Antihistamine therapy is treatment with antihistamines, drugs that counteract the effects of histamine in the body; people typically take them as an inexpensive, generic medication for relief from nasal congestion, sneezing or hives caused by pollen, dust mites or animal allergy, usually for short-term use. Physicians and scientists classify antihistamines by the histamine receptor they act on: H1-antihistamines bind receptors in mast cells, smooth muscle and the brain to treat allergic reactions in the nose and are also used for insomnia, motion sickness or vertigo, while H2-antihistamines bind receptors in the upper gastrointestinal tract to treat gastric acid conditions such as peptic ulcers and acid reflux; other antihistamines target H3 and H4 receptors.
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Classification
StatusSourced to the subject's own account Origin YearSourced to the subject's own account Connections
Treats
Antihistamine therapy is standard treatment for mild-to-moderate allergic reaction symptoms in food allergy.
Sources
1. Antihistamine Therapy (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHistory section, Phenbenzamine paragraph
Phenbenzamine (Antergan) was the first clinically useful antihistamine and was introduced for medical use in 1942.
- Clinical use status
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When was the first clinically useful antihistamine introduced?
1942, with phenbenzamine (Antergan).
The first clinically useful antihistamine, phenbenzamine, sold under the name Antergan, was introduced for medical use in 1942. That early compound acted on the H1 histamine receptor, the same target that most of today's antihistamine therapy for allergic reactions still works through.
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