Ketotifen: Unveiling Relief for the Hidden Battles of MCAS, Long COVID, ME/CFS, and Dysautonomia
With MCAS, your body is in a constant state of high alert, reacting to triggers that most people wouldn’t even notice. A whiff of perfume, a change in weather, or an ingredient in your food can set off reactions ranging from mild discomfort to severe symptoms that can disrupt your entire day. It’s like living with an overzealous security system that sees threats everywhere and sounds the alarm too often.
Ketotifen: A Key to Symptom Management in MCAS and Beyond
Ketotifen, a medication traditionally used to manage asthma and allergies, has found a new role in the lives of those battling the complex symptoms of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), Long COVID, dysautonomia, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As a partial mast cell stabilizer and antihistamine, ketotifen offers a dual-action approach to symptom management, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of allergic reactions, and providing much-needed relief from the chronic and often debilitating symptoms associated with these conditions. By reducing the overactive immune response, ketotifen can help to alleviate a range of symptoms, from skin irritations and gastrointestinal discomfort to the pervasive fatigue and brain fog that can hinder daily functioning, offering a chance to reclaim a measure of normalcy and improve the overall quality of life.
Ketotifen: Treating Symptoms of MCAS, Long COVID, and Other Comorbid Disorders
Ketotifen is particularly effective in treating symptoms related to MCAS, including:
Skin symptoms like hives, itching, and flushing
Gastrointestinal discomfort such as abdominal pain and diarrhea
Respiratory issues like wheezing and shortness of breath
Neurological symptoms such as brain fog and fatigue
Patients with Long COVID, ME/CFS, and dysautonomia who experience these symptoms may find relief with ketotifen as well, because it helps to control the underlying mast cell activation that frequently contributes to these conditions.
The overlapping symptoms of MCAS, Long COVID, ME/CFS, and dysautonomia, such as fatigue, brain fog, and post-exertional malaise, can be debilitating. Ketotifen's ability to block the effects of histamine and make mast cells less reactive may help improve these symptoms.
The Science Behind Ketotifen
Ketotifen is a non-competitive H1-blocking antihistamine and a partial mast cell stabilizer. Histamine is a substance that can cause many of the symptoms associated with allergic reactions and MCAS, such as itching, hives, swelling, and flushing. Histamine triggers these symptoms by binding to histamine receptors on cells throughout the body. Ketotifen helps improve or prevent histamine-related symptoms by blocking histamine from binding the Histamine Type 1 (H1) receptors and by reducing the release of histamine and other chemicals from mast cells. By stabilizing mast cells, ketotifen helps to reduce the frequency and severity of these reactions.
Safety and Efficacy
Ketotifen has been used for decades in various countries, primarily for allergic conditions like asthma and conjunctivitis. Ketotifen used to be available over the counter in the USA, and still is in many countries. Its safety profile is well-established, with most side effects being mild and transient. Common side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, and increased appetite, which often improve with continued use.
The Path Forward
Ketotifen offers a ray of hope for patients struggling with the symptoms of MCAS and its comorbid conditions. While ketotifen is not a cure, its potential to improve quality of life by reducing a variety of symptoms makes it a valuable option in the treatment arsenal. If you are interested in exploring ketotifen as a treatment option, consult with your healthcare provider or visit RTHM Direct to learn how it may help combat your symptoms and get you back on the path to better health.
Follow the Science
Ketotifen is an antihistamine and anti-allergic agent used for asthma, allergic conjunctivitis, chronic urticaria, and other allergic disorders. Ketotifen is also considered a partial mast cell stabilizer, helping to prevent mast-cell degranulation and mediator release. Ketotifen has been used off-label to help alleviate Long COVID, ME/CFS, and orthostatic symptoms associated with underlying mast cell activation. To learn more, explore the following studies looking at ketotifen and mast cell activation and their relevance to conditions like Long COVID, ME/CFS, dysautonomia.
Batiha GE, Al-Kuraishy HM, Al-Gareeb AI, Welson NN. Pathophysiology of Post-COVID syndromes: a new perspective. Virol J. 2022 Oct 9;19(1):158. doi: 10.1186/s12985-022-01891-2. PMID: 36210445; PMCID: PMC9548310.
Theoharides TC, Conti P. COVID-19 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, or is it Mast Cell Activation Syndrome? J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2020 Sep-Oct,;34(5):1633-1636. doi: 10.23812/20-EDIT3. PMID: 33023287.
Arun S, Storan A, Myers B. Mast cell activation syndrome and the link with long COVID. Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2022 Jul 2;83(7):1-10. doi: 10.12968/hmed.2022.0123. Epub 2022 Jul 26. PMID: 35938771.
Ang, D. C., Hilligoss, J., & Stump, T. (2015). Mast Cell Stabilizer (Ketotifen) in Fibromyalgia: Phase 1 Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 31(9), 836. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000169
Ruggiero, V., Aquino, R. P., Gaudio, P. D., Campiglia, P., & Russo, P. (2022). Post-COVID Syndrome: The Research Progress in the Treatment of Pulmonary sequelae after COVID-19 Infection. Pharmaceutics, 14(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14061135
Petracek, L. S., Broussard, C. A., Swope, R. L., & Rowe, P. C. (2023). A Case Study of Successful Application of the Principles of ME/CFS Care to an Individual with Long COVID. Healthcare, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060865
Kazama, I. (2023). Brain Leukocytes as the Potential Therapeutic Target for Post-COVID-19 Brain Fog. Neurochemical Research, 48(8), 2345-2349. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-023-03912-0
