rash/hives

[ahimsa]

Originally Posted by jessica430

i was on zyrtec previously-it worked well until i broke out and ended up taking more than the "recommended dose", after moving out on my own and getting my own insurance, my doctor would not give me a new prescription for it and i've been taking benadryl ever since. it's the only thing that works if i take around the clock BEFORE the hives come. but may i ask why the pepcid? i read about someone else taking zyrtec and pepcid, and then benadryl when the hives got real bad. does it work better when taken with pepcid or is it just to calm your stomach?

Jessica, I am going from memory here, so may not use the correct terminology.... The Pepcid (and Zantac, and similar) are type 2 histamine receptor blockers (did I get that right?). Type 2 receptors are found in the stomach lining and... surprise.... the skin. Most antihistamines (Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin, Benedryl, etc.) are type 1 blockers. Type 1 receptors are found pretty much everywhere, I think. So for hives the idea is you get more complete histamine blocking by using both types. It works fairly well for me, though many others are not so fortunate.

Kristi

[elli3]

Is anyone allergic to sulfites or coloring additives? I'm suppose to avoid both and think I am............but every morning same ole, same ole. Clarinex / Cimiditine in the AM and Zyrtec / Cimiditine in the PM seem to keep them "faded and outsight" with no itching, but would love to just get rid of them!!

Elli

[PandaPaws]

You may be interested in my earlier postings on Yellow Dye 5. (You can search on my nickname and find my postings from August/September of last year on this thread.)

For about 20 years I had a variety of hives. The descriptions by other members are very familiar to me - run of the mill hives on various parts of my body (some, as mentioned by one member, on top of veins on my wrists), red spots on my palms, swollen and rigid forearm muscle, etc. Some hives occured after exposure to the sun and cold. However, the worse symptoms were the ones that occured after pressure - delayed pressure urticaria. Not only did these hives on my hands and feet hurt, itch, and restrict my activities; but I felt that my whole body was inflamed.

After reading the postings from others, I feel very lucky because once I eliminated my exposure to Yellow Dye 5, my hives stopped appearing.

By the way, I was interested to see the mention of mitral valve prolapse. I have been told I have this as well. I am skeptical of a link to hives, but I have to admit my rare episodes of rapid heart beats stopped at about the same time as my elimination of Yellow Dye 5. Just because some of these additives don't kill us outright doesn't mean that they are harmless.

[angel monkey]

Kristi--
I am very interested in what you were saying about type 1 and 2 histamine blockers and how it works with pepcid and zyrtec. Right now I am going back and forth between Claritan, zyrtec and benydrl. Did the doctor prescribe that, and what are the correct doses for each that your taking? I am going to ask my allergist about it as soon as I can. Maybe it will at least help me. Thank you for your help.

ANGEL MONKEY

[ahimsa]

Angel Monkey,

Yes, my allergist prescribed the Zyrtec/Pepcid combo for me about 2 years ago. (Before that, I had been on Allegra alone but it didn't seem to help much for my chronic urt.) I think several others on this board are on a similar combination.

I am still on the combination today. (I had been off of all meds this last spring and summer since it appeared the hives were going away or at least getting better, but then I got hit with a really big outbreak in the fall, and I have been back on the Zyrtec/Pepcid ever since.)

Sorry, I don't have the mg's handy. I take 1 pill of Zyrtec plus 1 pill of Pepcid in the morning, and then one Pepcid alone at night.

FWIW, when my hives/swelling are flaring badly enough, I take Benedryl in addition to the Zyrtec and Pepcid.

- Kristi