HeatHives.com-Cholinergic Urticaria and Hives

How to Treat Cholinergic Urticaria (heat hives treatment)

At this time, there is no known cure for cholinergic urticaria. One reason there is no cure is simply because doctors & researchers are still not completely sure what is causing the cholinergic urticaria (heat hives) symptoms.

There are several treatment options that doctors have prescribed to treat the hives outbreak. Treatments have ranged from anti-histamines, steroids, & more.

On this page, I will try to list various treatment options that I have either personally tried, or that I have found mentioned on various websites, or that others with this condition have told me about.
Please understand that I am NOT a medical doctor. Please do not attempt to take or stop taking any medications based on what I write here. Instead, always follow the instructions of your doctor. I am simply writing this information for those that are interested for research purposes. I am trying to do everything I can to help anyone else suffering from this condition.

Below I will have various drugs, therapies, diets, etc. that have been used to try to treat the symptoms of cholinergic urticaria. This list may not include everything that has been used, but I am trying to focus on the most common treatments based on medical articles, forums, & my own experience.

Different Drug Treatments That May Be Used for Cholinergic Urticaria (heat hives):

-Antihistamines Used for Cholinergic Urticaria
Antihistamines are agents/drugs that serve to inhibit (or prevent) the release of histamine in the body. Histamine is simply a chemical involved in allergic responses & other biological functions. Usually during a cholinergic urticaria (heat hives) attack, histamine is released in the body. It causes the “itchy” hives feeling.

List of Commonly Prescribed Antihistamines May Include: Hydroxyzine, Loratadine (Claritin), Cetirizine (Zyrtec), Desloratadine (Clarinex), Benadryl, & more.

These antihistamines listed above are sometimes prescribed to help alleviate the symptoms of cholinergic urticaria. According to some people I have talked to (and forums I have read), antihistamines may or may not help with symptoms.

Some people with mild cases of cholinergic urticaria have claimed that antihistamines have really helped or even temporarily stopped their hives. Others report that it helped some and the hives remained, while others report that antihistamines had nearly no effect.

I have personally tried Hydroxyzine, Claritin, and Benadryl. Claritin & Benadryl can usually be purchased over the counter in a local drug store.  My personal experience with these drugs is that it temporarily “knocked me out.” Antihistamines can have the tendency to make you very very drowsy.

So for the first 2-3 days I thought it was really working. However, as soon as my body adjusted to the medicine & I no longer became drowsy, the hives came back just as before. Therefore, I stopped taking the antihistamines after a few weeks.

You may want to try antihistamines, especially if a doctor recommends them. They may help you, and it may very well be worth a try. Just don’t plan on operating heavy equipment because you will most likely be very sleepy.

-Steroids Used for Cholinergic Urticaria

Different types of steroids are also occasionally used to treat cholinergic urticaria. In most instances, it seems that steroids are only used in extremely severe circumstances. A British dermatological medical journal, Blackwell-Synergy.com, has published a few articles related to the treatment of cholinergic urticaria with Danazol (an androgen steroid).

There was just a small excerpt from the full article (I think you have to pay to get full article). Basically, it says that cholinergic urticaria was effective in reducing cholinergic urticaria outbreaks. The excerpt can be found here.

I have also read a different article from this blackwell-synergy.com website, in which a military person had a severe case of cholinergic urticaria. He was placed on Danazol as well, and the symptoms went away completely for a short time. However, they did eventually return & higher doses was needed. He was eventually discharged from the military because the cholinergic urticaria was interfering too often.
Obviously, steroids are very serious & potentially dangerous compounds. They should only be used if your doctor prescribes them. According to what I have read, it seems that they are only given in fairly extreme circumstances. It seems it may help, but obviously one should weigh the potential harmful long-term effects against any short-term benefit.

Personally, I was given one “steroid” shot by my dermatologist when I was having very severe breakouts. It had no effect on me. I did not try to take more, & I do not know what type of steroid it was (anabolic, corticosteroid, etc.).

-Corticosteroids Used for Cholinergic Urticaria

Corticosteroids (according to wikipedia.org) are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress response, immune response and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte levels, and behavior.

Corticosteroids can come in various forms such as creams, pills, etc. If you have ever had eczema or skin dermatitis, you may have been prescribed a corticosteroid cream.

Prednisone is a type of corticosteroid that is sometimes prescribed for various immune-related diseases. It has been prescribed for some sufferers of cholinergic urticaria. Prednisone tends to have an immune suppressing effect. Meaning it lowers your immune system response.

Prednisone has also been successful at preventing some of the symptoms related to cholinergic urticaria. Just like other steroids, they are typically prescribed by a doctor in more severe cases. Do not take this medication unless prescribed by your doctor. Also, prednisone may have serious side effects or long term effects, so talk to your doctor about any potential risks involved.

I have never taken prednisone, however, according to some forums I have read it has helped completely stop symptoms in some chronic hives & cholinergic urticaria sufferers. Again, any drug that messes with your immune system is serious business & you should weigh any potential long-term effects with the potential benefit.

-Beta-blockers Used for Cholinergic Urticaria

Beta blockers (according to wikipedia.org) block the action of endogenous catecholamines (epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) in particular), on β-adrenergic receptors, part of the sympathetic nervous system which mediates the “fight or flight” response.

Propranolol has been prescribed in an attempt to help treat the condition of cholinergic urticaria (hives). Again, some people have reported some relief with this treatment as well.

I have never taken a beta-blocker, so I cannot personally comment on it. Again, if your doctor prescribes this, you may want to talk about any harmful side effects & weigh those against any potential benefit.

Important Medical Disclosure

I also just want to briefly say that I am NOT a doctor. Please do not confuse anything I say on this website at medical advice. Period. You should always consult with a medical doctor before trying any medications, or stopping any medications.

I have no medical training whatsoever. The only authority I can provide is that I have suffered from this for several years. I also do extensive research online by reading published medical articles related to cholinergic urticaria (CU), research forums, websites, etc.

I may post theories, things I have tried, medications, etc. Again, these are my personal opinions, ideas, experiences, and thoughts. I just like to share them for anyone that may be interested.