Anti-histamines before diving to clear nasal passages?

[seaexplorer8888]

Hello,

I went to the local hospital (in Thailand) today to have my ears cleaned before an upcoming liveaboard diving trip, and the doctor suggested I take an anti-histamine tablet each morning before diving, apparently, to keep all the nasal and sinus airways clear and open.

Curious to know whether this is this new or common practice? I've been diving quite a while now and have never heard of this practice before! Interested to hear the views of others!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Corigan]

I take an anti-histamine every day of my life. I take em before dives and have zero problems. I called up DAN and they basically stated that if it doesn't effect your daily life , than it shouldn't be a problem underwater. Don't take my word for it though since I'm not a doctor. Call up your local DAN and ask them if it is safe for you.

Matt

 

[seaexplorer8888]

... and have never taken antihistamies before in my life (as far as I'm aware, at least). The Dr gave them to me specifically to help clear the nasal passages while diving (this has never been a problem for me either). This is something I've never heard of before and was curious to hear other opinions. Doctors in this part of the world at private hospitals (Thailand) do have a reputation for over-prescribing medicine for the sake of boosting profits. The language gap prevented me getting a clear explanation from him. Needless to say, I would not take these without more information.

 

[Charlie99]

If you don't have allergies, and you don't have problems with your sinuses then it doesn't make much sense to take antihistamines in my opinion. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Unfortunately I have various pollen allergies and often take antihistamines. They don't directly clear nasal passages as do decongestants (most common decongestant is Sudafed/pseudoephedrine HCl). The purpose of antihistamines is to reduce the body's reaction to things like pollen. Reduced reaction = reduced mucus and clogging.

The most common side effect of antihistamines is drowsiness -- obviously not a good thing while operating machinery, driving, or diving. There are several different types of antihistamines available over the counter (in the US, at least), with each of the types showing up under many different tradenames.

For people that DO have trouble with clogged sinuses/runny noses, etc, my recommendation is to carefully look at the ingredients list to figure out which you have. Try each for a few days to see how effective, and how strong the side effects are of each. It can be a bit tricky since allergies tend to wax and wane with changes in the amount of pollen or other irritant, and things like pollen counts change dramatically with weather, wind direction, etc.

In the last few years, 1 tablet daily antihistamine medicines previously available only as prescription, such as Claritin (aka Alavert, generic= loratidine 10mg) have gone over-the-counter in the US. They work well for many people, although the old standby, chlorpheniramine maleate, works best for me.

As usual with anything medical + diving, DAN is a good source of info on this matter.

Charlie (not a doctor, but unfortunately has 40+ years of dealing with pollen allergies)

 

[Scuby Dooby]

A lot of people have trouble with their ears / sinuses and get relief from antihistmines. I sometimes have sinus problems diving and use Afrin spray, which is a long acting decongestant for your nose / sinuses. This probably wouldn't have much effect on blocked up ears though so maybe in your case the pill is a better option. Anyway, just make sure that you take it a couple hours before diving and that it is a long acting version that won't wear off quickly. If you continue to have problems even with an antihistamine go see an Ear / Nose / Throat doc and s/he will have a better set of drugs to control your problems or some other intervention (ie both antihist. and steroidal sprays, meds, etc. or maybe there is some other problem).

I'm certainly no dr but have seen similar problems in myself and family that dive. Good luck!

 

[Wayward Son]

You need to try taking them on a day when you don't dive & don't have to do anything. No work, no driving, etc.

Many people take antihistamines with no side effects. Many do not. If I take them, I don't need to be doing anything else because they stone me. Raise my pulse to about 120 & flat knock me on my ***.

I do much better on a histamine blocker like allegra or claritin. No side effects.

 

[Boondocks]

Allegra and Claritin are anti-histamines. Wayward son you are thinking of a D product if it raises your heart rate. These are combo products that have an anti-histamine and pseudoephedrine which is the part that causes Tachycardia (increased heart rate). Anti-histamines themself are not a vasodialator like Afrin or Pseudoephedrine so there is not a problem with them wearing off while underwater and causing a problem (there's no pollen underwater). They simply block the h1-receptor site which is what histamine attaches to and causes it's effects after an allergen (pollen, cat dander etc.) has caused a mast cell to degranulate in the blood stream and release the histamine (along with other mediators). There are some side effects such as drowsiness associated with most readily available anti-histamines and this is what DAN cautions you against, but there are several very good anti-histamines that do not cause drowsiness: loratadine (alavert, claritin), desloratadine (clarinex) and Fexofenadine (Allegra). Just make sure you get the plain product with no D part (the pseudoephedrine that Wayward Son mentioned). Hope this helps and if you have any allergies at all this should help you be less allergic and it will help all of your sinuses on a dive including the ears. Good Luck!

You need to try taking them on a day when you don't dive & don't have to do anything. No work, no driving, etc.

Many people take antihistamines with no side effects. Many do not. If I take them, I don't need to be doing anything else because they stone me. Raise my pulse to about 120 & flat knock me on my ***.

I do much better on a histamine blocker like allegra or claritin. No side effects.