What anesthesia drugs release histamine?
Isabella Ramos
Updated on February 25, 2026
Anaesthetic drugs that release histamine directly include atracurium, mivacurium, morphine and meperidine. Clinical evidence of histamine release, usually cutaneous, occurs in up to 30% of patients during anaesthesia.
Does anesthesia have histamine?
Histamine release can occur in response to anaphylactic or chemically mediated anaphylactoid reactions during general anesthesia. Narcotics and muscle relaxants have been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo to cause significant histamine release.
Who is release histamine?
As part of an immune response to foreign pathogens, histamine is produced by basophils and by mast cells found in nearby connective tissues. Histamine increases the permeability of the capillaries to white blood cells and some proteins, to allow them to engage pathogens in the infected tissues.
Which drug inhibits the release of histamine?
Antihistamines suppress the histamine-induced wheal response (swelling) and flare response (vasodilation) by blocking the binding of histamine to its receptors or reducing histamine receptor activity on nerves, vascular smooth muscle, glandular cells, endothelium, and mast cells.
Does propofol cause histamine release?
Propofol induced histamine release from lung (mean 8.6 (SEM 1.6)%) and skin mast cells (3.8 (1.5)%), but not from heart mast cells. Ketamine caused release of histamine from lung (6.2 (0.9)%) and skin mast cells (2.5 (1.5)%). Thiopentone caused a small amount of histamine release from lung mast cells (3.1 (1.2)%).
What is a histamine liberator?
Some foods, while low in histamines themselves, are known as histamine liberators, meaning that they help to release histamine from other foods. Foods with histamine-releasing properties include citrus, peanuts, fish, shellfish, and egg whites.
Does propofol release histamine?
Conclusions: Propofol was found to show a similar incidence of histamine release during the induction of anesthesia using midazolam-ketamine, and thus was also found to be a useful induction agent against histamine release for patients with a history of allergy when hydroxizine was used as a premedication.
Do antihistamines interfere with anesthesia?
Prophylaxis with antihistamines as part of general anesthetic management may help reduce clinical disturbances associated with anesthesia and surgery, according to a study conducted by Wilfried Lorenz, of the institute of theoretical surgery, Phillips University, Marburg, Germany.
Is histamine release good or bad?
However, histamine is not inherently bad. In fact, it’s your body’s way of letting you know you’re allergic to something in your environment or something you consumed. Histamine is a chemical released by your mast cells when you encounter an allergen.
Why do antihistamines cause sedation?
Antihistamines are medications that target the H1 histamine receptor. First-generation antihistamines block peripheral H1 receptors, but also cross the blood – brain barrier and block central nervous system H1 and cholinergic receptors as well. This produces the unwanted side effect of sedation.
Why does histamine release during morphine and Fentanyl anesthesia?
Histamine release during morphine and fentanyl anesthesia High doses of morphine produced peripheral vasodilation and frequently significant hypotension. These effects are thought to be due, in part, to the release of histamine. One putative advantage of high-dose fentanyl anesthesia is its relatively small effect on peripheral vascular resistance.
What are the causes of histamine release?
Nutrient excesses like histidine, or a protein excess in general. Taking medications that may block DAO or release excess histamine such as analgesics, antibiotics, antidepressants, antacids, diuretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
Can histamine levels be measured by an anesthesiologist?
Few anesthesiologists or allergists have experience with the methodology for skin testing described in detail by the authors. Further, because of the rapid catabolism of histamine and the technical difficulty in sample acquisition and measurement, histamine levels remain mostly a research rather than clinical tool.
What medications cause histamine intolerance?
Medications That Cause Histamine Intolerance 1 muscle relaxants 2 pain medications 3 gastrointestinal medicines 4 nausea and gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD 5 airway medications, such as theophylline 6 heart medications 7 antibiotics 8 antidepressants 9 antipsychotics 10 diuretics