Inhibition of Histamine Release
Cromolyn inhibits the release of histamines from the mast cells. Mast cells are the cells that produce and release histamines.
Cromolyn is not an antihistamine. It doesn’t work on the H1 receptor. It works on the mast cells. This drug is prophylactic and cannot be used therapeutically if the person is having an acute allergic reaction. The reason being is that there is already histamine in the blood, so the only thing this can do is stabilize any future release of histamine from the mast cells. It would take about 3 days for this drug to work acutely if the histamines have already been released otherwise.
When would you use a product like this prophylactically? If a person has seasonal allergies, a person would utilize this prophylactic drug before the season starts. If a person is going to a friends house and they have a cat they know they are allergic to, they could take it before they get there.
This medication can be administered as an oral inhaler, nasal inhaler, and ophthalmically (eye drops).
- Cromolyn
- Prophylactic agent that inhibits histamine release from mast cells
- Oral inhaler, nasal inhaler, and ophthalmic use
