' Wake-up call' Allergy medications may play a deadly role in the opioid epidemic CDC study suggests - Silvia Martins HEAD TOPICS

' Wake-up call' Allergy medications may play a deadly role in the opioid epidemic CDC study suggests

10/22/2022 5:01:00 AM

Antihistamines typically used for allergies were involved in at least 18% of drug overdose deaths from 2019 to 2020 according to a CDC study

Drug Overdose Deaths Silvia Martins

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Yahoo News

Allergy medications like antihistamines can provide relief during autumn, but a new study suggests they may be lethal to victims of the opioid epidemic . Antihistamines , typically used for allergies, were involved in at least 18% of drug overdose deaths from 2019 to 2020, according to a CDC study. Sedating antihistamines, like diphenhydramine, can exacerbate opioid-induced respiratory depression, which is characterized by decreased breathing and the most common cause of death during an overdose, Martins said.Naloxone can typically reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, including opioid-induced respiratory depression, but it has no effect on antihistamines. “Because antihistamines do not respond to naloxone, co-involved opioid and antihistamine overdoses might require naloxone administration plus other immediate medical response measures to prevent death,” said lead author Amanda T. Dinwiddie, a health scientist at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control’s division of overdose prevention. Read more:
Yahoo News » 'Wake-up call': Allergy medications may play a deadly role in the opioid epidemic, CDC study suggests Mississippi State football player Sam Westmoreland dead at 18 Mississippi State football player is dead at 18 Mississippi State Football Player Sam Westmoreland Dies at 18

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Clint Cosgrove is joined this week by Tennessee Offensive Coordinator Alex Golesh to discuss the Volunteers' hot start to the season and their exciting victo... Read more >> Holly crap, do NOT do covid vaccines next! ' Wake-up call' Allergy medications may play a deadly role in the opioid epidemic CDC study suggestsResearchers at the CDC identified approximately 92,000 drug overdose deaths in 43 states and Washington, D.C., between 2019 and 2020, and found at least 18% involved or tested positive for antihistamines. Now how many of those 92,000 also tested positive for alcohol or tobacco? This is probably one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever read Shut up liers Mississippi State football player Sam Westmoreland dead at 18Mississippi State offensive lineman Sam Westmoreland has died at the age of 18, the university announced Wednesday. He might have lived 80 or 90 years without symptoms and then all of a sudden… dead. Thank you Dr Fauci for helping to create and push (did I say push?) a vaccine that exposes pre-existing cardiac problems, particularly in otherwise healthy people. It’s a game changer. Mississippi State football player is dead at 18Samuel Westmoreland, a Mississippi State University and offensive lineman, has died at age 18, the school says. I wonder why all these young people are suddenly dying? Hmm… Could care less Rest in peace young man! Mississippi State Football Player Sam Westmoreland Dies at 18Mississippi State freshman offensive lineman Sam Westmoreland has died at the age of 18, the school announced Wednesday. MeetJess The jab Very sad news. So young. Charlie Cox on the Challenge of Daredevil: Born Again Being 18 EpisodesMarvel Studios announced Daredevil: Born Again earlier this year and revealed that it would be an 18-episode series, a concept Charlie Cox is excited about. How magic mushrooms show promise in fighting addiction.How magic mushrooms show promise in fighting addiction.A Mississippi State Bulldogs helmet is shown during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Wade Davis Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi, on Oct.No foul play is suspected, Watson told the station. Sedating antihistamines, like diphenhydramine, can exacerbate opioid-induced respiratory depression, which is characterized by decreased breathing and the most common cause of death during an overdose, Martins said. Naloxone can typically reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, including opioid-induced respiratory depression, but it has no effect on antihistamines. Naloxone can typically reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, including opioid-induced respiratory depression, but it has no effect on antihistamines. “Because antihistamines do not respond to naloxone, co-involved opioid and antihistamine overdoses might require naloxone administration plus other immediate medical response measures to prevent death,” said lead author Amanda T. Keenum said in a statement. Dinwiddie, a health scientist at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control’s division of overdose prevention. Dinwiddie, a health scientist at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control’s division of overdose prevention. Story continues The study doesn’t capture why people took antihistamines with opioids, but Martins said there are reasons that go beyond enhancing the opioids' effects." Westmoreland was a graduate of Tupelo High School, where he played football. Some may have taken antihistamines to alleviate side effects related to long-term opioid use, she said, like itching, nausea and disordered sleeping. Some may have taken antihistamines to alleviate side effects related to long-term opioid use, she said, like itching, nausea and disordered sleeping.  "The Mississippi State athletics family is heartbroken by the sudden death of Sam Westmoreland,". Others may have taken the medication to treat their allergies. "Some might have tried to self-medicate side effects (with antihistamines) and inadvertently got more sedated,” Martins said.  "Some might have tried to self-medicate side effects (with antihistamines) and inadvertently got more sedated,” Martins said. The illicit drug supply may have also been tainted by antihistamines without the user's knowledge, Dinwiddie said . Although it's unclear how they were consumed, health experts say it's important for users to be aware of the dangers associated with taking antihistamines and for providers to be mindful when treating opioid overdoses. Although it's unclear how they were consumed, health experts say it's important for users to be aware of the dangers associated with taking antihistamines and for providers to be mindful when treating opioid overdoses.. "We need to have educational campaigns at the practitioner level and the general population level so people understand the risk of combining different substances," Martins said. Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.  Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT. Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: . Claire Cardona.