Cholinergic Urticaria

Antihistamines not working for chronic hives

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Hello, I started getting chronic hives a few years ago, about the same time I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. My hives come and go, but lately they’ve been really bad. I have them all over my arms, legs and torso.

I’ve been taking Zyrtec (10 mg, once daily), Zantac (300 mg) and Singulair for the hives, but nothing seems to work. Has anyone tried any other medication that has helped? Has anyone tried upping Zyrtec to 20 mg per day? The hives are driving me crazy.

Thanks,

Susan

(Editor’s note: Always talk to a doctor before attempting any treatments so that he or she can prescribe the proper dosages and ensure that the medications will be safe for you).

Comments

  1. When my hives were most severe, I got good control taking 2 Allegra in the morning ( Fexofenadrine Hydrochloride 180mg each) and two Zyrtek at night (Cetrizine Hydrochloride10 mg each) as prescribed by an allergist. (Both of those I use the Kirkland Signature generic equivalent brands from Costco because they are MUCH cheaper.) For over a year now I’ve been testing my food sensitivities on my own with the elimination diet (because the allergist found NO food allergies, or any other allergies for that matter, with their blood testing methods and didn’t try to pursue the food angle with me at all after one blood test, which I found odd.) I have had a lot of success reducing my symptoms to almost zero with my diet to the point where now I will just take one Zyrtek per night and often times no morning Allegra (which is nice because although it says non-drowsy, I find it causes me fatigue). If I eat something that causes a flair up I go back to adding one morning Allegra, but since cleaning up my diet and identifying my personal food triggers (still work in progress, probably always will be) I have not had to go back to the double doses. Some days I don’t take any, but if I feel a flair up coming on I will resume the lowest dose possible to get them to subside while I adjust my diet. I have also started sweating again during exercise. Its such a joy to sweat again. I will now add here the normal disclaimer of checking with your doctor before changing your medications to make sure it is ok for your particular situation.