antihistamines

2023-03-02

I got the following list from a vet. (Let’s not say which vet, to avoid embarrassing them.)

There are a few things wrong with that IMO:

1. It doesn’t take into account any other medical conditions Narla has - if they don’t have any then no worries, but if they do then you might have to look up drug interactions.

2. Avoid first-generation antihistamines if you can, because they can cause pretty bad lethargy. Phenergen is first-generation, for example - only use that if nothing else works. See Koch et al for which other antihistamines are first-generation. Loratadine is an example of a second-generation one that’s good to try first.

3. That vet’s doses are wild guesses, and might be too high IMO - see Koch et al for more details about doses, and experiment (but don’t go higher than the maximum dose, of course).

4. There are other antihistamines, not mentioned on the vet’s list - see Koch et al for others.

5. Don’t get those brands! Get cheaper equivalents from a chemist.

Koch et al is https://bunny.xeny.net/linked/Koch-et-al-Canine-and-Feline-Dermatology-Drug-Handbook.pdf

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Quote from the vet:

“Antihistamine > 20kg Dog

Give each of the following antihistamines alone for a 10-day trial, moving on to the next one if there is no response or only a partial response:

Human Preparations

Phenergen 25mg give 1.5 tablet twice daily

Periactin 4mg give 3 tablets 2-3 times daily

Polaramine 6mg give 2 tablet twice daily

Zadine 1mg give 1-4 tablets twice daily

Claratyne 10mg give 2 tablets twice daily

Zyrtec 10mg tabs give 2 tablets once daily

Telfast 180mg give 1 tablet twice daily”