How Antihistamines can be used to treat cold?

Antihistamines are divided into two classes. The older generation is known as sedating, and is very effective for treating cold. The second generation is known as non-sedating. Antihistamines prevent histamine from getting attached with a cellular receptor. The histamine activity needs this attachment to work fully. The sedating class also blocks the activity of some part of the nervous system known as parasympathetic system. This helps to stops the secretion of mucus glands. Early attempts of treating cold using antihistamines were a failure because the cold symptoms were recorded not precisely. Thus the results come out to be faulty. Recent studies of treating cold using antihistamines are done very carefully, as if the individual cold symptoms are recorded on a day to day basis. The first generation of antihistamine was successful in reducing sneezing and runny nose due to colds. Apart from that, the severity of cough and nasal weights was also reduced as the antihistamine contains brompheniramine. One of the major side effects of antihistamine is drowsiness and it might be severe for some people. The drowsiness is increased if the person takes alcohol, tranquilizers or sedatives. People who have enlargement of prostate gland often finds difficulty in urination if he takes antihistamines.