Chronic urticaria is annoying, but this medication can keep you safe and itch-free!

When it comes to urticaria, many people may have experienced it: the body is always inexplicably itchy, and after scratching, red bumps like "mosquito bites" appear all over the body, which appear and disappear over and over again. The more itchy it is, the more you scratch, and the more it itches. Faced with this recurring urticaria, are you helpless? In fact, as long as you use the medicine correctly, even if you have chronic urticaria, you can be safe and "itch-free".

What is chronic urticaria

Urticaria, commonly known as "wheal" or "wind bumps", is a localized edema reaction caused by dilation of small blood vessels and increased permeability in the skin and mucous membranes. Clinically, it often manifests as wheals of varying sizes, often accompanied by itching. If urticaria occurs every day or intermittently, and the course of the disease is greater than 6 weeks, it is chronic urticaria.

Symptomatic treatment of chronic urticaria <br /> Currently, there is no cure for chronic urticaria. The first choice is symptomatic treatment with antihistamines to control symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life. To this end, medication must be taken regularly in sufficient doses and for a sufficient course of treatment, rather than only when symptoms occur.

Antihistamines are commonly known as anti-allergic drugs. What do they specifically include?

1. Types of drugs

—— First generation antihistamines ——

Representative drugs: diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, cyproheptadine, etc.

Drug characteristics: short half-life, 2 to 3 doses per day, strong central nervous system inhibitory effect, obvious sedative and anticholinergic effects, so long-term use is not recommended.

—— Second generation antihistamines ——

Representative drugs: Ebastine, Cetirizine, Loratadine, etc.

Drug characteristics: long half-life, only need to be administered once a day, no obvious central nervous system inhibitory effect, also known as non-sedating antihistamines, is currently the first choice for the treatment of chronic urticaria.

—— Third generation antihistamines ——

Representative drugs: desloratadine, desloratadine citrate, levocetirizine, etc.

Drug characteristics: long half-life, once a day administration, enhanced anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects compared to second-generation antihistamines, almost no central nervous system inhibitory effect, definite efficacy, and few adverse reactions.

2. Dosage adjustment

Chronic urticaria is a chronic disease, and its treatment is also a long process. So how to adjust the dosage of medication in time according to the condition?

For the treatment of chronic urticaria, conventional doses of second-generation antihistamines are preferred, with effective control of wheals and itching as the standard. If the condition is controlled after 1 to 2 weeks of use, the dose can be gradually reduced or the interval between medications can be extended, and the treatment can be maintained at the minimum dose for at least 3 to 6 months.

If the condition cannot be effectively controlled within 1 to 2 weeks, the original antihistamine can be increased to an appropriate therapeutic dose or the type of antihistamine can be changed based on the doctor's diagnosis and treatment. The combined use of other second-generation or first-generation antihistamines can also be considered.

When multi-drug antihistamines are used as the initial treatment for chronic urticaria, the dosage or type can be gradually reduced after the symptoms are completely controlled. For example, the types of medications can be gradually reduced (from a combination of 3 drugs to a combination of 2 drugs, and then gradually reduced), or the daily dosage can be reduced, or the medication interval can be extended (from daily administration to every other day administration, or every two days administration), etc. It should be noted that the increase or decrease of the drug dosage should correspond to the control of symptoms.

3. Notes

When taking medication for a long time, the most important thing that people are concerned about is the adverse reactions caused by the medication. So, what should we pay attention to when using antihistamines for a long time?

First- and second-generation antihistamines can cause drowsiness, so you should avoid driving, working at heights, working with machinery, or operating precision instruments after taking them. Urticaria is more likely to occur at night, so it is recommended to take the medicine after dinner or before bedtime.

It is not advisable to drink alcohol or take sedatives, hypnotics or antidepressants at the same time while taking antihistamines.

Some antihistamines themselves have a certain degree of allergenicity. For example, diphenhydramine can cause drug rash. If the rash symptoms change after taking the medicine, you should see a doctor to determine whether the drug rash is caused by drug allergy, and the doctor will guide the next step of treatment.

During the medication period, the patient should eat a light diet and avoid spicy food.

If you need to do a skin test for other diseases while taking the medicine, be sure to stop taking antihistamines about 48 hours before the skin test, as they can prevent or reduce the positive reaction of the skin test.

For patients with chronic urticaria, taking medication in advance, persisting in taking medication, and gradually reducing the dosage can achieve the ideal therapeutic effect. Children, the elderly, pregnant and lactating women, and those with abnormal liver and kidney function need to carefully choose antihistamines under the guidance of a doctor.