Benedryl Helps?

[Suprmom]

Summary of where I'm at is no diagnosis (neg. blood for celiac) but gluten free due to celiac like symptoms to wheat.

The other night I ate off a salad bar. Big mistake I know. About an hour later get all the usual issues: bubbling stomach, burning sensation in GI tract, urge to use bathroom, etc. I also had some stabbing stomach pains which I rarely have and felt all itchy but no hives, which again I don't always have. My MIL and DH convinced me to take some benedryl which knocked me out but also ALL my issues got better, didn't entirely go away but was better. My ds has FA's so I am very familar with FA and I haven't suspected myself of them til this benedryl thing. It still doesn't seem to likely all around. I do now plan to be tested but am wondering can celiac symptoms can be eased with benedryl?

[The Fluffy Assassin]

Summary of where I'm at is no diagnosis (neg. blood for celiac) but gluten free due to celiac like symptoms to wheat.

The other night I ate off a salad bar. Big mistake I know. About an hour later get all the usual issues: bubbling stomach, burning sensation in GI tract, urge to use bathroom, etc. I also had some stabbing stomach pains which I rarely have and felt all itchy but no hives, which again I don't always have. My MIL and DH convinced me to take some benedryl which knocked me out but also ALL my issues got better, didn't entirely go away but was better. My ds has FA's so I am very familar with FA and I haven't suspected myself of them til this benedryl thing. It still doesn't seem to likely all around. I do now plan to be tested but am wondering can celiac symptoms can be eased with benedryl?

Celiac disease isn't an allergy; there shouldn't be any histamine involvement. You could have a wheat allergy or a dairy allergy or non-food allergies; celiac disease seems to lead to many allergies and intolerances. Here's an earlier discussion from this site: https://www.celiac.com/gluten-free/index.php?showtopic=41045 (Consensus seems to be: yes, it helps. You might want to get children's Benadryl, though. I remember from my lactose-intolerant and kitty-allergy-suffering days that regular Benadryl has lactose in it. Or maybe that was just the store-brand equivalent, I'm not sure. Anyway, lots of celiacs are lactose-intolerant; you may be, too.)

[tarnalberry]

From wikipedia: "Diphenhydramine works by blocking the effect of histamine at H1 receptor sites. This results in effects such as the increase of vascular smooth muscle contraction, thus reducing the redness, hyperthermia and edema that occurs during an inflammatory reaction. In addition, by blocking the H1 receptor on peripheral nociceptors, diphenhydramine decreases their sensitization and consequently reduces itching that is associated with an allergic reaction. This is why diphenhydramine is a popular choice for treatment of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, hives, motion sickness, and insect bites and stings.

In the 1960s it was found that diphenhydramine inhibits reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This discovery led to a search for viable antidepressants with similar structures and fewer side effects, culminating in the invention of fluoxetine (Prozac), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).[3][4] A similar search had previously led to the synthesis of the first SSRI zimelidine from brompheniramine, also an antihistamine."

As the immune system is activated, I don't actually know that no histamine is produced. Histamine is always released during inflammation, even if it's at low enough levels not to cause us traditional allergy symptoms. So, it's possible (though I have nothing to back this up other than thoughts in my head ) that an antihistamine could help with the inflammation, and with the proper functioning of the gut if the serotonin pathways were interrupted (serotonin being an important molecule in the gut as well as the brain). (I used to think differently, but now I wonder...)

But would it stop the damage? Certainly not.

[JBaby]

I used childrens benadryl last night for extreme itching. It worked. I am itchy again tonight, ate bread...bad abd bad. Actually developed a rash inside my elbow. First time for that. Intresting. Will taking the benadyl again.

[ravenwoodglass]

I used childrens benadryl last night for extreme itching. It worked. I am itchy again tonight, ate bread...bad abd bad. Actually developed a rash inside my elbow. First time for that. Intresting. Will taking the benadyl again.

If you can see a dermatologist and get the rash biopsied looking specifically for DH which is the skin form of celiac. They will biopsy the area next to the rash not the rash itself. It is possible to have both celiac and an allergy to wheat or just one or the other. Have you seen an allergist?

[JBaby]

If you can see a dermatologist and get the rash biopsied looking specifically for DH which is the skin form of celiac. They will biopsy the area next to the rash not the rash itself. It is possible to have both celiac and an allergy to wheat or just one or the other. Have you seen an allergist?

No I have not. Saw my doctor today, armed with my info and reactions since I last saw here over a year ago. Got tired of bothering her and us not finsding what was wrong. Now, we know. She did blood work. The $5.00 Celiac panel as she called it since I have no insurance. Also told me that just because the results may be neagative, doesnt mean I dont have it. She sais she did allergy test on me awhile ago and didnt test positive for wheat allery. Who KNows. She told me to get a nutritionist. Consensus is I have celiac disease based on 3 week diet exp vs how i fel off it. The rash went away next day.