Topic: Benadryl helping more than Klonopin for my symptoms
lymetwister
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19590
posted
I woke up feeling terrible once again. Anxiety was out of control and mood was down again.
My morning Klonopin hasn't been doing much for the last few months even after increasing the dose, so I decided to add a Benadryl 25mg.
This doesn't make sense as when I had my LP, I was given 2 1/2 mg of IV Ativan and I was fully awake, it didn't relieve my anxiety and basically did squat for the procedure.
The Benadryl knocked me out this morning for a good 2 hours and reduced my anxiety in half. It also got rid of my massive headache.
Anxiety is still there, but I'd say 1/2 as bad as it has been and my mood is somewhat stable today now.
I developed this POTS disorder while treating and have read that there is a hyperadranergic type where the body make too much adrenaline due to histamine release. Perhaps the IVIG is aggrevating the POTS.
Not sure, and will never figure this out. For now, I just have to ride it out. No tears today, go figure.
LT
Posts: 1227 | From District of Columbia | Registered: Mar 2009
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posted
The Benadryl has 2 properties -- it is an antihistamine and an anticholinergic.
I would guess that is the anticholinergic effects that are helping with the anxiety.
I recently had to put hubby back on Benadryl to control his dystonia (a movement disorder similar to Parkinsons). He is taking 25 mg of Benadryl every 4 hours. At least this is better than the 100 mg he took every 4 hours when he had mercury toxicity back in 1999.
Borrelia and also Babesia deplete choline.
I also put hubby back on lecithin -- cheaper than the phosphatidylcholine.
Tremors can be caused by either too much or too little acetylcholine.
The choline connection is also one of the reasons many lymies develop sluggish gallbladders and gastroparesis -- choline is needed to make the liver function properly and it also controls the speed of stomach emptying.
And acteylcholine is a major neurotransmitter needed for memory -- read somewhere that a lack of choline is why so many lymies have problems with getting lost.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby's experiences.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I posted in the Dr. K. thread yesterday about how herxing increases histamine so it does makes sense that an anti-histamine might help with herx symptoms.
There is this new OTC supplement that has an enzyme in it that is supposed to help with excess histamine. The product recommended to me is Xymogen Histoxyme but a cheaper product with the same ingredients is called histame.
I can't say it has helped me yet because I'm just now getting ready to increase my dose but I've heard it has been helpful for otheres.
I don't know the pros and cons between histame and benadryl but benadryl has a different mode of action and is cheaper. Histame does not make me sleepy so far.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6215
posted
wow, antihistamines helped me for a while and now they just make my nose too dry.
Benadryll is different as stated before. It works on a more broader scale.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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