title: Antihistamines in asthma.
abstract: Reports in the literature have suggested that antihistamines are contraindicated in asthma because they dry the secretions in the upper and lower respiratory tracts. However, the consensus is that this is not the case. There may be a subset of asthmatics who report wheezing and a feeling of tightness in the chest after taking antihistamines but most of those who have severe perennial allergic rhinitis do not have adverse reactions and indeed benefit considerably from antihistamines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Collins-Williams
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D006633:Histamine Antagonists