There is a subset of CFS/IBS/FM patients that are histamine sensitive.  The probable cause according to the model is overgrowth of histamine producing bacteria, for example, some (not all) strains of Escherichia coli ,Lactobacillus sp., Proteus morganii, Proteus sp. , Pseudomonas reptilivora and Streptococcus sp.   With CFS we see massive overgrown of bacteroidetes — the species that tag-team to cause this to happen, vary from patient to patient.

A reader asked about antibiotics and histamine interactions. That is a good question which I have not attempted to research and very relevant if you have a MD willing to prescribe antibiotics AND have histamine issues.

Drug allergy syndrome may be connected to the drug impact on histamines. “When oral tolerance tests were performed, only doxycycline was tolerated whereas levofloxacin, clarithromycin, nimesulide and tramadol caused mild urticaria [ hives]” [2007]

• Fosfomycin Tromethamine  – “…suppressed the release of histamine in a dose-dependent manner…We concluded that some antibiotics, particularly fosfomycin, have the capacity to suppress histamine release mediated by various secretagogues, suggesting they may possess an anti-allergic property as well as a bactericidal activity. ” [1987]
• Polymyxin B  ( derived from the bacterium Bacillus polymyxa.) “…suppressed the release of histamine in a dose-dependent manner. ” [1987]

Tetracyclines

• Tetracyclines reduces histamines [2005]
• Minocycline reduces histamine [2011]
  • “…suppressed the release of histamine in a dose-dependent manner. ” [1987]
• Doxycycline reduces histamine [2014]

Macrolides

• rapamycin – “Bouts of scratching induced by the histamine-dependent… were significantly reduced” [2015]
• Inhibitory action of roxithromycin on histamine release and prostaglandin D2 production from beta-defensin 2-stimulated mast cells[2009].

Beta-lactams

• “beta-lactams and aminoglycosides, none had the capacity to enhance antigen-induced histamine release,” [1987]

Aminoglycosides

• “beta-lactams and aminoglycosides, none had the capacity to enhance antigen-induced histamine release,” [1987]

Cephalosporin

• Cefaclor etc – appears to increase histamine [2015]

Penicillin

• Amocixillin —Anti-Amoxicillin Immunoglobulin E, Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist Therapy and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Are Risk Factors for Amoxicillin Anaphylaxis [2015].
• “penicillin treatment directly elicited rapid histamine release.” [2016]

Fluoroquinolones

• “levofloxacin…  induces histamine release from the connective tissue-type mast cells distributed mainly in the liver, somewhat in the cutaneous tissue, through the activation of pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins.” [2001]

Bottom Line

This is an incomplete list but does cover some common families of antibiotics. If there are additional ones that you wish be to research, just add a comment to this post!

Two of the families of antibiotics (tetracycles and macrolides) that inhibits histamine release are very important in Dr. Jadin’s protocol.