The Viral Pepcid and Allegra trend in Menopause and the natural alternatives for ladies who want that too! In perimenopause, estrogen doesn’t decline in a smooth straight line. It fluctuates A LOT! Those hormone swings can activate mast cells , cells in your body which release histamine. And histamine symptoms coupled with menopause symptoms can cause: anxiety flushing insomnia headaches racing heart reflux bladder urgency bloating At the same time, progesterone often drops first, losing some of its calming effect on the nervous system and mast cells. It has been a recent trend for women to use antihistamines like Allegra or Zyrtec which crosses the blood brain barrier but may cause drowsiness and H2 blockers like Pepcid to manage symptoms. There can absolutely be a time and place for medications, however; If you are looking for a natural approach that may help support histamine balance and mast cell stability: Check out quercetin-often thought of as a natural antihistamine and a great antioxidant and helpful for inflammation too. It’s a great overall midlife supplement. Ginger also helps block histamine , has a soothing GI effect but not lowering stomach acid which can affect the absorption of nutrients. You can easily incorporate this into a tea or look into capsules. Many women do not realize the correlation between histamine and midlife. Be sure to check with a medical professional to see if any of these options are right for you!