SVT and Antihistamines

[Lbeat796]

I have recently been diagnosed with SVT.

As I am having problems sleeping is it safe to take antihistamine containing Cetrizine or chlorphenamine

Thanks.

Linda

[BobD Volunteer]

Best discuss with your pharmacist about any contra indications with your other drugs.

[Lbeat796 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, good advice as usual. Will do that today..Linda

[moonfairy]

I've had svt for years and I'm on antihistamines usual fine to take with my med I'm on dilitiziem x

[Lbeat796 in reply to moonfairy]

Thanks for reply Moonfairy ..Linda

[Ppiman]

I suffer terribly with insomnia and have for years. I find that antihistamines aren't the best sedatives as they leave me feeling muzzy headed much of the following day. Better would be to try one of the relaxation apps on the iPhone Store or Google Play or press your GP to offer you a couple of weeks' supply of zopiclone or zolpidem. I find the latter (10mg cut into 4 x 2.5mg doses!) works well, but still only keep me asleep for 3 hours or so. Doctors are reluctant to prescribe any sleep remedy, which is understandable as a few people easily become dependent.

An alternative drug is mirtazapine. This is an antihistamine, however, but used in higher doses to help with low mood and depression. A friend has been given this having been diagnosed with HF and suffering anxiety as a result. He is very pleased with it and his sleep is much improved. I was given it once but, as with Nytol, daytime grogginess (well, more like a zombie!) was the result.

Steve

[Rainfern in reply to Ppiman]

My husband has a bad insomnia problem that has only got worse, and a recent test showed up seriously low vitamin D despite the fact he is outdoors regularly. His GP has put him on a loading dose for 6 weeks. Apparently some people are less able to absorb vit D and there’s growing evidence to suggest a link between low vit D and insomnia. I just wondered if you’d come across this? My husband has had CFS for years and we’re hoping at least some of the symptoms which also mirror those of vit D deficiency will improve. The GP won’t prescribe any of the sleep medicines but would prescribe melatonin if it was available in UK.

[Johnphilip in reply to Rainfern]

hi, I have M.E. / CFS for 28 years. Been taking. Vit D. Along with. Vit K2. . Have a read up on it. Since covid started. Lot are saying that Vit. D is ment to help a little to prevent covid. Hope this may help your husband.

[Rainfern in reply to Johnphilip]

Thank you John. Sorry to hear about your CFS. It’s an awful thing. Sometimes just when you think it’s getting better it gets worse. It’s not at all easy to identify every trigger or to know when to stop before going over an edge. Have you found any useful forums for ME/CFS?

[Ppiman in reply to Rainfern]

I feel for him. It's an awful thing to suffer with. Melatonin has been shown to be pretty useless in several recent studies, I believe. I have tried vitamin D in the past, even though my levels test as normal; I even tried a high dose for some months but then had a possible kidney stone, which my GP said could have been caused by the high dose of vitamin D. I take a smaller daily dose now throughout the autumn and winter.

Doctors do not like prescribing even the mild sleeping tablets such as zolpidem, but they would if they suffered the condition. Mine sent me to a sleep specialist who proved useless so, in the end, prescribed zolpidem.

Steve

[Rainfern in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you Steve. He’s dozing by the fire as I speak, catching up I guess. Sorry the vit D and sleep specialist didn’t work for you. One thing that seems to get omitted from “sleep hygiene” manuals is the impact of wall to wall news on anyone with half a brain. During the blanking period since ablation I have shut myself off from what’s going on in the world. Maybe I took the idea of “blanking” too literally! I feel guilty for this, but I’m sleeping better.

[Ppiman in reply to Rainfern]

I would blank as much as you can! I wish I could snooze but I can’t - a too busy mind.

[Buffafly in reply to Rainfern]

My husband was prescribed melatonin while he was in hospital after an operation. So it is available but maybe only in hospital?

[Lbeat796 in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks for reply. I think you may be right as have never seen it anywhere. linda

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Buffafly]

Melatonin did nothing for me, I’m afraid. Hugely disappointing. I have ME/CFS and I find sedating anti histamines work best. I’ve done everything, and I mean everything, from SAD lamps, blue light glasses, this tea, that tea, magnesium supplements which I’ve found totally useless for everything it’s supposed to help with, and no I’m not deficient in vitamin D (it doesn’t treat or prevent Covid or flu or colds or improve sleep in my long experience of taking it over many years). It’s a case of what works for the individual, trial and error. Beware of snoring spouses. I’m thinking of buying a white noise app to mask the noise.

[Lbeat796 in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks for reply. I too find they make you groggy in the morning and usually throughout the day. Plus when you have any heart problems you are wary of taking anything out of your usual routine. If only exercise and much walking helped with sleep but not a whit of difference. Think it’s an age thing as I was a good sleeper before retirement.

[Ppiman in reply to Lbeat796]

I think it is an age related problem, but I have suffered for very many years and put it down to an over-active mind. My wife has, like you, always been a good sleeper but even she is having occasional nights where she wakens and starts thinking over this and that - not worries as such, just anything. It leaves her looking and feeling ragged the next day. I always say to her that she knows how I feel. I rarely if ever sleep well and feel tired much of the time. Such is life!

Steve

[Lbeat796 in reply to Ppiman]

Yep I agree. When working I was up every morning at 5 45 and asleep within 10 minutes at 10 30 every weekday night but would not like to be working again . Will just go sleepless😄

[Ppiman in reply to Lbeat796]

I truly envy people for whom sleep is just a natural thing. I read how common insomnia is but, in truth and over many years, I have met only a handful of folk who suffer it "properly".

Steve

[Lbeat796 in reply to Ppiman]

I know what you mean. I wear a Fitbit. I usually sleep for Around 5 hours. But I am awake multiple times during that 5 hours. Fitbit shows the little sleep I catch is classified as light sleep. Linda

[Ppiman in reply to Lbeat796]

My sleep troubles have worsened with the older man's bathroom problems! (I'm a very youthful 7-0, btw!).

Seteve

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Lbeat796]

Menopause made my sleep so much worse. It’s not been so “good” since, and it wasn’t that great before.

[Swimsyroke]

I have persistent afib and hives which originated from the flu jab and when I can't handle the itching I take cetirizine at night which also helps me sleep. I discovered that half a tablet works well and try to only take it every 5 days or so. I discussed this with my EP and he has sanctioned it. I am also on edoxaban and bisopropol and most of the time I feel good. I also take magnesium glycinate and taurine powder, vits B and D and folic acid.

[Lbeat796 in reply to Swimsyroke]

Thanks for reply. I have taken Cetrizine before with no side effects but made the mistake of googling.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Lbeat796]

Oh dear! Dr Google should be struck off! 🤣

[Qualipop]

Talk to your chemist. I normally have to have cetirizine with me at all times for a condition that causes sudden facial swelling. I don't have SVT but have had a heart attack and arrhythmia. When I checked with the pharmacist he suggested changing to a different anti histamine but sorry I can't remember the name and the box is now too battered to read it. I think it may be loratidine.

[Lbeat796 in reply to Qualipop]

Thanks for reply. I will try half a Cetrizine tablet. My friend takes the other one.

[Buffafly in reply to Lbeat796]

I was prescribed Cetirizine for allergies (1 or 2) tablets a day. That was chosen by the GP I think because it was compatible with my medication - Propafenone.

[Bunkular]

One thing I've read in studies as to what drugs are contraindicated when taking any heart meds that reduce BP and / or HR are antihistamines which could drive up blood pressure. webmd.com/interaction-check...

[Lbeat796 in reply to Bunkular]

thanks for reply …I checked out link thanks

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

I take spray Fixonase.

No one said to stop it. I take it as and when I need it. My brain scan shows a cyst in my left sinus.

Cheri JOY 74. (NZ)

[Lbeat796 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Thanks for reply Joy…