caused drowsiness in patients. This made impossible the administration of larger doses for the treatment of asthma. However many newer generation anti histamines like Seldane and Hismanal are capable of preventing the early phase of the asthmatic response by blocking the release of histamine in the lung. These anti histamines have shown remarkable utility in preventing asthma triggered by dust mites.
Other newer type of antihistamines now being studied are cetirizine and azelastine. These work on both the early and late phase responses of asthma. Nowadays there is an increasing trend among asthma specialists to use these non sedating antihistamines in mild, moderate, and even severe asthma.