Can anti histamine tablets trigger AF?

[Mrsvemb]

I am sure that I have read somewhere that anti histamines tablets can trigger AF. I can’t find it on here.

I am currently self injecting Clexane in order to give my stomach a break from oral anti coagulants. I have erosive gastritis, thought to be caused by Rivaroxaban and cannot tolerate any of the tablets prescribed to heal this, PPI’s etc.

On Friday evening I developed a rash on one side of my tummy where I have been injecting, it is itchy and sore. Last night I noticed that it has started the other side as well, so looks like another allergic reaction for me. Having spoken to a pharmacist yesterday, who wasn’t really interested, I purchased anti histamine cream, but so far it is not helping. He did say to contact my GP on Tuesday.

My question is can I take anti histamine tablets without risking triggering AF? I suspect that is the route my GP will suggest. As with most GP’s he is no expert on AF and it’s triggers.

Has anyone had problems with anti histamines triggering AF.

Val

[BobD Volunteer]

Anything or nothing can trigger AF if it wants to but all I can say is that in all the 16 years I have been on this journey my hayfever tablets have never been an issue. Caveat we are all different!

[Mrsvemb in reply to BobD]

Thank you. Yes we are all different. I seem to react to everything I am prescribed. Can’t win.

[wilsond]

I checked this out with my GP last year and he got out The Big Book ....it is ok to take anti histamine tablets and sprays with AF. A big no no is antifungal meds .xx

[Mrsvemb in reply to wilsond]

Thank you. I seem to get reactions that nobody else does.

My gastroenterologist told me that I was wrong when I said that ranitidine was provoking AF. I tried it again and proved him wrong. I seem to get a buildup of tablets then I have a blow out with a 14/16 hour session of AF.

It makes me very nervous of trying new tablets

Val

[Auriculaire in reply to Mrsvemb]

It might be that you are a slow metaboliser. It has recently heen found that rates of metabolisation of meds by the liver varies genetically. There are slow , "normal" and fast metabolisers. Drug dosages recommended by the manufacturers are for the "normal " or average people. This means that if you are a slow metaboliser your liver is not clearing the drug from your system as quickly as it should leading to a build up which over time could be toxic and generate more side effects. Conversely quick metabolisers will be clearing too fast before their next dose which in the case of anticoagulants could lead to underprotection. Ideally doses should be tailored to each metabolic type but this would mean genetic testing. Fat chance so it's one size fits all -or not. It is also now known that women metabolise many drugs differently to men and the dosages recommended are not suitable for women - often overdosing us. Any drug developped before the mid nineties will not have had women included routinely in clinical trials nor even have been tested on female lab animals because our pesky hormones were thought to bugger up the results. The logic that in real life those hormones were still going to be there and might have some effect on the way the drugs affected women did not seem to occur to the researchers. Or maybe they just did not care.

[Mrsvemb in reply to Auriculaire]

What you are saying makes absolute sense to me. I have been saying this for a long time. I just don’t metabolise drugs fast enough, get a build up and very often will get AF for 14 hours or so. During this time I am in and out of the loo flushing it out of my system.

I know my metabolism in general is very slow, as I really struggle to lose weight. Even when I was going to the gym 5 times a week, I still struggled to lose more than 1-2lbs a week at slimming world.

My liver function tests are all perfectly ok.

[Auriculaire in reply to Mrsvemb]

So are mine but I am convinced I am a slow metaboliser . My doc has prescribed Paracetamol with opium powder for my hip pain. He said I could take 3 a day .The painkilling effect lasts 12 hours and sometimes longer and I have never taken more than one. I think it is not a defect in the liver just a genetic variation.

[cuore in reply to Auriculaire]

A most interesting read. Thank you for that. I absolutely agree that a "one size fits all" is an inadequate methodology to prescribe drugs. It is unfortunate that there is no genetic analysis before we take any drugs. Perhaps in the future there will be an analysis of our body type as a prerequisite to drug prescription. This present "trial and error" really isn't working for most.

[David1958 in reply to Auriculaire]

Those researchers were all men. It never occurred to them and they don't care.

[TamlaMotown]

Hello Mrsvemb, I take Cetirizine daily for my allergies & it doesn’t have any adverse effects on my heart

[Mrsvemb in reply to TamlaMotown]

That’s good to hear. I guess I will have try them if my GP suggests it.

Val

[Auriculaire in reply to Mrsvemb]

I would caution you against Cetirizine as you are so sensitive to meds. I had a terrible time with it this winter. I was suffering from hives . It worked like a charm to take them away . I am very sensitive to meds and found a quarter of a pill lasted 3/4 days! BUT they started giving me appalling back ache and when I tried to stop them the itching was even worse and in places I had never had the hives- palms, soles and scalp. I did a search and fell upon "Cetirizine withdrawal"- umpteen horror stories of people who had rebound itching when they stopped the drug even if they had been taking it for sneezing allergies. Luckily I had only been taking them a few weeks and (because a small dose worked for me) not in normal quantities so I toughed it out for about 10 days but some people said it took months for this withdrawal and made their lives hell. I put Eurax cream on the hives and eventually they went away by themselves. Many people also report lots of nasty mental side effects with Cetirizine.

[Mrsvemb in reply to Auriculaire]

Thanks for the warning. I don’t actually want to take anything for it. I am very nervous about any new meds to be honest.

[Auriculaire in reply to Mrsvemb]

I don't blame you. I hate taking meds. I had been prescribed the Cetirazine by a locum doctor some time ago for a bee sting on my upper lip ( massive trout pout!!). I had not even taken one at the time so when the hives started I remembered I had them in the meds cupboard . I really had to steel myself against succumbing and taking one during the withdrawal. They also made me very somnolent even with the tiny dose.

[Frances123]

I have suffered from acid reflux and gord in varying degrees for nigh on 15 years. It has become evil at times these past 18 months due to medication for breast cancer as that is well know to cause upper GI problems. This has now caused a globus sensation or mucous feeling at the back of the throat Intermittently. Dr. Prescribed Piriton as he felt it could be an allergy. It has certainly worked with no ill effects. I take them for a week or so and then stop until it happens again.

I am on Flecainide and Apixaban for AFib.

As Bob says, we are all different. I can attest to that with different side effects for many drugs. Likewise triggers for afib.

Hope you find something that gives you relief. X

[Mrsvemb in reply to Frances123]

Thank you for your reply. I guess I will have to take a chance if GP suggests it. I couldn’t tolerate the medication for breast cancer either. Not much I can tolerate.

Val

[DevonHubby1]

Our pharmacist advised against Piriton (active ingredient chlorphenamine maleate) due to the meds my wife is on and suggested brands that contain loratadine instead.

[HiloHairy in reply to DevonHubby1]

I don't want to sound gross especially to you English folks but... Is your pharmacist suggesting that having sex could combine drugs that shouldn't be taken together?

[Frances123 in reply to DevonHubby1]

It’s a good idea and I too always check and it was fine for my medications. I’m lucky that I have a great pharmacy who always check any new drugs given with what they hold on record for me. X

[Cookie24 in reply to DevonHubby1]

Do you know why advice was given against chlorphenamine maleate? I have been using this.

[LaceyLady]

I’ve taken antihistamine and was ok, Piriton. My GP said it was ok, looks like you may have to try but talk to a Medic

[Danceawaytheblues]

I use Piriteze when my allergies start to play up. I spoke to my pharmacist, who said that it was fine to take them when I needed too. Never had an issue with them.

[Goldfish7]

I wont take loratadine based antihystamines as they gave me a fast uneven heart rate years ago when I was young fit and AF free. I find the most side effect free antihystamine to be Piriton although it sedates me massively so if needed I only take it at night.

The other non drowsy antihystamines such as Pitateze which appear to be the most common antihystamines these days Do not sedate as much but make me drowsy the next day and are more prone to making my heart beat faster or increase ectopics. I'm guessing that there will be a lot of variation between peple re side effects - best of luck!!! P.S Piriton in small doses also works on dogs safely for allergies or Bee munching!!

[DevonHubby1]

Strange as possible side effect is fast or erratic heart rate google.co.uk/url?sa=t&sourc...

[Mrsvemb in reply to DevonHubby1]

Thank you. Certainly won’t use that one if any.

[Davg7]

Don’t know about anti histamines. They are often combined with pseudo efedrerine which have triggered my afib.

[Mrsvemb in reply to Davg7]

Thank you. Yes I know to avoid decongestants. Even using a small amount of Vick triggered AF for me.

[Mittzy]

I use fexofenadine as I get seasonal allergies and find that this is ok with my AF.