# Histamines! Gotta block them histamines

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/histamines-gotta-block-them-histamines/228683>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 11, 2004, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/histamines-gotta-block-them-histamines/228683 "2004-02-11T17:29:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/histamines-gotta-block-them-histamines/228683/1 "2004-02-11T17:29:47Z")

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Okay, this may seem odd, it may not. Keep in mind that my knowledge of this topic stems solely from allergy medication commercials.

I’ve been led to believe that an allergic person, when exposed to X suffers from various symptoms. Because of their allergy to X, their body produces histamines which either cause or are an effect of itching, runny nose and eyes, sneezing, and the like.

Assuming all the above is true (thank you Madison Ave)…are antihistaimes and histaimine-blockers a good thing?

Sure, they prevent the sneezing, runny nose, and the like, but don’t our bodies produce these histamines for a reason? By blocking them (or anti-ing them), is it possible we’re preventhing something that should be happening? Or are reactions like these just a useless throwback that may have served a purpose at one time but do so no longer?

-Joe  
_sneeze_

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/histamines-gotta-block-them-histamines/228683/2 "2004-02-11T17:38:01Z")

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An allergy is an _over_reaction to some chemical stimulus. As such, it isn’t “normal” or desireable. In some cases, this overreaction can even belife-threatening. Antihistamines serve to re-establish some balance. Histamines are chemical messengers which serve multiple purposes in the body. See[here](http://old.weber.edu/ewalker/Medicinal_Chemistry/topics/Antihistam_local_anesth/antihista.htm) for some more technical information.

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**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/histamines-gotta-block-them-histamines/228683/3 "2004-02-11T23:42:10Z")

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> [@Q.E.D.](#):
>
> Histamines are chemical messengers which serve multiple purposes in the body.

Why do you use the plural “histamines”? I thought there was only one kind of histamine.