Anti histamines to fight IBD?

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nogutsnoglory

nogutsnoglory

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I read in a book about allergies that anti histamines like Allegra, Claritin, etc are helpful in reducing IBD symptoms such as gas, pain, bloating and inflammation.

Anyone take one of these and feel better because of it?
 
go a step further and address allergies and your stomach will improve. I was told that if you watch what you put in your stomach, allergies, sinuses, stomach will improve. Through much experimentation, I have discovered this to be true. Put good in, get good results. I question whether Allegra can improve stomach issues. But I do know that if the stomach is balanced, the allergies improve. Take a good probtiotic daily and you will also see improvements. Good luck!
 
mickey said:
go a step further and address allergies and your stomach will improve. I was told that if you watch what you put in your stomach, allergies, sinuses, stomach will improve. Through much experimentation, I have discovered this to be true. Put good in, get good results. I question whether Allegra can improve stomach issues. But I do know that if the stomach is balanced, the allergies improve. Take a good probtiotic daily and you will also see improvements. Good luck!
Click to expand...

I don't have food allergies but do have environmental allergies but I suppose these microscopic particles are going to the gut too.
 
I think there is some relationship between allergens and crohns/IBD. I don't know what it is for sure yet, but it is part of what has me consistently skeptical about my allergy injections. I worry that since allergies arouse the immune system and get it worked up to fight, that it may be possible that it restarts the auto-immune crohns attack. Sadly, my GI told me to talk to my ENT about this. The ENT said it is fine, but I worry that he would say that no matter what so long as I am walking and breathing....the injections are big money. I feel that my GI should have knowledge about this. I don't know. I suppose this isn't a great response. Sorry. Anyway, I am on Allegra, and haven't noticed anything, but I have the constant exacerbation of allergy injections too.
 
I've often thought their was a connection between Crohn's and allergies. I've had Crohn's for 35 years, and have noticed my worst flares happen in the Fall and Spring just as the seasons change. If this just happened a few times I wouldn't have connected the two, but this happens almost every Fall and Spring. My obstructions which led to 5 bowel resections, happened during the change of seasons, mostly Spring when allergies are the worst. I don't take anything for allergies, other than OTC products like Benedryl. I definitely think it's worth looking into.
 
I treated my undiagnosed IBD with Claritan for years. Tried Alegra but found it was equal to claritan. Pollen has always been a trigger for me.
 
ThatsWhatSheSaid said:
I think there is some relationship between allergens and crohns/IBD. I don't know what it is for sure yet, but it is part of what has me consistently skeptical about my allergy injections. I worry that since allergies arouse the immune system and get it worked up to fight, that it may be possible that it restarts the auto-immune crohns attack. Sadly, my GI told me to talk to my ENT about this. The ENT said it is fine, but I worry that he would say that no matter what so long as I am walking and breathing....the injections are big money. I feel that my GI should have knowledge about this. I don't know. I suppose this isn't a great response. Sorry. Anyway, I am on Allegra, and haven't noticed anything, but I have the constant exacerbation of allergy injections too.
Click to expand...

My immunologist says he doesn't give allergy shots to crohns patients. You may want to consider someone else.
 
I've been wondering if my allergy injections have been causing me to be in a constant state of flare. I asked my GI on Friday and he said to ask my ENT...not helpful. I'm actually going to start a new thread on this.
 
NoGutsNoGlory....Thanks so much. I've had a feeling about this for a while, but each doctor tells me to ask the other. I feel really frustrated about it. Do you see the immunologist for the crohns, or what do you see him/her for? I see a GI doctor for the crohns, and an ENT administers the allergy injections.
 
Thatswhatshesaid,

The thing is until there is abundant research on something most doctors won't/can't go too far from the normal. I found a good GI by going to a nutritionist who specialized in IBD. You can find good doctors if you look.
 
But in this case...what is the normal that they won't/can't go too far from? Shouldn't they err on the side of caution if I have an auto-immune disease and they're making my immune system furious on a weekly basis?? Ahhh! I just want some solid answers, you know?
 
ThatsWhatSheSaid said:
NoGutsNoGlory....Thanks so much. I've had a feeling about this for a while, but each doctor tells me to ask the other. I feel really frustrated about it. Do you see the immunologist for the crohns, or what do you see him/her for? I see a GI doctor for the crohns, and an ENT administers the allergy injections.
Click to expand...

I see the immunologist for allergies but he said he doesn't give shots to anyone with autoimmune diseases because he doesn't want to stimulate a system that's causing problems.
 
The reason I tried allergy medicine was I read that you have histamine receptors in yoyr gut. So I figured I'd try an antihistamine and it took about two days for the D to stop. I dont see why he thinks allergy med would stimulate your IBD.
 
I think he was saying that allergy injections would stimulate the IBD. Not allergy meds. The injections arouse your immune system to fight because they put allergens directly into your body. Once your immune system is up in arms...the crohns kicks in/takes over. I think that is what the idea is.
 
HeyJude said:
:sign0085: Did you use Claritan or Claritan D and the 12 hour or 24 hour? Thank you
Click to expand...

I had success with the 24 hour non-drowsy. I also found the costco brand just as effective but much cheaper. Anything loritadine, alavert or claritan also allegra gave similar results. It took about three days to clear the D.
 
I just wanted to add to the group that thinks there's a connection. I've been in a flare for a few months now and have started making the connection between use of allergy meds and level of crohns symptoms. I tend to get crohns symptoms in the spring/fall so I definitely think it's related. I don't get allergy shots bc my allergist diagnosed it as non-allergic rhinitus (meaning they don't know what causes it). I swear by my daily Zyrtec-D(24hours) but my crohns is mild. I can see how allergy shots would bring on flare symptoms because the body's allergens compound on each other. Plus added stressors and inflammation probably doesn't help.
 
I'm taking allegra haven't noticed a difference as far as crohns. Why would allergy meds help with diarrhea?
 
nogutsnoglory said:
I'm taking allegra haven't noticed a difference as far as crohns. Why would allergy meds help with diarrhea?
Click to expand...

I have chron's in my terminal illiuem and also in my large intestine. I now take Lialda, which is used for colitis mostly, and have stopped taking the claritan since the Lialda has the same effect for me, although I sometimes wonder if i would benefit by taking it. There are histamine receptors in the colon and so my theory at the time, since my D came mostly in the spring and fall when the pollen count went up was I was having an allergic reaction to the pollen but in my bowels more so than my nose. I was able to treat myself this way for about 7 years. In the spring of 2010 the pollen was really bad, the worst it had been for along time. I was getting a flare up and it was causing my joints to hurt, especially my shoulders. Not knowing I had IBD I took two advil's every morning. Well I think this is what put my flare into over drive and for the first time I was really taken for a ride by crohn's. lost 30 pounds in six weeks and was losing muscle mass. I was finally diagnosed with crohn's, steroids at first then lialda and now added Humira also and things are basically under control.
 
I know there are a handful of threads about this when I search Google, but I want to bump this to add my experience. Add me to the spring / fall allergy's list. I've taken allergy meds off and on over the years. I recently started taking Alavert again daily, and it 100% has had a positive affect overall.
 
I see I posted this in 2012. Been on allegra since and crohns never behaves but who knows maybe it would be worse or better if I didn't take it.
 
I know this is an old post, but I've just come across it. I have a recent Crohn's diagnosis (2-3 months) but have been using Claritin D for stomach issues for the past couple of years. I kind of randomly discovered that it helped on days my stomach was bothering me. I have no idea why it would work but I am really interested in the fact that other people have been doing this too.
 
Benadryl used to work great for me. Also had good luck with mirtazapine which is technically an antidepressant but feels like an antihistamine to me.

Both were so sedating, and eventually I got tired of that. Mirtazapine especially so.

Any of the antihistamines that don't cause drowsiness make my crohns much worse.
 
mickey said:
go a step further and address allergies and your stomach will improve. I was told that if you watch what you put in your stomach, allergies, sinuses, stomach will improve. Through much experimentation, I have discovered this to be true. Put good in, get good results. I question whether Allegra can improve stomach issues. But I do know that if the stomach is balanced, the allergies improve. Take a good probtiotic daily and you will also see improvements. Good luck!
Click to expand...

I was told by my chiropractor yesterday that the mold outsde could have an effect on my Crohn's.

2
 
Seeing as this thread is reactivated: I also noticed that anti-histamines help. I take some that are advertised as anti-nausea medication and they really calm my intestines down (I have colitis in the large intestine). If I get *that* feeling I pop a pill as soon as possible. I don't have any allergies though as far as I know.
 

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