Antihistamines - They work
GOD 11967
I am a 16 year old with TS. I read about Benadryl having a positive effect
on tics, so I tried it, and my tics went away almost completely for 6
hours. Benadryl made me too tired, so I switched to 12 hour Contac, and it
works almost as well with no side effects, except for a little fatigue. I
also suffer from seasonal allergies. My question is, is the reduction in
tics due to the elimination of the allergies or the sedating effects of
the antihistamines? Has anyone else experienced similar benefits from
antihistamines? Please get back to me on this.
Thanks
-= Sam =-
jeffrey mark hanover
Hi, i'm 19 years old and was diagnosed with TS when I was in 3rd
grade. I suffer from food allergies, and by avoiding certain foods
(mainly soy protein and soy flour affect me) I can greatly reduce the
number of tics. So, from my experience, i believe allergies are probably
the main part of it, although the sedating effect probably has some
to do with it as well. For several years as a child I saw pshycologist
whose main form of treatment (for dealing with TS and the social side
effects) was teaching me how to relax. IT HELPED! The only other advice
I have is to try a non-drowsy version that doesn't have the
antihistamines in it. This might help you decide if it is the allergies
or the sedation. Good Luck!
Jeff
Irina Shoushounova
GOD 11967 (god1...@aol.com) writes:
> I am a 16 year old with TS. I read about Benadryl having a positive effect
> on tics, so I tried it, and my tics went away almost completely for 6
> hours. Benadryl made me too tired, so I switched to 12 hour Contac, and it
> works almost as well with no side effects, except for a little fatigue. I
> also suffer from seasonal allergies. My question is, is the reduction in
> tics due to the elimination of the allergies or the sedating effects of
> the antihistamines? Has anyone else experienced similar benefits from
> antihistamines? Please get back to me on this.
>
> Thanks
> -= Sam =-
Dear Sam:
Are you also taking other meds for the TS(such as Clonidine) as well? If
so, I heard you shoul NOT mix the TS meds with antihistimines! At the TSA
we were warned to never take cold or allergy meds if we also are on meds
for the TS. They inter-act so that the tics and insomnia go wacky out of
control.Has anoyone else ever heard of this,too?
--
************************* IRINA SHOUSHOUNOVA bo693 **************************
Jesus,I trust in You!
******************************************************************************
BonnieGr
In article <52cofd$p...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, god1...@aol.com (GOD
11967) writes:
>
>I am a 16 year old with TS. I read about Benadryl having a positive
effect
>on tics, so I tried it, and my tics went away almost completely for 6
>hours. Benadryl made me too tired, so I switched to 12 hour Contac, and
it
>works almost as well with no side effects, except for a little fatigue. I
>also suffer from seasonal allergies. My question is, is the reduction in
>tics due to the elimination of the allergies or the sedating effects of
>the antihistamines? Has anyone else experienced similar benefits from
>antihistamines? Please get back to me on this.
>
>Thanks
>-= Sam =-
Dear Sam,
Glad you posted! It makes perfect scientific sense that antihistamines
help TS. There are countless documentations on the histamine
neurotransmitter receptors in the brain, and now there is recent
scientific
evidence on the presence of histamine producing mast cells in the brain.
Histamine receptors have an overall increasing effect on dopamine
neurons in the brain, having both inhibiting and agonistic effects
in different parts of the brain. Histamine released from mast cells
would cause inflammatory reactions in the brain, which would have a
profound effect on nearby nerve cells. Taking an antihistamine that
doesn't have additives that your sensitive to or stimulants (sudafed)
added can help TS symptoms a great deal. It is used afterall to
treat a side effect of neuroleptics (cog wheel rigidity). Antihistamines
have reduced the rage reaction in my son, where a normal tic is
amplified greatly. Of course, allergy shots and avoidance of allergens
is the front line course of action. Taking vitamin and minerals that are
used up in the allergy process have helped Jason so that he has not had
this type of rage reaction during allergy season. I am very interested in
allergy and how it is related to the TS spectrum disorders. Mast cells
in particular interest me. Dr. Carl Hansen, Jr. has provided us with
good information from his studies with his tic disorder patients, and has
recently implicated mast cells a possible players in these disorders.
Bonnie Grimaldi
SueDriver
>I am a 16 year old with TS. I read about Benadryl having a positive
effect
>on tics, so I tried it, and my tics went away almost completely for 6
>hours. Benadryl made me too tired, so I switched to 12 hour Contac, and
it
>works almost as well with no side effects, except for a little fatigue. I
>also suffer from seasonal allergies. My question is, is the reduction in
>tics due to the elimination of the allergies or the sedating effects of
>the antihistamines? Has anyone else experienced similar benefits from
>antihistamines? Please get back to me on this.
Sam,
How wonderful to see another 16 YO posting!<S> My 18 YO son has
used Benadryl to help get rid of a vomiting tic, but I honestly did not
see any improvement in his other tics. Maybe there was, but I was
just so thrilled to see him feeling better w/no vomiting that I didn't pay
as close attention.
As for the effect - my guess would be it's due to allergy control, since
my son still tics when "calm". But since everybody's different, it
wouldn't surprise me that the sedating effect had something to do w/it.
Since antihistamines come w/many different ingredients, I think it
would be difficult to pinpoint. Some antihistamines we've used have
actually caused hyperactivity as opposed to sedation<s>. Glad you
found something that works for you! Keep posting!
Sue (in DE)
Judith Simon
On Sep 26, 1996 14:55:00 in article <Re: Antihistamines - They work>,
'bo...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Irina Shoushounova)' wrote:
>Dear Sam:
>Are you also taking other meds for the TS(such as Clonidine) as well? If
>so, I heard you shoul NOT mix the TS meds with antihistimines! At the TSA
>we were warned to never take cold or allergy meds if we also are on meds
>for the TS. They inter-act so that the tics and insomnia go wacky out of
>control.Has anoyone else ever heard of this,too?
etc. you should NOT take Seldane or Hismanal. I don't know which other
antihistamines this is true for, too (maybe all of them?) I don't know
about other TS meds. Judy
cen0...@centuryinter.net
Not too long ago, there was a discussion here of this subject and many
concluded just the opposite. My son ONLY gets Dimetap beacuse it does NOT have
antihistimines. He goes absolutely nuts on antihistimines. Don't generalize.
One thing may work for an individual and not another.
Mary in MI
SueDriver
In article <52gra0$8...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, bonn...@aol.com (BonnieGr)
writes:
> I am very interested in
>allergy and how it is related to the TS spectrum disorders. Mast cells
>in particular interest me.
Me too, Bonnie - it seems like a vicious cycle. Allergies cause certain
actions/reactions to the mast cells, which in turn seem to produce a
variety of symptoms. Mast cells are very important to normal function-
ing of the immune system, I think - & a healthy immune system is also
directly related to allergies (I think).
> Dr. Carl Hansen, Jr. has provided us with
>good information from his studies with his tic disorder patients, and has
>recently implicated mast cells a possible players in these disorders.
This is great! I'll be very interested in watching how this research
progresses! As usual, thanks for the great info, Bonnie!
Sue (in DE)
BonnieGr
In article <N.092796....@anxp6.ga.centuryinter.net>,
cen0...@centuryinter.net writes:
Dear Mary,
I give my son Dimetapp also, because it *does* have antihistamines.
Why do you say it doesn't? Are you getting Sudafed mixed up with
an antihistamine, because if this is the case, Sudafed is what makes
Jason nuts. It is a stimulant. Most forms of Dimetapp have
decongestants other than pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). This is why
I have always used Dimetapp. Thanks for your message!
Bonnie Grimaldi
Patrick Killourhy
BonnieGr (bonn...@aol.com) wrote:
: Glad you posted! It makes perfect scientific sense that antihistamines
: help TS. There are countless documentations on the histamine
: allergy and how it is related to the TS spectrum disorders. Mast cells
: in particular interest me. Dr. Carl Hansen, Jr. has provided us with
: good information from his studies with his tic disorder patients, and has
: recently implicated mast cells a possible players in these disorders.
Do you have any information on using methionine (an amino acid supplement)
to achieve the same end (reduction of histamine and alleviation of TS)?
I've seen two very vague references to its efficacy wrt obsessional
disorders, but unfortunately, they were in lay literature, and lacked
cites. Any information you could supply that points in this direction
would be much appreciated.
Patrick Killourhy
BonnieGr (bonn...@aol.com) wrote:
: Glad you posted! It makes perfect scientific sense that antihistamines
: help TS. There are countless documentations on the histamine
: scientific
: evidence on the presence of histamine producing mast cells in the brain.
: Histamine receptors have an overall increasing effect on dopamine
: neurons in the brain, having both inhibiting and agonistic effects
: in different parts of the brain. Histamine released from mast cells
: in particular interest me. Dr. Carl Hansen, Jr. has provided us with
: good information from his studies with his tic disorder patients, and has
: recently implicated mast cells a possible players in these disorders.
:
Have you seen any references to using the amino acid supplement methionine
to achive the same results (reduction of histamine in the brain for TS
alleviation)? I have seen a couple of vague references to its efficacy in
treating obsessional disorders and have been curious in this regard, but
unfortunately they were in lay literature and lacked cites.
Any information you could supply wrt this would be much appreciated.
FANGBASHER
When our youngest 1st demonstrated TS symptoms--eye-squeezing I thought
it was due to possible allergy--all the mold in the bldg, particularly
backstage. She was performing in dinner theater production of "Sound of
Music," and was required to be there for about 3.5 to 5 hrs. As soon as I
walked in I smelled the mold to which I am very allergic (as is my oldest
who is also asthmatic). I gave her Sudafed abour 1/2 hr. prior to start
of each show--which helped. This may also be of possible interest--our
oldest and youngest, but not middle child show signs of environmental
allergies--youngest has TS OCD and oldest has motor tics and OC behaviors,
is very "active" and eats alot--when she finaly sits down to study rubs
head, over-eats-entire, regular sized box of cereal (peanut butter
puffs)-but is very thin--wish I had her metabolism--). Our middle child
shows no signs of allergy, tics, or OCD's (but was/is(?) hypersensitive to
pain, noise, too much stimuli---.
