Histamine Phosphate Product Information

Histamine phosphate is an FDA-approved diagnostic tool used to test the production of acid in the stomach. It is also used to test for allergies, by administering a scratch test on the skin. Histamine phosphate must be administered only by a doctor.

Features

• Histamine is produced by the body in response to allergens when there is a sensitivity to these substances. In a histamine skin test for allergies, the histamine phosphate produces an acute allergic reaction, such as a raised red wheal on the skin. In its use as a diagnostic aid for gastric disease, the solution is injected under the skin, and the stomach contents are tested five minutes later for the ability of the gastric mucosa to produce hydrochloric acid.

Precautions

• A histamine phosphate test may precipitate an asthma attack in people with bronchial asthma. In this event, an epinephrine injection is given to counteract allergic responses. The histamine test is also contraindicated for people with high or low blood pressure, or severe heart, lung, or kidney disease. Histamine phosphate should not be administered during pregnancy, because histamine is known to cause uterine contractions.

Warning

• Common side effects of the histamine test are headaches, dizziness, and a pounding heartbeat. Also, histamine phosphate interacts negatively with other medications such as tricyclic antidepressants and beta-antagonists. Anyone offered the test should give the doctor a list of current medications before proceeding.