People who suffer from some type of allergy are twice as likely to suffer from depression. This is because the drugs used to fight allergic attacks, such as Loratadine or Hydroxyzine, have a component called cytokine, which lowers levels of serotonin, the substance that promotes well-being and favors depression.
Allergic reactions also cause other problems, such as difficulty sleeping, headache, tiredness and feeling unwell, contributing to the depressive state. Other adverse reactions of antihistamines are to cause mood changes and increase anxiety. Over time, these reactions also end up influencing the depressive state.
However, this does not mean that every allergic person will develop some depression, as each organism responds in a different way to the medications, but it is alert to the risk and it is recommended to observe if the person starts to show depressive symptoms after starting to take the medications. allergy, and then evaluate the possibility of avoiding these medications.
How to avoid depression caused by allergy drugs
The best way to avoid the side effects caused by antihistamines is to avoid their consumption, using only when indicated by the doctor. Allergy remedies should not be used continuously, although they can be useful at certain times of the year, such as in spring and autumn, in people with respiratory allergies due to pollen from flowers and trees.
People who suffer from chronic allergies, such as asthma, rhinitis or sinusitis may also need to use anti-allergy remedies for more than 1 month, during the winter, for example, which is when these diseases become most uncomfortable. However, when the person has sporadic symptoms, antihistamine remedies should be avoided.
Another way to decrease the risk of developing depression because of this type of medication is to increase the consumption of foods rich in tryptophan, which promotes well-being. Some examples are nuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, cheese, eggs and chicken. Practicing physical activity regularly also fights depression because it favors the release of endorphins into the bloodstream, promoting well-being, and so it is a good strategy for not developing depressive disorders whenever you need allergy drugs. See how to plan a month of walking to lose weight and improve your mood.
