Mast cell stabilizer explained

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.

Examples

Mast cell stabilizer medications include:

• Cromoglicic acid^{[3] [4] [5]} (Cromolyn/cromoglycate)
• Lodoxamide
• Nedocromil
• Ketotifen
• Olopatadine
• Bepotastine
• Alcaftadine
• Azelastine
• Vitamin D^[6]
• Quercetin
• β2-adrenergic agonists

Notes and References

1. Web site: Allergy medications: Know your options . Mayoclinic.com . 2022-03-05 . 2023-04-02.
2. Castillo M, Scott NW, Mustafa MZ, Mustafa MS, Azuara-Blanco A . Topical antihistamines and mast cell stabilisers for treating seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis . Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 6 . 6 . CD009566 . 2015 . 26028608 . 10.1002/14651858.CD009566.pub2. 2164/6048 . free .
3. Web site: Mast Cell Stabilizers: Uses, most common brand names, and safety information . nicerx.com . 2023-04-02.
4. Web site: Mast cell stabilizers . drugs.com . 2023-04-02.
5. Finn . D F . Walsh . J J . 2013-08-15 . Twenty-first century mast cell stabilizers . British Journal of Pharmacology . 170 . 1 . 23–37 . 10.1111/bph.12138 . 23441583 . 3764846 .
6. Lui . ZQ . Lii . XX . Qui . ZQ . Yu . Y . Li . MG . Vitamin D contributes to mast cell stabilization. . . 72 . 8 . 1184–1192 . 2017 . 27998003 . 10.1111/all.13110 . 4643742 .