In many home medicine kits there are medicines, the purpose and mechanism of which people do not understand. Antihistamines also belong to such drugs. Most allergy sufferers choose their own medicines, calculate the dosage and the course of therapy, without consulting a specialist.
Antihistamines - what is it in simple words?
This term is often misunderstood. Many people believe that these are just allergy medications, but they are intended for the treatment of other diseases. Antihistamines are a group of medicines that block the immune response to external stimuli. These include not only allergens, but also viruses, fungi and bacteria (infectious agents), toxins. Considered medicines prevent the occurrence of:
- bronchospasm ;
- edema of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat;
- redness, blisters on the skin;
- itching;
- intestinal colic ;
- excessive secretion of gastric juice;
- narrowing of blood vessels;
- muscle spasms;
- swelling.
How do antihistamines work?
The main protective role in the human body is played by white blood cells or white blood cells. There are several of them, one of the most important - mast cells. After maturing, they circulate through the bloodstream and are inserted into connective tissues, becoming part of the immune system. When dangerous substances enter the body, mast cells release histamine. It is a chemical substance necessary for the regulation of digestive processes, oxygen metabolism and blood circulation. Its excess leads to allergic reactions.
To histamine provoked negative symptoms, it must be absorbed by the body. To do this, there are special receptors H1, located in the inner shell of blood vessels, cells of smooth muscles and nervous system. How do antihistamines work: the active ingredients of these drugs "deceive" H1-receptors. Their structure and structure is very similar to the substance in question. Medications compete with histamine and are absorbed by receptors in place of it, without causing allergic reactions.
As a result, a chemical that provokes unwanted symptoms remains in the blood in an inactive state and is later eliminated naturally. The antihistamine effect depends on how many H1-receptors managed to block the drug taken. For this reason, it is important to begin treatment immediately after the onset of the first symptoms of an allergy.
How long can I take antihistamines?
The duration of therapy depends on the generation of the medication and the severity of pathological symptoms. How long to take antihistamines, the doctor should decide. Some medicines can be used no more than 6-7 days, the modern pharmacological agents of the last generation are less toxic, so they can be used for 1 year. Before taking it is important to consult with a specialist. Antihistamines can accumulate in the body and cause poisoning. Some people subsequently develop an allergy to these medicines.
How often can I take antihistamines?
Most manufacturers of the described products release them in a convenient dosage, which assumes the use only once a day. The question of how to take antihistamines, depending on the frequency of occurrence of negative clinical manifestations, is solved with the doctor. The presented group of medicines refers to symptomatic methods of therapy. They must be used every time there are signs of disease.
New antihistamines can also be used as prevention. If contact with the allergen can not be avoided exactly (poplar fluff, ragweed blossom, etc.), it is necessary to use the medicine in advance. Preliminary intake of antihistamines will not only soften the negative symptoms, but exclude their appearance. The H1 receptors will already be blocked when the immune system attempts to initiate a protective reaction.
Antihistamines - List
The very first medicament of the group was synthesized in 1942 (Fenbenzamin). Since that moment, a massive study of substances capable of blocking H1 receptors has started. By now, there are 4 generations of antihistamines. Early medication options are rarely used due to undesirable side effects and toxic effects on the body. Modern drugs are characterized by maximum safety and fast results.
Antihistamines 1 generation - List
This type of pharmacological agents has a short-term effect (up to 8 hours), can be addictive, sometimes provokes poisoning. Antihistamines of the 1st generation remain popular only because of low cost and pronounced sedative (soothing) effect. Names of:
- Dedalon;
- Bicarfen;
- Suprastin;
- Diphenhydramine ;
- Tavegil;
- Diazoline;
- Clemastine;
- Diprazine;
- Lorediks;
- Pipolphen;
- Setastin;
- Dimebon;
- Cyproheptadine;
- Fenkarol;
- Peritol;
- Quifenadine;
- Dimetinden;
- Fenistil and others.
Antihistamines 2 generations - List
After 35 years, the first H1-receptor blocker was released without sedation and toxic effects on the body. Unlike its predecessors, antihistamines of the 2nd generation work much longer (12-24 hours), do not become addictive and do not depend on food and alcohol intake. They provoke less dangerous side effects and do not block other receptors in tissues and blood vessels. New generation antihistamines - list:
- Taldan;
- Claritin ;
- Astemizole;
- Terfenadine;
- Bronal;
- Allergodyl;
- Fexofenadine;
- Rupafin;
- Trexile;
- Loratadine;
- Histadyl;
- Zirtek;
- Ebastin;
- Astemysan;
- Claricens;
- Histalong;
- Cetrin;
- Semprex;
- Kestin;
- Acryvastine;
- Gismanal;
- Cetirizine;
- Levocabastine;
- Azelastine;
- Histimet;
- Lorahexal;
- Claridol;
- Rupatadine;
- Lomilan and analogues.
Antihistamines 3 generations
Based on previous drugs, scientists have obtained stereoisomers and metabolites (derivatives). At first these antihistamines were positioned as a new subgroup of medicines or the 3rd generation:
- Glencet;
- Xizal;
- Cezer;
- Suprastinex;
- The fexophagus;
- Zodak Express;
- L-Cet;
- Lauratec;
- Fexadine;
- Erius;
- Dezal;
- Neo-Claritin;
- Lordestin;
- Telfast;
- Fexofen;
- Allegra.
Later such a classification caused controversy and controversy in the scientific community. To make a final decision on the above funds, an expert group for independent clinical trials was assembled. According to the estimated criteria, preparations from the third generation allergy should not affect the work of the central nervous system, produce toxic effects on the heart, liver and blood vessels and interact with other medicines. According to the results of the research, none of these drugs meets these requirements.
4 Generation Antihistamines - List
In some sources, this type of pharmacological agents include Telfast, Suprastinex and Erius, but this is an erroneous statement. Antihistamines of 4 generations have not yet been developed, as well as the third. There are only improved forms and derivatives of previous versions of medications. The most modern so far are drugs of the 2nd generation.
The best antihistamines
Selection of funds from the described group should be carried out by a specialist. Some people are better suited for allergy 1 generation because of the need for sedation, other patients do not need this effect. Similarly, the doctor recommends the form of release of the medication depending on the symptoms. Systemic drugs are prescribed for the expressed signs of the disease, in other cases, you can do with local funds.
Antihistamine tablets
Oral medications are necessary for the rapid removal of clinical manifestations of pathology that affect several body systems. Antihistamines for internal reception begin to function within an hour and effectively stop the swelling of the throat and other mucous membranes, relieve the cold, lacrimation and skin symptoms of the disease.
Effective and safe allergy tablets:
- Fexofen;
- Alersis;
- Tsetril;
- Altiva;
- Rolinosis;
- Telfast;
- Amertyl;
- Eden;
- The fexophagus;
- Cetrin;
- Allergomax;
- Zodak;
- Tigofast;
- Allertec;
- Cetral;
- Eridez;
- Trexile Neo;
- Zeilola;
- L-Cet;
- Alerzin;
- Glencet;
- Xizal;
- Aleron Neo;
- Lordes;
- Erius;
- Allergistop;
- Fribrys and others.
Antihistamine drops
In this dosage form, both local and systemic preparations are produced. Drops from an allergy for oral administration;
- Zirtek;
- Dezal;
- Fenistil;
- Zodak;
- Xizal;
- Parliamentary;
- The zaditor;
- Allergonics and analogues.
Antihistamine topical preparations for the nose:
- Tizin Allärji;
- Allergodyl;
- Lecrolin;
- Cromohexal;
- Sanorin Aneralgin;
- Vibrocil and others.
Antiallergic drops in the eye:
- Opatanol;
- Zaditen;
- Allergodyl;
- Lecrolin;
- Nafkon-A;
- Cromohexal;
- Vizin;
- Okumil and synonyms.
Antihistamine ointments
If the disease manifests itself only in the form of hives, itchy skin and other dermatological symptoms, it is better to use only local drugs. Such antihistamines work locally, so they rarely provoke unwanted side effects and are not addictive. A good allergy ointment can be selected from this list:
- Nezulin;
- Soderm;
- Flucinar;
- Celestoderm B;
- Elokom;
- Mesoderm;
- Lorinden;
- Irikar;
- Beloderm;
- Advantan;
- Skin-cap;
- Fenistil;
- Belosalik;
- Sinaflan;
- Lokoid;
- Gystan and analogues.