Is Histamine Affecting Your Sleep Cycle?
This post is part of an ongoing series on histamine intolerance, which Dr. Gannage has described as a “game changer in chronic illness”. If you missed the first post, which explains what histamine intolerance is, you can read it here.
Histamine & Sleep
The warnings on labels of certain antihistamines, that drowsiness may occur, are there for a reason: histamine promotes wakefulness (1); therefore, blocking it can induce drowsiness. In fact, most medications marketed as sleep aids contain an antihistamine for this reason.
What does that mean for the rest of us? If you have a buildup of histamine, it could be keeping you up at night.
Within the brain, histamine is responsible for regulating the cycle of sleeping and waking. Histamine is most active while we’re awake, and is more active during the phase of the sleep cycle that most closely resembles wakefulness than it is during deeper sleep. Histamine doesn’t just promote wakefulness in general, it also has an impact on the biological “clock” that regulates our circadian rhythm (the internal 24 hour cycle that tells us when to sleep, wake up, eat, etc.).
Improper or insufficient synthesis of histamine can lead to somnolence (excessive sleepiness), while excess histamine can lead to insomnia, a common problem among people who suffer from histamine intolerance.
Avoiding high-histamine foods– especially later in the day– might lead to a better night’s sleep for those with a histamine intolerance. Furthermore, as the act of digestion itself triggers the release of histamine, avoiding eating late in the evening can help.
Learn More About Histamine Intolerance
When Excess Histamine Feels Like A Panic Attack
Why Are Women More Sensitive to Histamine?
Could Histamine Be At the Root of Your Migraines?
Is There a Link Between Tinnitus & Histamine?
Can a Low FODMAP Diet Help With Histamine Intolerance?
For more personalized guidance, request a consultation with Dr. John Gannage, MD.
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That is a very good article!
I always thought I couldn’t sleep after a histamine-rich meal because my face was itchy.
Then I thought: since antihistamines cause drowsiness, histamine must cause wakefulness!
I now have the answer! Thank you very much!
Are there any other (not-very- obvious) effects of excess histamine in histamine intolerant people?
Oh my word, you’ve explained exactly what I experience! It’s strange though as I’m not able to find this itching symptom on the Web. I sleep during the day from fibromyalgia and as soon as my head hits the pillow my face begins an unbearable crawling itch sensation on my face. It doesn’t have to be night time but happens also every night. It happens as soon as I try and go off to sleep. Other areas are the hands and feet and legs and the middle area. It’s like all my nerve endings are inflamed. Very rarely in the day, mostly in the evening and always at night. Can’t seem to find any info on these symptoms.
Have you ever heard of histamine intolerance causing elevated blood pressure?
yes