What Are The Side Effects Of Antihistamines?

Issues With Appetite

Some antihistamines can cause loss of appetite, particularly if they also cause an individual to experience nausea and vomiting, a gastrointestinal upset can lead individuals to eat less. However, it's more common for antihistamines to lead to an increase in appetite. In fact, the antihistamine cyproheptadine has been used to help underweight patients gain weight. Researchers have several theories for why this phenomenon occurs. The main one is histamines are integral to the regulation of appetite. Histamines let individuals know when they're full and keep them from getting hungry for certain amounts of time. An antihistamine can counteract the effects of histamines, which can make individuals feel hungrier than usual. Researchers have not yet determined which antihistamines are least likely to cause an increase in appetite, and thus, more studies need to be done regarding the effect different antihistamines have on appetite and weight gain or loss.

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Trouble Urinating

Patients who use antihistamines could experience trouble urinating. These medications relax the bladder, making it retain urine and potentially leading to overflow incontinence. With overflow incontinence, the patient is unable to fully empty their bladder, and it becomes overly full. This could result in an involuntary release of urine, and the patient might not feel any urge to urinate. Urinary leaks could happen during the day, and the patient might wet their bed at night. In addition, the retention of urine could lead to abdominal discomfort or bloating, and patients may experience difficulty starting their urine stream. The urinary stream could be weak or interrupted as well. Urinary retention could increase a patient's risk of urinary tract infections, bladder damage, and kidney damage. Patients who experience urinary symptoms while taking antihistamines should talk to their physician about treatment and the possibility of trying an alternative medication.

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