Antihistamines symptoms and conditions

Just wondering if anyone has experienced sinus congestion (not relieved by antihistamines like Claritin, Allegra, Zyrtec) and not having a cold?

I've been slowing working my dose up on Wellbutrin from 75 mg. a day to 100 mg. to avoid side effects. However, I'm experiencing a sharp rise in migraine headaches and this weird nasal congestion. I can't find where anyone has noticed 'nasal congestion' as a side effect.

Dr. today suggested I stop the medication for 1 week and see if these two possible side effects disappear; which I plan to do. I am small and sensitive to all antidepressants and have to go low and slow. 16 years ago there was ONLY Brand name Wellbutrin which is what I took.....75 mg. twice daily and I didn't have any problems. Don't know if I'm reacting to the fillers, dyes and substances in these Generic Wellbutrin by Teva.

Anyone out there that has nasal congestion or Migraines from Wellbutrin??

Thanks. L.

The studies published to date demonstrate that leukotriene receptor antagonists are sometimes more effective than placebo, are no more effective than nonsedating antihistamines, and are less effective than intranasal corticosteroids in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. The combination of a leukotriene receptor antagonist and an antihistamine has not been proven to be more effective than either agent alone. This review reveals several inconsistencies that require resolution. First, whereas leukotriene receptor antagonists are predicted on the basis of their mechanism of action to improve nasal congestion significantly, clinical studies reveal leukotriene receptor antagonists to be no better than antihistamines at improving congestion. Second, leukotriene receptor antagonists would not be expected on the basis of their putative mechanism of action or nasal challenge data to improve significantly sneezing, nasal itching, or drainage. However, some studies show improvement in these symptoms during treatment with leukotriene receptor antagonists. Considered in aggregate, the data available to date do not clearly support a unique role of leukotriene receptor antagonists in the treatment of allergic rhinitis whether or not it is accompanied by asthma.

I wrote a post few days ago about Singulair and how great my daughter is doing since she started to take this medication three months ago.
Then I started reading about all the side effects that other children had because of Singulair. I GOT SO SCARED!
So scared that last night I stopped giving Singulair to my daughter.

From January to September my daughter had asthma every other week. She was put on steroids (prednisolone) every time she couldn't breath. Then in September the pulmonologist said we have to take control of the situation because so much steroids can damage a little body.
She made me feel I had been a terrible mothers since I always refused to give her singulair.
She convinced me and then I started Singulair, but now I feel worst because I have the feeling I am giving poison to my daughter even if her asthma is under control.

My 7 years old stopped Singulair 12 hours ago, I do not know what is going to happen now. Of course I cannot call the pulmonologist anymore in case my ds gets bad.
Somebody here said that she is giving her son Nordic Naturals Fish Oil, Culturelle probiotics, vitamin c, and changing his diet - increased magnesium and decreased dairy.I will love to have more information about this alternative way of controlling asthma. I do not remember who wrote this post. If there is a web site of a doctor I can contact i will do right away. I live in New York.

I need help. Thank you so much.

My 3 year old is on 5mg of singular daily for her constant allergy issues and has had NO trouble at all with it. Her personality has not changed.. she's happy, outgoing, friendly and MUCH better than she was before she started the medication. Prior to starting she was constantly dripping from her nose, she had both ears filled with fluid, had bags under her eyes and was tired and grumpy all the time, due to allergies we could not get under control with other over the counter or prescription meds. Since being on Singulair she's been 100% better than she was. I'm sad to hear that others are having so much trouble with it, but I can say that I am happy my little girl is feeling better.

I went to my primary doctor last Wednesday. He gave me samples for a 5 day regime of Avelox to treat a head/chest cold. Well, the cold does seem a little better, but, I would have never traded that to the side effects I am experiencing now! I took my first daily dose of Avelox last Wednesday. On Friday I thought I had dry skin. By Sunday I was itching so bad that it was almost unbearable. My eyelids are itching, burning and swollen, my forehead looks sunburned from the itching and scratching, my chest, stomach, back and thighs feel tingly and are itching NONSTOP. I am taking an antihistamine, but it doesn't seem to be helping much. I hope this goes away. I cannot imagine what this drug does to people that have allergies and sensitivities to medications. I have never experienced an adverse reaction to medications before this. I would never recommend this drug to anyone.

I have been reading the posts at this site for two weeks, ever since the day I went to my GP for a check on blood pressure and general well being. As I was getting ready to leave the examining room, he asked how I had been since my last visit, and I responded that I'd been OK, except of course that I wasn't sleeping well. I didn't tell him that I'd had obsessive thoughts of death and dying, severe anxiety, morbid depression, horrible mood swings, and compulsive thoughts and actions. Yes, I've been taking Singulair since it was approved for seasonal rhinitis. It seemed to work well with Allegra, although when my allergies were extra severe, I also had to resort to Benadryl or one of the other "drowsy" antihistamines. When I mentioned sleep, he said "You have heard about Singulair, haven't you?" Guess how shocked I was when he told me about the latest information on the medicine I was taking every night for the last 5 years? Unfortunately, I had been under severe stress because of professional and families issues during the same general time frame, so it would never, ever have occurred to me that a prescribed medication could make me so miserable. My psychiatrist had recommending doubling my dose of Cymbalta, but after some trials of that, I became convinced that when I did so, I felt worse. About 6 months ago, my emotional state went from bad to worse. I began to feel a sense of panic when called upon to make the most innocuous decisions, and was always aggravated and nasty to the people I loved most. With my doctor's mention of Singulair, I stopped taking it. I slept better from the second day of not taking it. In the last 2 weeks, my emotional roller coaster has smoothed out, not perfectly, but enough so that I'm much more like my old self. The stresses are similar, but my reactions are different. Zyrtec (1/2 tablet) works much better for itchy eyes and nose than Singulair did in the first place. My husband and son both have continued to take Singulair with no apparent problems. I think that if one has developed unusual or unexpected emotional symptoms it is definitely worth a trial off Singulair. I wish I had been aware of even the smallest possibility of a reaction such as mine when I started taking it.

I have two sons on Singulair, my three old was suspended today from pre-school for bad behavior. Screaming, biting, scratching, and hitting have been going on for the last few months. But worse the past two weeks. He has always been active and played like a boy, but he has been getting violent. We have tried positive reinforcement, praising good behavior both verbally and with rewards, I have tried time-out, being grounded, not being able to participate in activities, no t.v. and old fashioned butt spanking. All of this with no positive results. I am not looking for an excuse for my child's behavior, but could Singulair really be the cause of his aggression?

had a sinus infection after a cold- z pack did not work - was given prednisone and 21 days of avelox - after 7 days had a lot of dizziness and lightheadedness - feeling hot and warm - tongue feels hot and inflamed and worst headaches - no more sinus infection - stopped the drug - anyone know how long it might take for headache to abate after stopping this drug.?? please email me at marlenie1955@yahoo.com. thanks.

My daughter, now 7 years old, took Singulair (4mg crystals) every evening from 12/29/2004-4/3/2008 (with 5 days off in 2/2008 ONLY). She developed significant mood disturbance/mood swings, sleep disturbance/frightening dreams and anxiety/unexplainable fears during this time, which we have now attributed to the drug, Singulair - the ONLY MEDICATION SHE WAS TAKING besides occasional antihistamines (which caused no problem). The drug Singulair clearly caused significant psychiatric symptoms in my daughter which are strikingly similar to symptoms now being attributed to the drug by MANY parents across the country. I suspected Singulair of negatively affecting my daughter and talked to her allergist about taking her off it in 2/2008 (before any news broke about links between Singulair and suicidal thoughts/behavior). The effects of Singulair on the brains of children are NOT UNDERSTOOD and/or NOT reported. I believe that this is a dangerous drug. It has been very difficult to connect the use of this asthma/allergy drug to behavior/mood issues in young children for two reasons. First, improperly trained physicians confuse drug "side effects" with normal child development (a "phase") or psychiatric illness. Second, Singulair has been heavily marketed as "SAFE" (to the medical community and directly to patients and their parents) and therefore has not been suspected when these serious psychiatric disturbances are reported to doctors. Pediatricians and allergists have said for years, "It couldn't be the Singulair" because that is the impression SOLD to them by Merck.

Have been taking Singulair but not consistently. I am a middle aged overweight male, and the MD suggested that conventional antihistamines could have cardiac complications.

Tried taking singulair at night per instructions but found it interfered with sleep. Recently moved to taking it in the daytime and found it prevented me from staying awake.

A couple of near-accidents while driving.

Mood swings, apathy and hostility, and even a trace of paranoia.

Greatly reduced intellectual capacity, a very bad thing for me as a computer programming professional.

Stopped taking it a week ago and I am almost back to myself. Hope and believe I escaped long term damage. I suppose I could be an outliers but I'm basically wired pretty well and I tend to doubt it. My impression is that this drug has such severe neurological effects that it should only be prescribed, if ever, in case of extreme need.

I'll take the sniffles, thanks. Singulair made me lazy, mean and stupid. Not a good trade at all.

The idea that this stuff is being foisted on inarticulate young children horrifies me. Even as an adult it is hard to make the connection. One doesn't anticipate severe psychotropic effects from something that replaces over the counter allergy meds.

I hope I'm an outliers but I think this needs some investigation. Suicide is awful, of course, but if its incidence goes up a little, perhaps a lot of minds are being disrupted short of suicide. If so this is a catastrophe and a travesty.

So I started taking YASMIN in December 07. I switched to YAZ in January 08 and just quit a week ago. So about 4 months of bc. A week ago, I broke out in hives and rashes. I would itch one spot and then others would form. The areas get hot and the welts raise up my skin. It started when I was out in the sun but it couldn't have been sun poisoning because I never got burnt. I am diagnosing myself rather than a doctor because they do NOT know everything. After reading into the YAZ and YASMIN side effects, I am not risking anymore problems. Oh and I got an upper respitory infection along with the rash. This lingering cough has a weaze and phligmy sound. My friends are concerned with it too. I have never been the type of person to suffer from any major sickness or skin problem. I am tough skinned and have never gotten any kind of food allergy. I am 24, 5'6'' and in semi-athletic shape. I am an actor and model and I cannot afford to get rashes and a bad horsey cough! YAZ was great for 2 months and now bam! Downfall happening. Temporary relief-cortozone cream and antihistamines like benadryl.
YAZ benefit-clear skin, no PMS
YAZ side effect-rash, no sex drive/libido loss, difficult/no orgasm, appetite like a hog! Food #1 thought. Packed on pounds quick.
YASMIN benefit-clear skin, lost weight quick
YASMIN side effect- a little loopy, speech impediment, no sex drive/libido loss, no orgasm, couldn't even fake an orgasm!

I was given 20 mg of Prednisone for 10 days for a rash and joint pain.
The pain went away and I felt great the rash got a little better. Two days ago I took my last pill. I woke up that night and my knees gave out. By morning I was great! Next night I woke with knee problem again had to slide down the stairs to the living room. I got to wondering if the knee thing could be associated with the Prednisone. I got on line and read all this terrible stuff. I am so Horrified! Today I am in pain like my body is bruised and my face is swollen a little. I have acid reflux as well. Non of this is typical for me. My knee thing is ok again, but I am just appalled! I have no MED insurance. I hope this isn't the beginning of worse things I am not taking that drug now. The Dr. didn't say I needed to taper...

I hope I have not damaged myself by taking this drug! My heart goes out to all of you! My question is - Why are the Dr.'s prescribing this terrible drug?

I am 47-year old, male. I started taking Singulair about 4 months ago to treat my allergy. I had very bad running nose and itchy eyes and was sneezing a lot. None of the antihistamines were effective. Amazingly Singulair has been very helpful. I stopped taking it few days ago thinking my allergy has gone as the season has gone. But everything is back. After reading these much about the side effects of Cingulair, I am scared that it might be dangerous to continue taking it. I have not experienced any bad effects, but don’t know to tolerate the allergy symptoms or keep taking Cingulair. Is there anyone who has had no bad experience with it after taking it for a long time? Please advise. Thanks.

I started taking Lisinopril in October of last year and at first I thought it was great. It reduced my blood pressure significantly and stopped my migraines and stopped my ankles and hands swelling. However, in January of this year I started to experience very painful, itchy swollen eyelids and a general feeling of itichiness all over my face and neck. As I have suffered from eczema on and off for years, though never on my face, I put it down to that. The itching and redness does respond to steroid creams and antihistamines a little and it clears up for a while, but then is back with a vengance a few days later. It's very embarrassing and I have to stop wearing make-up when it's bad. I've only just realised after six months of this that it could be the Lisinopril. I've also had a bit of a dry cough but not enough to really bother me. However, whilst making breakfast one morning this week I nearly fainted so now after reading everyone's experiences on this website I really think I need to visit my doctor and have my medication changed. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this site - it's really helped me to know about the side effects of Lisinopril.

I have just called my dr. for an appt. I was not researching Lisinopril I was looking for info to email someone - happened to spot the first post...I nearly fell over! I now know I am not losing my mind, because that's how I've been feeling - the cough, the weary feeling, palps, my anxiety increase, etc. etc. Low readings that I'm wondering if I'm still alive, and this head detached from my body,, feeling, sort of walking like a well in control drunk, if that makes sense to anyone, a feeling like "iI'm gonna have a stroke" feeling in my head...it feels "tights". I started this med. last year, and feel this has been a gradual on-coming train! I have anxiety, and try to keep it under control myself, since I took prosac for about a week, talk about looney - look up another charming side affect - akethesia - nasty. For one poster who said we're all overweight nuts, I am 103lbs, I do a mile every evening, and eat very healthy, thank you.

I am 20 years old and I've been on Yasmin for almost 2 years and off for about 2 weeks. Yasmin gave me an irregular heartbeat, vision problems, severe fatigue, muscle spasms and aching in my joints, and constant cramping in my lower tummy but these have started to slowly die down. My current side effects include severe allergies to foods (milk, wheat, tomatoes, eggs), antihistamines, and chemical sensitivities (perfume, soaps, detergents, cigarrette smoke). Also, I have been struggling to swallow food for 11 weeks now and found out that it may be a nuerological side effect from yasmin. The doctors where I am from don't seem to believe me and they all think I'm crazy so I just don't know how I am going to get help for this. One doctor even told me that I was doing this to myself and that I was anorexic. I'm obviously trying to get help or I wouldn't have been there asking him. I just wish I knew how long it takes to get back to normal or if I am ever going to be normal again.

i have been taking wellbutrin for almost 3 months to quit smoking (300mg/daily). BE VERY CAREFUL with antihistamines-i took one not long after i started the wellbutrin & felt that horrible seizure-ish feeling coming on, paranoia, racing thoughts & found out from another doc that they are not supposed to be mixed. which sucks for me, because i have suddenly become allergic to dogs & can't take any benadryl-my allergist says there is nothing that she can do until i can take it.

i asked about weaning off it (this med has me scared s*less now). i took it every other day for about 2 weeks. i haven't had it in about 4 days & i feel ok, a little psycho at times, but nothing out of the ordinary lol (i haven't been on it long at all, so i don't know if someone who's been on it for years should get off it the way i am). i just want it out of my system so i can get some relief from my allergies!!!

I'm a 26 year old male in Texas. I started taking Doxycycline, 100 mg once daily, about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I agree with most of what you all have said. I've noticed that i have little appetite and energy. I've also noticed a few bumps on my arm, which I figured were due to my severe allergies. My body tingles, and the bumps have gone down somewhat but are still there...perhaps from the plethora of allergy medications I take with decongestants and antihistamines. I actually have slept pretty well on the drug. I'm not sure I recall a single weird time, which is actually odd now that I think about it LOL. Maybe I need a stronger dose like you all have, LOL jk.

I have suffered from severe hayfever since 1968 when I was 21 and most people and many medical people don't realise how distressing and debilitating it can be. I was prescribed Kenalog when antihistamines failed to work and I have had an annual injection every year since then, with no apparent side effects. Kenalog relieves symptoms by about 90% and is the only treatment which makes life bearable during June (UK). My own doctor now works only 2 days a week and from obtaining the Kenalog yesterday I now have to stay indoors for 5 days before I can have it injected because no other doctors in the Practice are willing to give it. I need to ask him next week what will happen when he retires!

I was given Sulfameth/Trimethoprim for a suspected spider bite that became infected. My prescription was one tablet by mouth twice a day for 10 days. Seven days after taking my first tablet I began to feel itchy all over my body. The next morning I woke and had hives from my feet to my ears. I went the urgent care clinic and they gave me some strong antihistamines. The next day my condition was worse and I went back to the urgent care clinic and was injected with steroids. The next day my condition was even worse; the hives were horrible, itchy, red and purple patches ALL over my body and I was feeling tightening in my throat. I immediately went to ER and was admitted.

I spent 2 days in the hospital receiving steriods and fluids by IV. The thing that surprised me about this allergy was the delay from first taking the medication to the first signs that something was not right.

well this is the second time for unknown reasons I get an allergy attack in one eye that swells it shut. Antihistamines don't make it go away so they put me on a course of prednisone and send me on my way even though I have told them it gives me violent tendencies. I am not an angry person by nature, but the last two times I have been put on a course of prednisone I fly into rages at the slightest provocation. I practice meditation and stuff routinely, so I know a lot about mind control etc. so it's not like i can just take a breath and count to ten. I can't afford to go on vacation by myself every time I have to take a course of this stuff ;) LoL. I think my doctor thinks I'm whining, but I can't seem to convey this message that I really probably should not take prednisone. They insist all the steroids are the same and therefor prescribing a different one would not help.

Yesterday, I had another attack and had to go back and get more prednisone, this time I think my pharmacy may have screwed up because the highest dosage I was every given before was 60 mg a day then taper down for 2 weeks.... Yesterday the doctor decides that perhaps a short "burst" of pred would be better for my side effects to get it over with faster.

I came home with larger pills than I normally take. the bottle said to take 3 pills twice a day for one day then 3 then 2 then 1 for a total of 12 pills. I took 6 yesterday as directed and woke up with profuse night sweats and the shakes. When I got up this morning, I looked a little closer and each of those pills were 20mg a piece for a total of 120 Mg in ONE day... I am still sweating and shaky, and for all that my eye is still swollen ;) lol.

At least I can open it today though, so some good news. I am wondering now on hindsight did she mean 3 pills a day for two days then 3 then 2 then 1... it would still add up to twelve. I trusted what the pill bottle said and now I am paying for it. I wonder if I can take myself off this stuff, and if anyone else has had violent reactions (ie throwing things and crying) or Night Sweats that go on and on....

It takes a build up of it in my system usually before the tantrums occur, but with that high of a megadose yesterday I am a little afraid of taking it again. I am really getting frustrated by this whole process, and my doctor says an allergist would be turned down flat by my insurance because they haven't "tried everythign" yet... sheesh how much do I have to go through before my 'insurance' declares it worthy of a specialist.

It's very aggravating to me because I think an allergist could help me narrow down the cause fo these attacks and maybe know why it only attacks one eye... why do Insurance companies have the right to take away a doctors discretion? I am fed up with the establishment at this point.

Was given Sulfameth for an upper respiratory infection. After 7 days my eyes began to itch and swell. By day 9 my left eye was so swollen when I woke up in the morning, I looked like Rocky after his fight. It has been two weeks since I stopped the drug and my eyes are still swelling and itching. Antihistamines only help the itching not the swelling.

I have been living in the UK for four years and started suffering with bad hayfever in the first summer. I battled through the first year with antihistamines that offered little relief. Now for the the last three years I've had a Kenalog injection from my local clinic.

Year 1 and 2 were fine, with almost instant relief. This year has been rather different - it's not had nearly the same effect and I've been battling some severe headaches in the evening, a week after having the injection.

I'm hoping they are unrelated, but given some of the texts written here, there's probably a strong chance they are as my normal routine has not changed much.

A year or two ago I would probably have recommended it without hesitation, but I'm a lot more sceptical now.

For years, I suffered from terrible allergies. Constant sinus drainage, watery eyes, itchy eyes, headaches, (I should have been able to lose wt. because of the amount of fluid running out of my body!!!) I dreaded Spring because I was miserable for months!! My doctor recommended I try Kenalog. After about 24 hrs., I could breath, my nose stopped running, my eyes didn't itch and water. I've had absolutely no problems, at all, with the shot. I get 1 shot a year and manage the fall with antihistamines... No side effects, no dents, nothing. It's the only thing I've found that works. After my original doctor retired, I went with a younger, "smarter" doctor who refused to administer the shot, inspite of my history of success with the medication. They wanted me to take inhaled steroids, instead. I've finally found a family practice that will give me the once a year injection. It works, I don't abuse it, it's given in small amounts and I love the fact I feel great after the allergies clear up!

It is currently 3:00 am and for another night I can not sleep.
I am now completing my sixth day of taking Levaquin
On November 7th my doctor prescribed Levaquin (one 500 mg tablet per day for 10 days) for my ear infection. He also prescribed 12 hour Allegra and Allegra D for my allergies. I started having severe sleep disorder early on. Believing that it might be the Allegra, I switched to Equate D (a different decongestant/antihistamine). I still can not sleep. I do not know which drug is messing me up, but one of them certainly is. I realize that antihistamines can cause sleepliness, but in the past, an antihistmine in the morning did not affect my sleep to this extent. Maybe its the additional decongestant. Or, maybe its the Levaquin. I do not know. I do know that for six days I have gotton almost no sleep. To be fair, I have a long history of sleep problems, but never this bad. As an aside, since I started taking Levaquin I have experienced a very unpleasant metallic taste.