MadSci Network: Medicine
Query:

Re: Why would a person in anaphylaxis need more than an antihistamine?

Date: Sat Oct 27 12:42:04 2001
Posted By: M. Salik Jahania, M.D., Suregry, Cardiothoracic, University of Kentucky
Area of science: Medicine
ID: 1002905381.Me
Message:

You see anaphylaxis is an advanced form of allergic reaction, when the 
histamine has already been released from the mast cells and other 
inflammatory cells. Administering an antihistamine, depending on its 
mechanism of action, can not necessarily displace the histamine that has 
already bound with the histaminic receptors and the effects that take 
place subsequently down stream.

Anaphylaxis causes a circulatory collapse and to prevent catastrophic loss 
of blood pressure and vascular tone you need to administer epinephrine to 
counter act the loss of blood pressure.
While antihistamines are part of the treatment for anaphylaxis they are 
not the only treatment and cannot compeletely overcome the deleterious 
effects of anaphylaxis.

Hope this helps, If you have some further questions please feel free to 
ask.

thanks



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