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Mast cell stabilizers are medications used to prevent or treat certain allergic disorders. They block mast cell degranulation, stabilizing the cell and thereby preventing the release of histamine[1] and related mediators. One suspected pharmacodynamic mechanism is the blocking of IgE-regulated calcium channels. Without intracellular calcium, the histamine vesicles cannot fuse to the cell membrane and degranulate.
As inhalers they are used to treat asthma, as nasal sprays to treat hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and as eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis.[2] Finally, in oral form, they are used to treat the rare condition of mastocytosis.
- ^ "Allergy medications: Know your options". Mayoclinic.com. 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
- ^ Castillo M, Scott NW, Mustafa MZ, Mustafa MS, Azuara-Blanco A (2015). "Topical antihistamines and mast cell stabilisers for treating seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis". Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 (6): CD009566. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009566.pub2. hdl:2164/6048. PMC 10616535. PMID 26028608.