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Dear Ask The Doctor: Hi, I am allergic to milk. I do not have a lactose intolerance. Any trace of milk or milk product like butter, cheese, whey, caseinate, etcetera in something I take a bite of and I get these symptoms: extra thick saliva and more saliva, my mouth, throat, and stomach burns, pain in alot of areas, hives after some time, throat starts closing, and general swelling. All my life I have taken benadryl for this. The little pink pill makes it all better. My question is, what other antihistamine can I take and in what amount, to achieve the same effect? I don't want to take the sleepy meds anymore. Thank you in advance, K
Dear Kyle: Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) was the first antihistamine developed. Since then, numerous other antihistamine compounds have been introduced. They are broadly grouped into 2 generations based on their perceived sedative properties. First-generation compounds include diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, and brompheniramine and are generally believed to induce high levels of impairment or sedation. Second-generation compounds include loratadine, desloratadine, cetirizine, and fexofenadine; these are often referred to as nonsedating antihistamines. Despite the categorical designation, studies of the sedative effects of nonsedating antihistamines have yielded mixed results and a number of studies have shown that the sedation differential between first- and second-generation antihistamines may be less distinct than generally believed. First generation antihistamines are readily available and relatively inexpensive and may be more cost-effective in the long term. However, it may be worth trial of a second generation antihistamine, if you can no longer tolerate the sedating effects. |
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