People suffering from some type of allergy have double the chances of suffering from depression. This is because medications used to combat allergic crises, such as Loratadine or Hydroxizine, have a component called the cytokine, which decreases levels of serotonin, the substance that promotes well-being and promotes depression.
Allergic reactions also cause other problems, such as difficulty sleeping, headache, tiredness and feeling of malaise, contributing to the depressive state. Other adverse reactions of the antihistamines are to cause mood swings and increase anxiety. With the passage of time, these reactions also end up influencing the depressive picture.
However, this does not mean that every allergic will develop some depression as each body responds in a manner to the medications but it is alert to the risk and it is recommended to observe if the person begins to present depressive symptoms after starting to take the remedies for allergy, and then evaluate the possibility of avoiding these drugs.
How to Avoid Depression Caused by Allergy Remedies
The best way to avoid the side effects caused by antihistamines is to avoid their use, only when indicated by your doctor. Allergy remedies should not be used continuously, although they may be useful at certain times of the year, such as spring and fall, in people with respiratory allergies due to flower and tree pollen.
People suffering from chronic allergies, such as asthma, rhinitis or sinusitis may also need to use anti-allergy remedies for more than 1 month during winter, for example, when these diseases become more troublesome. However, when the person has sporadic symptoms, antihistamine remedies should be avoided.
Another way to reduce the risk of developing depression because of this type of drug is by increasing the consumption of foods that are 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, so it's a good strategy not to develop depressive disorders whenever you need allergy remedies. Here's how to plan a month's walk to lose weight and improve mood.