Understanding Histamine Intolerance: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Histamine Intolerance

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

Histamine intolerance is not a sensitivity to histamine, but an indication that you’ve developed too much of it. Histamine is a chemical responsible for a few major functions: * communicates messages to your brain * triggers release of stomach acid to help digestion * releases after injury or allergic reaction as part of your immune response When histamine levels get too high or when it can’t break down properly, it can affect your normal bodily functions.

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Signs & symptoms

Histamine is associated with common allergic responses and symptoms. Many of these are similar to those from a histamine intolerance. While they may vary, some common reactions associated with this intolerance include: * headaches or migraines * nasal congestion or sinus issues * fatigue * hives * digestive issues * irregular menstrual cycle * nausea * vomiting In more severe cases of histamine intolerance, you may experience: * abdominal cramping * tissue swelling * high blood pressure * irregular heart rate * anxiety * difficulty regulating body temperature * dizziness

Diagnosis

Before reaching a diagnosis, your doctor will eliminate other possible disorders or allergies that cause similar symptoms. Doctors may also suggest following an elimination diet for 14 to 30 days. This diet requires you to remove any foods high in histamine or histamine triggers, and slowly reintroduce them to watch for new reactions. Your doctor might also take a blood sample to analyze if you have a DAO deficiency. Another way to diagnose histamine intolerance is through a prick test.

Treatment

The basis of treatment is a reduction of the dietary histamine through a histamine-poor diet. Certain foods (e.g., citrus fruits) and certain medicines (e.g., morphine) which do not contain histamine per se are also to be avoided, because they are known to release histamine stored in the body (histamine liberation). If eating histamine-containing foods is unavoidable, antihistamines and cromolyn sodium may be effective. The intake of diaminoxidase (DAO) in capsule form with meals may reduce the symptoms of histamine intolerance.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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