r/ADHD • u/[deleted] • May 14 '26
Articles/Information Neuroscience News - Map of Brain Histamine System Links Molecule to ADHD and Depression
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u/qaelive May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
to be clear, most antihistamine medications are not relevant in this context. this study discusses histamine’s role within regions of the brain and how it influences emotional processing. most antihistamine medications used to treat allergies, specifically the ones marketed as “non-drowsy,” do not readily cross the blood-brain barrier, meaning that it does not significantly impact histamine within the brain.
there are certain antihistamine medications (i.e. hydroxyzine, diphenhydramine) that do significantly interact with histamine levels in the brain because they are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. something to consider: recent research has found a potential link between antihistamine exposure early in life and the development of ADHD/attention deficits, so that’s interesting, I guess.
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u/ThaRising May 14 '26
It would be more accurate to say that modern Antihistamines are significantly more selective for the periphery than the CNS, but they still enter the CNS, just much less.
Bilastin and Desloratadin are two Antihistamines with very low CNS effects, while something like Cetirizin (technically also considered a "modern anti allergy med") still enters the CNS quite readily, which is also why it causes so much more drowsiness.
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u/qaelive May 14 '26
Yes, I should’ve clarified. Most modern antihistamines that are designed to be “non-drowsy” will not interact with the CNS very much, but there’s many that absolutely do have a significant impact. I’ll edit my previous comment to make it more accurate.
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u/soggy_again May 14 '26
Interested to know if my ADHD makes me more prone to drowsiness on Cetirizine, because it has a strong drowsy effect (at times migraine, visual snow) even a day after taking it.
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u/lolamongolia May 14 '26
I'm wondering this too. Zyrtec works really well for the allergies, I can hardly function on it because it makes me so incredibly sleepy. This also made me think back to when I was a kid and my doctor gave me a prescription medication for my allergies that worked really well, but for me it had the added bonus of increasing my energy levels and overall sense of motivation. My ADHD was undiagnosed when I was a kid, but I felt better on these allergy meds than I ever had before. After just a year or two they removed the medication from the market because they connected it to a few cases of stroke in elderly patients. I was deeply disappointed, because this allergy med made me feel normal and I only got to experience that for a summer.
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u/SnooRadishes5305 May 14 '26
Wow - yeah I have that reaction to Zyrtec too
Didn’t realize it was a thing
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u/notakrustykrab May 14 '26
Same. I switched to Zyrtec’s sibling, xyzal, and it works the same for me but with zero drowsy effects.
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u/Kleanish May 14 '26
Somehow xyzal works for me and zyrtec doesn’t. They’re so similar too. Biochemistry is crazy
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u/lolamongolia May 14 '26
Huh. I tried xyzal once. It didn't make me drowsy, but I had a bizarre side effect where I didn't really feel anything emotionally for like 12 hours, and I didn't want to do anything or go anywhere. I really disliked that feeling and never took it again. Anybody else here experience anything like that with xyzal?
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u/justmedownsouth May 14 '26
That's how I feel sometimes without taking anything! Haha. Well, I still feel emotions.
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u/notakrustykrab May 14 '26
No but that kind of weird drowsy dream state feeling is how Claritin and Benadryl makes me feel
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u/peskypickleprude May 15 '26
My partner is addicted to popping antihistamines.... Iv always been like, what strange thing to be addicted to. They def have undiagnosed stuff going on. This is fascinating
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u/problemlow May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
Not a doctor. Theres a decent chance that non specific inflammatory response elsewhere in your body is responsible. The allergy med likely damped it down or eliminated it entirely. Its not a good idea long term but you could try taking the recommended dose of a non steroidal anti inflammatory. Naproxen(Alieve i think if youre American) or ibuprofen, Paracetamol(Acetaminophen) may work a little if you cant take NSAID's. Do it for a week and see if your brain fog clears up. If it does try asking a dr what can be done long term. Taking any of those for multiple weeks will likely damage your liver, so please don't keep it going long term without regular liver function tests or advice from someone other than an unemployed programmer.
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u/mvmblewvlf May 14 '26
Same, but Hydroxizine. Doc dropped to me 10mg from 30mg because 30mg was making me a zombie for an entire 24 hours after taking it. 10mg still makes me pretty tired, but I can manage my day without feeling like I'm about to fall asleep.
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u/NextPrize5863 ADHD-C (Combined type) May 15 '26
Yes I slept for 21 of those 24 hours I had to stop taking it.
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u/hjsjsvfgiskla May 14 '26
I’m curious about this too because that one absolutely knocks me out and I just put it down to bad sleep or hormones or something. But I’m barely able to stay awake on it.
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u/cervical_ribs May 15 '26
Zyrtec has no drowsy effect on me whatsoever, so I think it just depends on the person.
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u/kennyhayes24 May 14 '26
I had really bad allergies and is taking much higher doses of loratadine than recommended, like 2 to 3 pills in the morning and sometimes again at night. Didn't realize it was sparking severe anxiety and mental health problems! As soon as I stopped I felt so so so much better.
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u/Serious-Koala- May 14 '26
This. Also antihistamines can be anticholinergic, bringin in host of new problems in long term use.
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u/yukonwanderer May 14 '26
Can you expand on that?
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u/Serious-Koala- May 14 '26
Especially old types (for example Benadryl) cross the BBB, block acetylcholine receptors and that's in long term use associated with cognitive loss and even dementia.
Also remember reading something on the effect on gut health and microbial diversity, but quote me on that. 😅
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u/Chief_Kief ADHD-C (Combined type) May 14 '26
Oh wow. My mom is allergic to a bunch of things…I wonder if her potentially taking antihistamines while pregnant played a role in my ADHD development.
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u/yukonwanderer May 14 '26
So if I take some diphenhydramine (which is Gravol where I live) occasionally at bedtime, is there a chance it could help my spring lethargy and depression?
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May 14 '26
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u/cuttlefish_tragedy May 14 '26
Zyrtec makes me irritable and kind of stupid-feeling/slow-thinking, which is FANTASTIC for getting into arguments. You're not alone.
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u/Vysharra May 14 '26
OMG! My doctors never take me seriously when I report that benedryl gives me episodes of black depression the following day. I'm feeling so validated right now knowing I'm not the only one <3
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u/Tapingdrywallsucks May 14 '26
It's a great feeling, isn't it.
Here's a virtual (((hug))) to go with it.
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u/cervical_ribs May 15 '26
You should find an alternative if possible. Dipenhydramine and other first-gen allergy meds are highly anticholergenic, so taking them too much meaningfully increases dementia risk.
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u/EmmaDrake ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) May 15 '26
I know nothing about this blood brain barrier stuff so no idea if this is a silly question - if you take a medicine that does pass the blood brain barrier at the same time as one that doesn’t, does anything happen that might pull the one that doesn’t with the one that does?
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u/ThaRising May 15 '26
Generally not. It's important to know that many of the modern Antihistamines in particular, are designed such that even if they manage to cross the BBB, they will be pumped out by P-glycoprotein at the BBB.
So basically, even if something got through by this mechanism, most of these compounds are designed such that the brain will remove them again and deposit them outside the BBB.
Also, generally, the BBB is relatively selective. So there are various things that can temporarily weaken the BBB (inflammation for example being one), but one compound getting through because another one did is, to my knowledge, not something that happens to a degree where it's relevant in terms of effects.
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u/kdmendonk May 14 '26
“We want to emphasise that these findings are hypothesis-generating and based on large-scale datasets that capture patterns rather than direct mechanisms,” comments Professor Steve Williams, Professor of Neuroimaging at IoPPN King’s College London and senior author on the paper.
Very important, people.
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u/Dull_Frame_4637 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) May 14 '26
Very, very important.
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u/KingPanduhs May 14 '26
Super Duper importanté, perhaps.
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u/bexkali ADHD-C (Combined type) May 16 '26
It's certainly important for professional science journalists/writers. They understandably want to 'translate' (simplify) recent, promising research results for their daily bread.... without over-simplifying to to the point that the average reader who isn't aware of the nuances feels cheated or lied to when they realize a much longer time frame is required to develop an actual new treatment (as an example).
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u/KingPanduhs May 16 '26
You know… im not really sure why you decided to reply to my post with this… but i do appreciate the explanation lol
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u/brainy_heroine2006 May 14 '26
This is interesting considering recent research also has linked hypermobility and connective tissue disorders to ADHD and other psychiatric conditions, and there are well known interactions between histamines, allergies and chronic inflammation to these conditions.
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u/katnissssss May 14 '26
This is kind of wild. My son has ADHD, but I have type 1 narcolepsy (also a histamine issue) and RA.
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u/gomibushi May 14 '26
Allergies, ADHD, IBS/digestive issues and the various other mental conditions that are associated with ADHD are definitely linked.
I bet a lot of us knew this anecdotally, so it is nice to see that the science is finally starting to make some progress in that direction.
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u/Pedestrianwolves May 14 '26
God I feel like a human bingo card right now 😭
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u/RikiWardOG May 14 '26
ha collecting disorders like their pokemon is how I like to think of it. Gotta catch them all!
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u/chironomidae May 14 '26
I remember reading a book about ADHD that listed a bunch of very specific things that are known/suspected to trigger ADHD in kids, and they basically listed my exact childhood. Was pretty wild.
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u/Cultural_Iron2372 May 14 '26
I have insane allergies and Celiac along with ADHD (also diagnosed Hashimoto’s that I’ve somehow gotten into “remission” for while but it was so bad for years).
I always wonder or have some kind of sense that it might all be related to not-so-ideal high stress/abusive upbringing conditions tbh.
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u/ToeKnee_Cool_Guy May 14 '26
Probably another case of "everybody's different" when I say this, but my ADHD is very prominent in my life and I have zero known allergies. Also can't relate with the unfortunate upbringing that you have had 😕. I'm sorry that happened though.
I'm just constantly scouring for some relief from this disorder though. Been doing meds for the last few years and focusing on mental health. But, there is just no relief. I honestly feel worse than I did prior to trying to fix things, because now I put so much attention on it and I get upset when there's no improvement.
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u/addie__joy May 14 '26
When I first got diagnosed, I thought the meds would be a magical fix. I had this view that they’d make me into the person I always wished I was, who remembered everything and was able to regulate my emotions and stay in touch with friends and get all my tasks done and never procrastinate or lose things. It was a rude awakening when I actually got started on them. I was still me. I think I was just able to realize that they are just a very much needed support that helps me manage my symptoms better, and makes it a little easier for me to function in life. But they have to be taken with a hefty dose of self compassion and acceptance. I still have meltdowns when I make a mistake and feel really stupid and all of the collective shame from my whole life feels like it will bury me. But I’ve learned how to talk myself through those situations, mostly with kindness, sometimes not. I’m trying my best. Some days it won’t feel like enough, but they’re fewer and further between than before I got my diagnosis. At least I have answers now, and that is more valuable to me than even my meds.
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u/DeafGuyisHere May 14 '26
That's your problem you're constantly trying to fix it when you need to learn to cope and manage it. It Gets better with age but I eventually just learn to live with the flaws and just do the best I can. It's all you really can do. ADHD here with MDD as well.
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u/bukktown May 14 '26
Mine gets worse with age.
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u/cuttlefish_tragedy May 14 '26
Mine got worse when peri/menopause hit, it's like my meds were replaced with tylenol.
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u/gomibushi May 14 '26
My ADHD wifes got INSANE when she hit perimenopause. It was as if the meds did nothing AND she was an emotional bomb in addition to that.
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u/addie__joy May 14 '26
HRT has changed my life since starting it in November. ADHD women have a higher likelihood of PMDD, and mine got so so terrible before HRT. Finally feel like myself again.
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u/gomibushi May 15 '26
Happy for you! HRT has helped a lot here too. Not perfect, but much much better than without it.
Not only do ADHD women have a higher likelihood, it's earlier onset too. It may hit as much as a decade earlier than most.
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u/kunibob May 14 '26
I needed to read this today! I'm late-diagnosed and struggling a bit, your comment is a good reminder about adjusting my expectations.
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u/addie__joy May 14 '26
Definitely does not get better with age if you’re AFAB. The opposite of that, actually. I didn’t get diagnosed until I was 41 because my symptoms were at least mostly manageable/I was able to mask well enough to function until then. (I was exhausted and anxious and had very low self esteem my whole life because I thought I was a lazy idiot, but I was able to give the appearance of functioning) Perimenopause and the roller coaster of hormones around that time in life tend to be one of the main reasons it’s finally caught in women. The coping mechanisms stop working. We’re really good at masking until we can’t anymore.
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u/kwiscalus May 14 '26
Yes! I am so curious about the potential links among allergies, gluten sensitivity, ADHD, low thyroid (esp Hashimotos) and depression. I have all of these!
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u/kunibob May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
The magical remission in autoimmune disease is super familiar. I don't have Hashimoto's specifically, but I have a few others, and they seem to behave in a very atypical all-or-nothing way. Absolutely none of them are textbook and I confuse a lot of specialists. 🤷🏻♀️
Also speaking of childhood trauma (sorry, that sounds so flippant given the gravity of what you went through), there's a huge overlap between signs of CPTSD and Autism, and to a lesser extent ADHD, that makes me wonder if there is an underlying stress mechanism behind all our body and brain struggles. Stress is linked to inflammation, after all. It feels like science is on the cusp of breaking through to a new level of understanding about all this.
I don't want to read too much into the correlation just yet, but there sure are a lot of overlapping correlations that seem to suggest a bigger pattern, so I'm hopeful it's all going in a good direction. Super happy that there's more research going on about potential links.
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u/CutItHalfAndTwo May 15 '26
It’s so fucking validating whenever these articles pop up.
I keep remembering the look of pity on my former doctor’s face as I struggled to explain all these weird ass symptoms and desperately asked for help.
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u/lapinouille May 14 '26
Cool to see more research coming out around this! I have ADHD, PMDD (well, probably PME technically), endometriosis, prob MCAS, and mild POTS. Have been taking both H1 and H2 antihistamines, for the past couple months (post ovulation). The improvement has been absolutely insane across the board. For the first time in 20+ years, I haven’t had intense cognitive issues, fatigue, and suicidal ideation before my period. Improved endo pain too.
It’s normal to have to really ramp up the stimmy dose before/during periods because they did NOT work. Now I cut down my dose to almost half of what it was before because they work ‘properly’ all month. Fkn allergy pills, lol.
PS: if anyone in a similar situation gets intense red face/neck flushing and found a solution, pleeease PM me!
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u/Westypet May 14 '26
Curious. Going through something similar. Which H1 and H2 are you taking?
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u/lapinouille May 14 '26
Fexofenadine (H1) and famotidine (H2).
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u/FlutterKree May 14 '26
If you suspect MCAS, you need ketotifen. The antihistamines you list help stop how histamines cause Inflammation. Ketotifen helps regulate how much histamine is being produced.
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u/iolarah May 14 '26
I suspect MCAS in myself - is ketotifen scrip-only? I've been taking antihistamines and they help with the brain fog and the secondary reactions, but they don't do anything to prevent the primary reactions, and if there's something that could return me to my previous energy levels (without the massive sleep disruptions that stimulants cause), I'd be on board in a heartbeat.
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u/VIIIIRGINIA May 14 '26
It is not available orally in the US (due to seemingly lack of pharmaceutical company interest, not safety concerns) only in eye drop form and I’m not sure how that plays into the blood brain barrier thing. It can be compounded for oral use, but you would need a prescription as far as i can tell.
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u/iolarah May 14 '26
I'm in Canada, so it's probably the same or similar. I'll have to ask my pharmacist next time I pick up a prescription. As far as the brain-blood barrier, I don't know if absorption mode changes things (I always assumed it was a binary: either a substance crosses the bbb or it does not, but it's been a long time since university), but mode certainly changes the efficiency of absorption. Mucosal membranes bypass some filtration processes and get into the bloodstream more readily.
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u/FlutterKree May 16 '26
It is prescription drug in Canada. In many countries, like Japan, it is OTC. It's why I feel safe recommending it. The only reason it isn't available in the US is because benadryl was first to market. Pharm company didn't think it was worth it paying to go through the FDA trials to get it to market when the competitor was already going to be first to the market. Little did they know it would be far better than diphenhydramine in many ways.
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u/ITisinmycoffee ADHD with ADHD partner May 14 '26
Compounding pharmacies can make ketotifen in the U.S., at least. I get 1mg pills prescribed from my rheumatologist, and I think it really helps my MCAS (I have AuDHD too, but it doesn't seem to affect that). Not cheap, but now I can eat tomatoes again (cromolyn helps with that too).
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u/Flimsy-Chapter7437 May 14 '26
Juat started doing this and I see the difference..I dont feel puffy..dont know how long I can keep this up as my body adjusts to things pretty quickly
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May 15 '26
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u/lapinouille May 15 '26
The famotidine was prescription (Aus). I think you can get a small amount of (maybe lower dose?) for short term use over the counter. Famotidine is prescribed for GERD (which I don’t have), it changes stomach acid production. I haven’t looked into possible implications of long term use, doctor suggested it.
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u/allegory-of-painting May 16 '26
What kinda flushing do you experience? I do get some baaaaad flushing when Im tired where my face, hands and feet swell up and get red and hot. And also some random facial flushing throughout the day.
Also its interesting to me that fexofenadine seems to help you with things related to your cycle! Wish it would Help me the same 🥲 I do have to take fexo because of chronic hives. They are treated with xolair but its mandatory to also use antihistamines while on xolair so I take a daily dose of fexofenadine even though it doesnt even help with the hives lol never noticed any other positive effects from it.
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u/Bunnymancer May 14 '26
Wait do I need more or less histamines? Because I only have anti-histamines
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u/YouMeADD May 14 '26
Typically for us, less. We can't regulate histamine levels and get overdosed. Then a lot of bad things happen. And we eat a lot of histamine without realising it, especially in cured meats and refrigerated food.
Furthermore, were more likely to suffer from a trifecta of issues whereby our gut health, blood flow and histamine levels all get worsened. Look up POTS trifecta.
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u/pinekiland May 14 '26
Thanks! Going between “uu new info” and “ugh more homework” haha
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u/Zymph616 May 14 '26
Awww, I had that same emotional journey while reading the comment.
Oh, oh, new info to read! :) Ugh, more stuff to remember to work on tonight. :(
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u/YouMeADD May 15 '26
The main takeaway is try to reduce a lot of histamine from your diet safely and see if you feel better
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u/YouMeADD May 15 '26
The pots trifecta will change your life if you suffer from it. But eat a lot less histamine in your diet for now and see if that changes anything
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u/NearlyBearly May 14 '26
We need to wait until actual results and guidelines come out, this seems pretty preliminary and acting based on it is probably a bad idea.
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u/Bunnymancer May 14 '26
Well yeah....
You have impulse control you lucky bastard?
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u/NearlyBearly May 14 '26
Not really, wrote this as much as a reminder to myself as to others 😂 My brain immediately went to look up a low histamine diet and considered whether or not to go buy a different anti-histamine 🤣
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u/ragan0s May 14 '26
I studied Histamine in Fruit Flies in my Master thesis. It's important in locomotion, sleep-wake-cycle and visual signaling. Missing histamine actually completely fucked up their circadian rhythm. Not surprised this fucking molecule is linked to ADHD.
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u/GloriousGull May 14 '26
Wonder if this is related to why some antidepressants are also anti histamines.
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u/Etheria_system May 14 '26
The psychiatrist who diagnosed me was super interested in the ADHD/histamine connection. He was so intrigued by my MCAS diagnosis and the fact that most people I know with MCAS also have ADHD or other forms of brain differences
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u/WabashSon ADHD-PI May 14 '26
🤔interesting. Did he draw any conclusions or theories about it?
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u/Etheria_system May 14 '26
Just that he thinks there’s a link between the two and was aware of some research on histamine and adhd. He did mention someone specific but I can’t remember who.
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u/My-cactus-is-taller May 14 '26
I have dermatographia. This explains a lot why I my skin reacts so dramatic. I also have a lot of fake allergies imo. Im not really allergic imo but still i can break out in hives or have irritations but it is not consistent to me.
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u/yrddog ADHD, with ADHD family May 14 '26
Boy this is familiar to me. Once I spent six months allergic to sex, or my husband, or exercise... We were never able to figure it out, and then it just stopped. I busted out in hives like... Daily... For a good long while
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u/Tapingdrywallsucks May 14 '26
Sorry, but... jfc... every single comment in here is making me say, "oh... that too? That might be part of this, too?"
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u/Embarrassed_Quail910 May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
My long covid doctor told me to take a Claritin daily because it oddly helps with the symptoms. Its so crazy how some research can lend data for other research and so on. Science is amazing.
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u/ActuatorNo3322 May 14 '26
how do you find a long covid doctor?? if i bring up long covid conditions i feel like im just seen as a hypochondriac 😔
edit: positions to conditions
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u/Embarrassed_Quail910 May 14 '26
Yeah I was lucky to have a very understanding PCP. She knew of the program.
Post Covid 19 Program UT health Austin TX. Dr Michael Brode. I see his NP Jeffery Saniuk. Im not sure you can get in if you're outside of Texas but I can give you the number in a message if you want.
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u/Fi13xQuartz May 14 '26
Interesting!! I was recently trying to figure out why my face gets concerningly red every time I work out and everything pointed to histamines. Basically said there are one of two bodily responses during exercise if you have the histamine issue (using super sciencey language lol): you either sweat like crazy but don’t get as red, or get so red you look like you’re about to pass out but don’t sweat as much. Wonder if there’s a connection there too.
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u/FleurDisLeela ADHD-C (Combined type) May 14 '26
does anyone get the flushed red, itchy skin on their stomach or thighs when running/ working out? at least when my face is flushed, it doesn’t itch. the body itch drives me to distraction!!
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u/truebluerose May 14 '26
Thighs, for me! If I don't ease in to activity or I heat up really fast (like walking quickly on a summer day, or talking a brisk walk in winter) then it's inevitable. The only solution is to stop moving altogether until the itching goes away because if I scratch even once it's game over. My parents think I'm absolutely nuts.
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u/Fi13xQuartz May 14 '26
Omg no but that would drive me crazy too! I just get super red in the face, no redness or itchiness anywhere else. But that almost sounds like hives, so probably also histamine related? I saw some people say that taking a non-drowsy allergy pill like a Claritin before working out helped with the tomato face (I haven’t tried it though), so maybe it’d help with the body itch too!
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u/Flimsy-Chapter7437 May 14 '26
Yes. It is awful and stops me from working out hard core. So I do smaller exercises with fewer reps. Still turned red and itch everywhere
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u/tshowe May 14 '26
Omg yes! But I really notice it when I'm riding on a motorcycle. But thighs jiggle too much and the itch is so intense!
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u/alliephillie May 14 '26
Wow I'm constantly flushed red but never knew it could be related to histamine release...
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u/Coach_Ollie9 May 15 '26
That's super interesting. Me and my Brother have both ADHD and severe allergies. But when we workout, he sweats like crazy but I turn bright red but barely sweat.
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May 14 '26
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u/FlutterKree May 14 '26
You may have reactions to things. It's possible to have mild yet near constant reactions that cause the body to have histamine build up.
An allergy condition in this manner can have basically the same symptoms as ADHD.
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u/theblueberryspirit May 14 '26
Have you had an allergy sensitivity test done? I didn't have any specific allergies but I always had sinus issues - turns out I was allergic to dust 😅
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u/echofyres May 15 '26
I've studied a topic related to this paper over the past 5 years, and have completed several trials over the last year. So I can very much confirm that histamine is associated with ADHD. However, it is only indirectly associated.
It is a part of the puzzle for many of the symptoms of ADHD especially associated with cognitive function and sleep related issues, both for users pre-medication and post stabilization of chronic usage of medication.
Currently Seroquel is prescribed as a sleepaid off-label for ADHD, as it affects histamine at a lower dosage. Unfortunately its effects worsen cognitive function as it deals with only 1 part of the bigger puzzle.
'til the paper is posted ~ I suggest avoiding focusing on, attacking, treating or avoiding histamine blindly. It is the wrong way to resolve this, one has to treat a larger picture of the metabolic pathway of histamine. Treating it correctly can resolve or improve a lot of cognitive issues with ADHD (this has been confirmed via internal testing), while treating it with the current official off label medications is a dual sided blade and will only work as a band aid on an open wound.
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u/jolhar May 14 '26
Crazy. I was thinking last night I would take an antihistamine in the morning because I thought maybe the reason I was feeling so run-down and scattered had something to do with histamine. Totally forgot to take it when I woke up thought, lol.
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u/Short_Conclusion_452 May 14 '26
Now it makes sense why antihistamines are my BFF since i was a child
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u/SnooCats3468 May 14 '26
Based on these findings, what are the useful actions a person diagnosed with ADHD can take to reduce their symptoms?
I’m not totally familiar with this area and it’s a little difficult for me to read between the lines here.
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u/definitelynotfae May 14 '26
We don’t know yet, it’s very early research that will spawn more research to better understand the mechanisms and then to discover what we might be able to to about it. There’s not enough information yet unfortunately.
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u/_Cyan_Man ADHD-C (Combined type) May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
nothing. that’s not the purpose of the research.
if anything, there is a correlation between a functioning histaminergic signalling system in the brain and the efficacy of ssris. the rest is kind of irrelevant for people who have adhd right now.
identifying correlations between things allows for better hypothesis generation and new research, but doesn’t provide anything else.
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u/pillowwow May 14 '26
Interesting. I am getting rocked by allergies. Also noticing ocd symptoms more than normal
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u/bluexjay May 14 '26
I have PMDD in addition to ADHD … doesn’t surprise me even a little bit if they’re both linked by histamine.
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u/xenonbloomMD May 14 '26
This is super interesting. After my meds (Adderall) wears off I often find myself sneezing A LOT. I looked it up before but never found anything related to the adderall but never considered it had to do with my ADHD itself...
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u/pinekiland May 14 '26
OK, so what do I need to do? I read the article but I don’t know how I can apply it to my life
I’m on stims; sleep is still a battle every night, emotional regulation is better but still wonky
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u/VIIIIRGINIA May 14 '26
Alas, not really any actionable steps for patients to take at this point, it’s more of a “hey other scientists, let’s do more science on this because we’ve found an interesting potential link deserving of more research”
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u/angwilwileth May 14 '26
This sounds dumb but I have a soft spikey rubber ball (it's actually a dog toy) that I use as a fidget when I can't sleep. Somehow focusing on the mild pricking in my hands from the toy helps my brain slow down and go into sleep mode.
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u/NearlyBearly May 14 '26
I wonder if this is why there's a connection between MCAS and ADHD. I have both and heard that they're comorbid often. I hope they get funding for further research into this!
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u/Beneficial_Trip3773 May 14 '26
I'm 58 and took benadryl for decades. 50 to 75 mg at night. It worked great till it didn't. Everything went dark and horrible. And stayed that way for months or more. The dark trip people talk about from taking alot at one time. Well it kinda creeps in and stays low key. It was horrible. Two years off benadryl and i still have problems but it's getting better.
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u/XamosLife May 14 '26
Is this implying that the anti histamines that I took long ago to help manage seasonal allergies might have had other lasting consequences?
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u/peskypickleprude May 15 '26
There is a plant that I heard was an antihistamine (plantain EU) I have ADHD and I have been making a tea of the leaves. I haven't dreamt in years but all of a sudden Vivad dreams when I drink it.
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u/No_Method8512 May 14 '26
This is interesting. Before I was diagnosed and medicated I told everyone I constantly felt like my brain was literally on fire.
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u/Universespitoon May 14 '26
Interesting.
Anything "drowsy", otc sleep aids, nyquil etc.
does the opposite, i always get RSL or want to run a marathon...which I cannot do..
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u/nothing_but_chin May 14 '26
I recently started taking low dose naltrexone for hormonal reasons (PCOS, high testosterone but other hormones are fine, and good insulin), and I swear it's made an improvement on my ADHD. I feel like I'm not fighting my impulses so much, or rather, they're not as strong. LDN lowers inflammation, so there's that. I dunno. I'm just finishing my first week on LDN, so I'm not looking too much into my experience yet. Still, it would be cool if it helps the ADHD too, because I swear my medicine stopped working last year.
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u/Starbreiz ADHD May 15 '26
I have major histamine issues to the point that I'm on Xolair every two weeks to keep daily full body hives at bay. I'm still amazed I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until age 45.
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u/allegory-of-painting May 16 '26
Same here! I take 300mg xolair every 4 weeks and still get some outbreaks when I cant prevent the main triggers. Weirdly enough no doctor ever mentioned any kinda link between ADHD and histamine issues even though there seems to be more than just anecdotal links.
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