Some individuals that have hives and constipation and hives at the same time assume it is a symptom of a particular illness. While that certainly could be the case, constipation and hives are both common symptoms of many different conditions on their own and the combination will most likely be an indication that a certain medication is giving you problems.

Hives and Constipation Together Is a Common Occurrence for Those Taking Trazodone

All medications have side effects. Hives, constipation, dry mouth, and headaches are common side effects in a lot of drugs. But in some cases certain side effect combinations can indicate an allergic reaction instead of being a side effect.  Be sure to read the specific warnings on the drug to be sure. A common anti depressant, Trazodone, would be one of these. And since it is such a commonly prescribed medication, it is worth mentioning because the combination of constipation and hives can indicate a serious allergic reaction that requires medical attention. Many patients suffering from chronic hives end up dealing with depression because of the hives.

If you are on trazodone and have constipation that suddenly is accompanied by hives, you need to get medical attention without delay. And of course do not take any more of it without consulting your prescribing physician.

What Else Could Cause Constipation and Hives at the Same Time?

A condition left untreated that will cause constipation and hives, along with dizziness is Candida. Other symptoms that are not as common are stomach pain and tinnitus. That is pretty much it for the symptoms so if this describes you treatment for Candida would be a good idea, or at least something to be considered.

It is not talked about much and some people never heard of it but according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that up to 75% of women will experience this yeast overgrowth at least once in the form of a vaginal yeast infection. And along with constipation and hives, the other symptoms are headache, fatigue, and digestive problems.

Some other conditions that could cause the constipation and hives combination are

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Adverse reaction to artificial sweetener known as Truvia
• Helicobacter pylori infection

But these are not at all common and the most likely culprit will be a reaction to a drug, either an allergic reaction or just side effects from its use. And although there may be some people claiming it, there is really no such condition known as constipation hives. The two symptoms may occur at the same time as discussed here, but hives are not caused by constipation.

The relationship between hives and depression is a complex, ironic one. In fact hives, known medically as urticaria, and depression may be directly related or a side effect of each other.

Let’s start off with the simplest relationship between the two. Hives is a common skin disorder experienced at least once by about 20 percent of the population. But there is an unfortunate minority of patients that develop chronic urticaria, and depression for those patients is an all too familiar companion. Not only are the hives bothersome in the way they constantly itch and interfere with daily activities, but the unsightly appearance of them makes people self-conscience to the point that they will start to isolate themselves to avoid being seen. With chronic hives, depression is fairly common as the patient sees no light at the end of the tunnel and can think of nothing else but their condition. There have been some cases where people have suffered for years with hives and depression becomes so severe that they become suicidal.

Urticaria and Depression May Be Related To Medication

There are many depression medications that cause hives in some patients as a side effect. So the relationship between hives and depression is sort of secondary, but emotionally destructive. The patient is already depressed so they begin a medication to help them overcome the depression.  Hives appear as a side effect of the drug. Urticaria and depression in these instances can become a vicious cycle unless the patient realizes the relationship and stops or changes the medication immediately. Needless to say any positive effect the drug may have on the depression will be wiped out by the emotional toll caused by the hives. And depression will only feed on itself in these cases so recognition of the relationship is key to stopping this cycle of urticaria and depression making each condition worse.

Other Relationships between Hives and Depression

The cause of hives in over half the cases is never determined. Sometimes depression or emotional state can bring on an acute case of hives, or even chronic hives. But anxiety is a more common emotional trigger for urticaria and depression is pretty far down the list of causes.

More commonly, there are many medications that have hives and depression in their list of side effects. And these are not only anti-depressant drugs. Many drugs prescribed for all different conditions will trigger both hives and depression. The depression will not manifest right away, however, so take a look at the prescription insert patient information on any drug taken for more than a couple weeks to see if these symptoms appear as side effects.

If hives is causing the depression, the best way to break the cycle is to get to the root cause of the hives. In chronic cases, it will usually be related to an immune system problem of some sort.

If you are having problems with urticaria, hair loss is probably not related directly to the urticaria. Hair loss can be attributed to many things but there is no medical research to indicate a direct relationship to hives. Hair loss can be attributed to many conditions and you should see if any of them also have hives as a symptom or side effect as well.  Some possible causes of hair loss include:

• Stress
• Drug side effects
• Iron deficiency
• Menopause
• Genetics
• Aging
• Allergic reaction to something put into the hair
• Hair style

Look For a Link to Both Urticaria, Hair Loss

If you look at the general list above, it is known that stress, drug side effects, and allergic reactions can cause hives. Hair loss occurs with all of these so it seems a logical place to start would be with the most common condition that causes hives, hair loss, or both and that would be anxiety or stress.

Stress is so prevalent in modern society that hardly anybody is immune from it. It is also one of the most common triggers of hives. Hair loss to be concerned with is difficult to define and is relative. 50 to 100 hairs lost in a day is not all that unusual. Control your stress and see if the problem with hives disappears. If it does, you should be relieved and, quite frankly, quit worrying about your hair loss.

Have You Changed Your Hair Style or Color Lately?

Allergic reactions to hair dyes, permanent solutions, or any of the other myriad of hair care products available is very common. And one of those reactions is hives. Hair loss can also be caused by some solutions put into the hair, but it will be temporary.

Sometimes a new hair style that pulls the hair tightly in any one place could cause what is known as pressure urticaria. Hair loss from tight buns or pony tails is not unusual either so this is another possible cause.

Have You Started Taking a New Medication?

Cancer fighting drugs are known to cause urticaria, hair loss, vomiting, nausea, and many other side effects. But if you are fighting cancer, hair loss and hives are, frankly, the least of your concerns.

Some anti-acne drugs like Isotretinoin, can cause hives, hair loss and other unwelcome rashes.

You should know that the two conditions – hives, hair loss, are not directly related. So a little detective work is in order if these two problems are causing you concern.  Look for common causes. The good news is that hives are very difficult to find a cause for and if you can correlate hives with hair loss you may have narrowed down the list of possible causes for your particular type of hives.  Hair loss, if it continues over many years, is more likely age-related or genetic and there is not much to be done for it.

Cases of hives often go undiagnosed as to the cause, but hives and swollen joints in combination should lead you to investigate the possibility of Serum sickness as a cause. Serum sickness is not a well known response but could explain hives and swollen joints occurring at the same time. While a number of other allergic reactions could also explain the hives, swollen joints is kind of a wild card that can help you narrow it down.

What is Serum Sickness?

Serum sickness is an allergic-like reaction to injected proteins used to treat immune conditions. The injected proteins, or antiserum, are the liquid part of the blood that has antibodies in it to help protect against infections or even poisons.

The clear fluid portion of the blood is called plasma. It doesn’t contain any blood cells, but does contain proteins including antibodies. Antiserum is produced from this plasma and there are many types of antiserums produced for different reasons. Well known antiserum injections are those given for exposure to tetanus and rabies. But that is far from a complete list.

Serum sickness is defined as a false immune system response to the proteins in this plasma. The immune system attacks the antiserum and causes hives and swollen joints, inflammation, and other symptoms. The immune system is indeed a complex and marvelous system but when it goes “rogue” it can cause real problems – some severe. In essence, it attacks the body from within.

Can Other Types of Medication Cause Serum Sickness?

Some medications can cause similar reactions, like fever, rash, hives, and swollen joints.  But it is not exactly the same. These medications will trigger a response in fairly short order.  On the other hand, serum sickness usually develops one to three weeks after the first injection. Medications that mimic serum sickness symptoms include penicillin, cefaclor, and sulfa.

Some injected proteins like antithymocyte globulin and rituximab which are used to combat transplant rejection and immune disorders can also cause the hives and swollen joints associated with serum sickness.

Finally, some blood products can cause serum sickness as well.

How is it Diagnosed?

Diagnosis will depend mostly on seeing blood and proteins in the urine and immune complexes in the blood. Blood vessel inflammation and enlarged lymph nodes are also common.

In over half of all cases of hives, the description idiopathic is used. The term is used to mean that the cause is undetermined. With most hives tingling, burning, itching, slight swelling and discoloration of the skin are common symptoms. But the commonality of the symptoms only makes determining the cause more difficult.

Many people think they know what is bringing on the hives, but the fact is the cause is never found in the majority of the cases.

Is There Any One Condition That Causes Hives, Tingling Sensations As A Constant Symptom?

The short answer is yes, but it is rare. Lupus will consistently cause hives, tingling of a persistent nature in the arms and legs, and other symptoms. If you have chronic hives, tingling in the arms and legs that won’t go away, and don’t know the cause, it is worthwhile to eliminate Lupus as a cause so you can go on to discover the real culprit. And of course if Lupus is the cause you will want to begin treating it as soon as you can. It should be emphasized again here that it is rare but it is the only condition that presents the two symptoms of hives, tingling in the arms and legs as a consistent combination.

What Are The Other Symptoms Of Lupus?

No two cases of Lupus are the same, but the most common are listed below:

• Joint pain
• Joint stiffness and swelling
• A butterfly-shaped rash on the face covering the bridge of the nose and both cheeks
• Fever and fatigue
• Skin lesions that get worse with exposure to the sun
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dry eyes
• Memory loss, confusion, headaches
• Persistent hives, tingling in the arms and legs

What Other Conditions Could Be The Cause Of Both Hives And Tingling?

Many cases of hives will itch and tingle and the cause will never be found. Some allergic reactions will result in both, but chronic hives is generally a function of something gone wrong with the immune system.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that will cause numbness, burning, dry skin, itching, hives, tingling, and most bothersome of all fatigue and pain. The pain is all over the body and the fatigue is much generalized. Fibromyalgia is as difficult to diagnose as chronic hives but could be the cause of both the hives and the tingling.  It is usually diagnosed by excluding almost everything else.

In the meantime, until and unless you find the cause of the hives, tingling, and burning, all you can really do is treat the symptoms which are typically done with an antihistamine like Benadryl. Topical creams or ointments may help with the hives but will not help at all with the tingling. You may just have to let time pass.  Hives bother some people for years with the cause never being found. There are some alternative medicine regimens that have been effective that target the health of the immune system. Some research into some of these could prove beneficial.

Hives, or urticaria, is a very bothersome condition. Many people suffer with it for years. Scarring seldom occurs with hives. Hives marks, or scars, don’t happen because the condition doesn’t produce any wound to the skin to repair.

Why Don’t Hives Marks or Scars Occur?

In order for the skin to exhibit any type of scar tissue, or permanent discoloration, there has to be some damage to the skin for the body to repair. Scarring occurs when there is some type of break in the skin. This could be anything from the simple rupturing of a pimple, which breaks the skin, to a cut in the skin from a sharp object that causes bleeding.

None of these things happen with hives. Marks or scarring isn’t left because hives doesn’t cause a break in the skin. Without a skin break, the skin doesn’t produce collagen to repair the wound (there is no wound). It is this collagen production that creates scar tissue. So as worrisome and life-changing as chronic hives can be, hives marks is one thing sufferers really don’t have to concern themselves with.

What About the Discoloration?

Sometimes hives results in a condition classified by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This is sometimes confused with hives marks or scarring but it is not the same thing. It is a long, frightening sounding name, as medical terms tend to be, but is really just another name for slight discoloration that eventually fades away on its own.

Due to the slight swelling, or raised areas that are evident during the actual attack of hives, marks of discoloration are sometimes left  because excess melanin accumulates and changes the skin’s color in that area ever so slightly. You can consult a dermatologist about the best way to treat these but they usually go away on their own.

How Can These Discolored Areas Be Rid Of Faster

A normal treatment course to get rid of these discolored hives marks would go something like this:

• A prescription is obtained for a topical corticosteroid. This is applied directly to the area of discoloration
• The medication will stop any residual swelling that may be still in process and also halts any further melanin production.
• The hives marks of discoloration will eventually fade away. This doesn’t happen overnight but may take weeks
• Topical hydroquinone may also be used. It is a skin bleaching agent that comes in prescription or OTC strength. This agent breaks up melanin clusters caused by the swelling and the hives marks eventually fade away

You should wait until the outbreak of hives has come and gone before applying any of these topical solutions.

When it comes to unexplained conditions, acid reflux and hives are right near the top of the list. Food allergies and intolerances can aggravate both acid reflux and hives, or in some cases be the root cause. By far the more bothersome of the two to live with is hives. Acid reflux is sometimes easier to treat so if you are having problems with both acid reflux and hives at the same time, you should first try to treat the acid reflux. Hives may disappear at the same time if the cause is the same. So where to start?

Food Allergies

A food allergy happens when the body’s immune system goes into action against a certain food. The immune system is known to play a key role in both acid reflux and hives. The most common foods to cause allergic reactions are:

• Milk, dairy
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Soy
• Wheat
• Shellfish
• Fish

It is thought that over 90% of all food allergy problems are caused by one of these food types, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. Sometimes acid reflux is an allergic reaction to one of these foods and you’ll have to go through a process of elimination to see if one of the listed foods is causing your problem. A food journal is helpful in these cases. A severe allergic reaction will result in more symptoms than just acid reflux. And hives may present alone without acid reflux but it is a good bet that if your condition is to be figured out, you will find one of these food groups to be the offender.

Some of the other allergic reactions you can expect are mouth tingling, difficulty in breathing, cramping, vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, or an asthma attack. The symptoms usually appear within an hour of ingesting the food.  If you experience a rapid blood pressure drop or anaphylaxis, you should go to the emergency room without delay

Food Intolerance

Food intolerances share similar symptoms but do not involve the immune system. So while intolerance can be responsible for your acid reflux, it is probably not the cause of hives.

Your doctor can administer blood tests, help with elimination diets, and construct a diet that will help you avoid any foods that may be causing problems while still getting proper nutrition. If you find a food that is responsible, you will need to begin reading food ingredient labels on everything you purchase. Prepared foods often contain ingredients you wouldn’t expect.

Anaphylaxis is nothing to be taken lightly. Sometimes the reason for it is unexplained, but hives, dizziness, shortness of breath and nausea are the most common symptoms. In some cases, a rapid drop in blood pressure may even cause you to pass out. If you are experiencing these symptoms while reading this, you should stop reading and get medical attention right away. There are some other conditions that can have hives, dizziness, and nausea as symptoms. But if in doubt, err on the side of caution.

Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis

People with this condition experience hives, dizziness, and shortness of breath after they exercise. It is a rare condition that was only first written about in 1980. But even though it is rare, it is very serious and can end in shock or even death. The condition is similar to cholinergic hives. Dizziness and shortness of breath can occur with cholinergic hives as well. It is a type of hives brought on by temperature extremes of hot or cold.

Exercise induced anaphylaxis is different, however, in that people who suffer from it do not experience hives, dizziness, or shortness of breath after a hot shower or fever.

It can be diagnosed by the patient exercising in the presence of medically trained observers who watch the symptoms. If this type of observation is done, care must be taken to be sure that resuscitative equipment and expertise is available. Another diagnostic test can be done by immersing the patient in a hot water bath of at least 43 degrees Celsius. A person with exercise induced anaphylaxis will not develop hives. Dizziness may occur without the hives. A person with cholinergic hives will develop small hives, dizziness, and itchy areas. Taking antihistamines before exercise may help to prevent the condition but due to the possible serious consequences, if you are sure you have exercise induce anaphylaxis, the best advice is probably to not exercise at all.

Anaphylaxis Can Be Life-Threatening.

Anaphylaxis is a serious, life threatening whole-body allergic reaction to something that has become an allergen to the person. The reaction is quick and it is severe. Symptoms include Anxiety, confusion, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, hives, dizziness, palpitations, slurred speech, and wheezing.

It should be considered an emergency and needs to be treated immediately. 911 should be called and the person should try to be calmed in the meantime. It is different from just hives caused by something else although one of the more obvious symptoms to the observer may be the hives. Dizziness may result as a result of a quick drop in blood pressure. The patient may lose consciousness.

Lyme disease occurs in all parts of the United States. Early treatment is important if more serious damage from Lyme disease is to be prevented. Lyme disease and hives can be confused with each other and this is an important mistake to avoid. In its early stages, Lyme disease resembles hives. Lyme disease can even cause hives in the first week or so and if the symptom is just shrugged off as hives, you may miss an important opportunity to treat the Lyme disease. Hives doesn’t mean you have Lyme disease and hives by itself usually doesn’t mean Lyme disease. But let’s take a look at some other early symptoms.

What Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infectious bacterial disease spread by small ticks called deer ticks. It can be very serious if left untreated, but not fatal. The similarity of early symptoms of Lyme disease and hives means many people don’t get important early treatment that can prevent future problems. The disease can affect the joints, nervous system, and the heart, usually months after being contracted. More than half of those with untreated Lyme disease will develop chronic arthritis in the large joints. About 10 to 20 percent who don’t get treated will develop problems with their central nervous system. This damage can cause anything from headaches to facial paralysis. Heart problems of all varieties can develop with untreated Lyme disease. Most of these problems can be avoided with early antibiotic treatment but the similarity between Lyme disease and hives sometimes causes people to think they are just having an acute hives attack and won’t seek treatment right away.

So What Other Symptoms Should Be Looked For?

The first symptom is usually a rash where the tick was attached. The ticks are so small most people don’t notice them before they fall off. It starts small and spreads out. The red area often clears out in the center so it looks like a donut. This donut like appearance alone is one thing that can alert you to the difference between Lyme disease and hives. Other symptoms besides the hives are flu-like symptoms, like fever, sore throat, stiff neck, and headaches. Swollen glands are another early symptom. But Lyme disease and hives alone can show these same symptoms in certain hives types that are related to allergic reactions.

Best To Get A Blood Test

If you are not sure of the difference in your own symptoms and are not clear about the difference between Lyme disease and hives, your doctor can perform a blood test to look for Antibodies to the Lyme disease bacteria. This is the surest way to not confuse Lyme disease and hives and get the important early treatment for Lyme disease if you need it.

How Is It Treated?

Treatment is easy with antibiotics. Early treatment can prevent the later, more serious problems of Lyme disease. Don’t let confusion between Lyme disease and hives cause you to miss this window of opportunity that can save you months or years of problems later.

Hives, known medically as urticaria, is experienced by about one in five of all populations. There is nothing much to worry about with a single episode of hives. Breathing difficulty that accompanies the hives, however, does not usually happen with most types of hives, either chronic or acute.

What Are The Different Types Of Hives?

In a broad sense, there is either acute and chronic hives, or urticaria. Acute urticaria is defined as lasting less than six weeks and could be caused by medications, insect bites, medicines, shellfish, nuts, food additives, eggs, and dairy. With allergic hives, breathing difficulty can happen as a result of the allergic reaction. But if the breathing difficulty becomes even a little bit elevated beyond a mere shortness of breath, medical attention should be sought. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening type of allergic reaction that can develop in seconds and presents with hives, breathing difficulty, wheezing, abdominal pain, confusion, and light-headedness or fainting.

Chronic hives lasts for longer than six weeks and the cause is often unable to be determined. They can be caused by the same sorts of things but in over half the cases are related to the immune system. The causes can also be physical, such as pressure, temperature extremes, exercise, or even anxiety. But even with chronic hives, breathing difficulty may suddenly accompany the hives when it didn’t happen in the past. And as is the case with acute hives, breathing difficulty of any severity needs medical attention because of the possibility you may be experiencing anaphylaxis. Even in chronic cases that have persisted for years, hives breathing difficulty should never be overlooked.

What Is The Connection With Hives And Anaphylaxis

Both conditions involve the release of histamine. Tissues in different body areas release histamine and other substances. The release of histamine directly under the skin results in fluid leaking under the skin, causing the raised, red, sometimes itchy areas known as hives. Breathing becomes difficult when the swelling causes airways to tighten as is the case with anaphylaxis. This can be fatal. Anaphylaxis can happen as the result of exposure to any allergen, many of the same ones that cause hives. Breathing difficulty doesn’t occur in the allergic reaction of hives, and is the main difference between anaphylaxis and urticaria. Anaphylaxis can happen at any time and so can hives. Breathing problems along with it should cause you to seek emergency treatment without delay.