Antihistamines are a group of medicines used to treat allergic reactions, such as allergic rhinitis, allergic reactions due to insect stings, food allergic reactions, urticaria or hives. Not only allergies, antihistamines are also often used to treat symptoms of nausea or vomiting which are usually caused by motion sickness.
Antihistamines work by blocking the histamine produced by the body. Histamine substances, basically function against viruses or bacteria that enter the body. When histamine fights, the body will experience inflammation. But in people who have allergies, histamine performance becomes chaotic because these chemicals can no longer distinguish between objects that are harmful and objects that are not harmful to the body, such as dust, animal dander, or food. As a result, the body continues to experience inflammation or allergic reactions when the harmless object enters the body.
There are two types of antihistamines, namely first-generation and second-generation antihistamines. First-generation antihistamines cause more drowsiness than second-generation antihistamines.
First generation antihistamines are:
- Chlorpheniramine
- Cyproheptadine
- triprolidine
- Hydroxyzine
- Ketotifen
- Mebhydrolin
- Promethazine
- Dimethindene maleate
While the second generation antihistamine drugs are:
- Desloratadine
- Fexofenadine
- Levocetirizine
- Cetirizine
- Terfenadine
- Loratadine.
Warning:
- Pregnant women, nursing mothers, or women who are planning a pregnancy, need to adjust the type and dosage of antihistamines according to the doctor's recommendations.
- Be careful if you want to give antihistamines to children. The use of each type of antihistamine is different and according to age.
- Please be careful in using this drug if you suffer from kidney disorders, liver disorders, stomach ulcers, intestinal obstruction, urinary tract infections, prostate swelling, and glaucoma.
- If prescribed antihistamines of the first class, avoid consuming alcohol or alcoholic beverages because they can exacerbate the effects of drowsiness.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking antihistamines along with other medicines, including herbal products, because you are afraid they may cause dangerous side effects.
- If an allergic reaction or overdose occurs, see a doctor immediately.
Antihistamines Side Effects
Just like other drugs, antihistamines also have the potential to cause side effects. Some of the side effects that generally occur after taking this antihistamine drug are:
- Sleepy
- dry mouth
- Dysphagia
- Dizzy
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Difficult to urinate
- Easy to get angry
- Blurred vision.
Types, Trademarks, and Antihistamine Dosage
The following is an antihistamine dose based on the types of medicine. For information, the use of each type of drug is prohibited for age groups not mentioned below.
For a detailed explanation of the side effects, warnings, or interactions of each antihistamine drug, please refer to Drugs A-Z.
Brompheniramine
Trademarks: Alco Plus, Alco Plus DMP, Ares Cold & Allergy, Ares Cold & Cough
Medicinal form: Syrup
- Allergy
Children aged 13 years to adults: 4 mg every 4-6 hours.
Children aged 7-12 years: 2 mg every 4-6 hours.
Children aged 2-6 years: 1 mg every 4-6 hours.
Chlorpheniramine
Chlorpheniramine trademarks: Alpara, Brontusin, Ceteem, Chlorphenamine Maleate, Dextral, Etaflusin, Lodecon, Omecold, Pacdin Cough, Tilomix
Drug form: Tablet, syrup, suspension
- Allergy
Mature: 4 mg every 4-6 hours, up to 24 mg daily.
Children aged 1-2 years: 1 mg, twice daily.
Children aged 2-5 years: 1 mg every 4-6 hours.
Children aged 6-12 years: 2 mg every 4-6 hours.
(The maximum dose for ages 1-5 years is 6 mg per day and for ages 6-12 years is 12 mg per day).
Cyproheptadine
Cyproheptadine trademarks: Bimatonin, Cydifar, Ennamax, Erphacyp, Graperide, Heptasan, Lexahist, Nebor, Ponchohist, Pronam
Drug form: Tablet
- Allergy
Mature: 12-16 mg per day in 3-4 divided doses. The maximum dose is 32 mg per day.
Children aged 2-6 years: 2 mg, 2-3 times per day. The maximum dose is 12 mg per day.
Children aged 7-14 years: 4 mg, 2-3 times per day. The maximum dose is 16 mg per day.
- Migraine
Mature: 4 mg, may be repeated after 30 minutes. Dosage not to exceed 8 mg over 4-6 hours. The maintenance dose is 4 mg every 4-6 hours.
Hydroxyzine
Hydroxyzine trademark: Bestalin
Drug form: Tablet, syrup
- Itching (pruritus) and urticaria
Mature: The initial dose is 25 mg taken at night. Or 25 mg, 3-4 times per day if needed.
Children aged 6 months-6 years: The initial dose is 5-15 mg per day, increased to 50 mg per day in several divided doses.
Children 7 years of age or older: The initial dose is 15-25 mg per day, increased to 50-100 mg per day in divided doses.
Ketotifen
Ketotifen trademarks: Astifen, Ditensa, Intifen, Profilas, Scanditen, Tosma, Zaditen
Drug form: Tablet, Syrup
- Allergic rhinitis
Children aged 3 years to adults: 1 mg, 2 times daily, may be increased to 2 mg, twice daily if needed.
Promethazine
Promethazine trademarks: Berlifed, Erpha Allergil, Halfilyn, Hfallerzine expectorant, Nufapreg, Phenerica, Prome, Promedex, Promethazine, Zenirex
Drug form: Tablets, syrup (promethazine hydrochloride)
- Allergy
Mature: 25 mg taken at night. May be increased to 25 mg, twice daily if needed.
Children aged 2-5 years: 5-15 mg per day, divided into 1-2 times the dose.
Children aged 6-10 years: 10-25 mg, divided into 1-2 times a day.
Cetirizine
Cetirizine trademarks: Berzin, Cetirizine, Cetirizine Hydrocholride, Esculer, Estin, Gentrizin, Intrizin, Lerzin, Ritez Simzen
Drug form: Tablets, chewable tablets, syrup, Drops (oral drops)
- Allergy
Mature: 10 mg, once per day or 5 mg, 2 times per day.
Infants aged 6-23 months: 2.5 mg, once per day which may be increased to a maximum dose of 2.5 mg, 2 times per day for infants 12 months of age and older.
Children aged 2-5 years: 5 mg, 1-2 times per day.
Children 6 years of age or older: 10 mg, 1-2 times per day.
seniors: Initial dose 5 mg, once per day.
Desloratadine
Desloratadine trademarks: Aerius, Aerius D-12, Aleros, Altera, Desdin, Desloratadine, Destavell, Eslor, Simdes
Drug form: Tablet, syrup
- Allergy
Mature: 5 mg, once per day.
Infants aged 6-11 months: 1 mg, once per day.
Toddlers aged 1-5 years: 1.25 mg, once per day.
Children aged 6-11 years: 2.5 mg, once per day.
Fexofenadine
Fexofenadine trademarks: Foxofed, Fexoven OD, Telfast, Telfast BD, Telfast HD, Telfast OD, Telfast Plus
Drug form: Tablet
- Allergic rhinitis
Children 12 years old to adults: 120 mg, once per day.
Children aged 6-11 years: 30 mg, twice per day.
- Urticaria
Children 12 years old to adults: 180 mg, once per day.
Levocetirizine
Levocetirizine trademarks: Avocel, Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride, L-Allergy, Xyzal
Drug form: Tablet
- Allergic rhinitis
Mature: 2.5-5 mg, once per day, taken at night.
Children aged 2-5 years: 1.25 mg, once per day, taken at night.
Children aged 6-11 years: 2.5 mg, once per day, taken at night.
Children 12 years of age or older: 2.5-5 mg, once per day, taken at night.
- Urticaria
Mature: 2.5-5 mg, once per day taken at night.
Infants aged 6 months-5 years: 1.25 mg, once per day.
Children aged 6-11 years: 2.5 mg, once per day, taken at night.
Children 12 years of age or older: 2.5-5 mg, once per day, taken at night.
Loratadine
Loratadine trademarks: Alernitis, Alloris, Klinset, Loratadine, Miratadin, Rahistin
Drug form: Tablet, syrup
- Allergy
Children aged 6 years to Adults: 10 mg, once per day or 5 mg every 12 hours per day.
Children aged 2-5 years: 5 mg, once per day.