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Allergy Meds And Celiac?

Nen

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Nen Explorer
Nen
Posted

This might seem like an odd question, but I wonder, can allergy medications help either celiac or gluten intolerance? If your body is reacting to gluten in an allergic-like way, then would allergy meds help? I am probably way off here of course, but just wondered.

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pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

If you are allergic to wheat, antihistamines may help.

Gluten intolerance (inability to process gluten) is different.

Now, my dermatologist gave a powerful antihistamine for my probable DH - and it may have helped by reducing allergic reactions to other things - hayfever, etc., but I don't think it did anything for my DH. I am weaning off of it now and have seen no difference in my rash.

I have neurological issues from gluten, primarily, not stomach issues so I can't address those reactions.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

This might seem like an odd question, but I wonder, can allergy medications help either celiac or gluten intolerance? If your body is reacting to gluten in an allergic-like way, then would allergy meds help? I am probably way off here of course, but just wondered.

Antihistamines can help but not in the way you're probably thinking. They do not help with the underlying gluten reaction the way they help in allergies. Gluten intolerance is completely different from allergy (though you might also have a wheat allergy). Most antihistamines have some degree of anticholinergic activity, especially the older "drowsy" ones. It makes them antispasmodic and they can calm nausea. They're not as effective as medicines like Bentyl, but if you notice some improvement in gluten GI symptoms after taking an older antihistamine like Benedryl, Aterax, Phenergan, or Chlor-trimeton, that's probably what happened.

eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

That is what happened to me. I was taking promethazine for nausea and noticed it helped my facial swelling and general lousy feeling. I then asked my Dr. if I could take a dose every night to avoid daytime sleepiness. He said yes and it has helped a lot of things. I never understood why, so your explanation helps Skylark! Thank you. Also I noticed the promethazine helps with the neurological symptoms I get from glutening. It is mildly anti-psychotic...and it helps a great deal with the instantaneous depression and anxiety. Fortunately it doesn't happen very often. Antihistamines do nothing for the DH however. Interesting.

Nen Explorer
Nen
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the replies.

So for a celiac/gluten intolerant person technically it won't really help.

Is celiac more like an inability (missing the correct mechanism) for breaking down gluten, rather than an allergy?

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Thanks for the replies.

So for a celiac/gluten intolerant person technically it won't really help.

Is celiac more like an inability (missing the correct mechanism) for breaking down gluten, rather than an allergy?

No, celiac is an autoimmune reaction triggered by gluten. Nobody breaks down gluten completely, but it doesn't cause problems in non-celiacs. In celiacs cells with the DQ2 and DQ8 genes get hold of the poorly broken down bits of gluten and teach the immune system that gluten is an invader. Somewhere along the way the immune system also learns to attack the intestinal mucosa (or skin or nerves) as it learns to attack gluten. It's a completely different part of the immune system than allergies, which is why antihistamines don't help (other than some symptomatic relief).

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

That is what happened to me. I was taking promethazine for nausea and noticed it helped my facial swelling and general lousy feeling. I then asked my Dr. if I could take a dose every night to avoid daytime sleepiness. He said yes and it has helped a lot of things. I never understood why, so your explanation helps Skylark! Thank you. Also I noticed the promethazine helps with the neurological symptoms I get from glutening. It is mildly anti-psychotic...and it helps a great deal with the instantaneous depression and anxiety. Fortunately it doesn't happen very often. Antihistamines do nothing for the DH however. Interesting.

This is great to know! I have some promethazine around for migraine nausea. I'll try a little at bedtime next time I'm climbing walls with anxiety from getting into gluten.

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