antihistamine

/æntiˈhɪsɾəmin/

/æntiˈhɪstəmɪn/

Other forms: antihistamines

An antihistamine is a type of drug you might take if you suffer from allergies. If your friend's cat makes your throat itch and your eyes swell, you should probably take an antihistamine.

Antihistamines work by suppressing the effects of histamine in your body — this is substance released by your cells when you're exposed to allergens, or things you're allergic to. It's histamine that makes you sneeze or get itchy hives, and it's antihistamine that soothes this reaction. This scientific word comes from anti-, "against," histidine, an amino acid, and amine, a certain kind of organic compound.

Definitions of antihistamine

1. noun

   a medicine used to treat allergies and hypersensitive reactions and colds; works by counteracting the effects of histamine on a receptor site
   types:

   Actifed

   trade name for a drug containing an antihistamine and a decongestant; used to treat upper respiratory conditions and minor allergies

   Dimetane, brompheniramine maleate

   antihistamine (trade name Dimetane) used to treat hypersensitivity reactions (as rhinitis)

   Chlor-Trimeton, Coricidin, chlorpheniramine maleate

   an antihistamine (trade names Coricidin and Chlor-Trimeton)

   Periactin, cyproheptadine

   an antihistamine (trade name Periactin) used to treat some allergic reactions

   Dramamine, dimenhydrinate

   antihistamine and antiemetic (trade name Dramamine) used to treat motion sickness

   Dimetapp

   trade name for a drug containing an antihistamine and a decongestant; used to relieve nasal congestion and to treat rhinitis

   Benadryl, diphenhydramine

   antihistamine (trade name Benadryl) used to treat allergic reactions involving the nasal passages (hay fever) and also to treat motion sickness

   Antivert, meclizine, meclizine hydrochloride

   an antihistamine (trade name Antivert) used to treat or prevent motion sickness

   methapyrilene

   antihistamine used to treat allergic responses (as rhinitis or dermatitis or pruritus)

   pheniramine

   an antihistamine used in preparations to treat allergies and respiratory infections; used to treat rhinitis and skin rashes and pruritus

   phenyltoloxamine

   antihistamine included in some preparations used to treat coughing and nasal congestion

   Phenergan, promethazine

   antihistamine (trade name Phenergan) used to treat allergies; also an antiemetic used to treat motion sickness

   pyrilamine

   antihistamine used to treat rhinitis and pruritus

   type of:

   medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine

   (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease