Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLifestyle ChangesOTC TherapiesPrescriptionsSurgeries and ProceduresComplementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)Frequently Asked QuestionsNext in Angioedema GuideWhat Is Angioedema?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Lifestyle Changes
OTC Therapies
Prescriptions
Surgeries and Procedures
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Angioedema Guide
There are medical treatments that can suppressangioedema, a condition in which the deeper layers of the skin swell, often due to an allergic reaction. Most of the time, if an allergen (a substance that triggers an allergy) is identified, you will need to avoid it.
Treatment for angioedema depends on the cause. If you have an allergy, you might need to carry injectable epinephrine (adrenaline) with you, as allergic reactions can rapidly become life-threatening.
This article discusses treatment options for angioedema. It covers lifestyle changes, over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs, surgeries, and complementary treatments.
Verywell
There are a number of effective lifestyle adjustments that you can make if you experience angioedema. Some lifestyle adjustments can help you prevent reactions to a known allergen, while others can help you stay comfortable when an angioedema episode occurs.
Identify Triggers
If you have had recurrent episodes, especially if they are mild, it may be challenging to identify the cause of your angioedema. Thinking about the different foods, drinks, and materials you may have been in contact with can help you determine what may have caused your reaction.
There are common culprits that trigger a reaction, such asseafood, but it is possible to have angioedema in response to a substance that you do not know causes such a reaction in people. There are also many people who have spontaneous angioedema, meaning no external trigger is associated with the episode.
Sometimes an allergy test can help in identifying the substance that is causing your reaction.
Avoid Food Triggers
Once you identify the trigger, you can take action to avoid exposure. This will likely entail reading ingredients lists closely, making restaurant personnel aware of your food allergy, and avoiding any foods that you are unsure about. So, for example, if you attend a party and can’t figure out how a food was prepared, your safest option will be to avoid that food entirely.
Watch for Medication Reactions
Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you experience angioedema in response to a medication.Angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE) Inhibitors commonly cause episodes of angioedema.Thesemedications are used to treat heart problemssuch as high blood pressure and heart failure.
Manage Episodes of Angioedema
Some people use ice packs for comfort during episodes of angioedema, especially if the swelling is limited to one area or if there is associated pain or burning.
If you have swelling throughout your body, you might consider a cold bath as a way to relieve the discomfort. Be sure not to spend more than a few minutes in cold water.
Over-the-Counter Therapies
If you have recurrent angioedema that does not advance to become severe, you might respond well to over-the-counter medications. If one of these medications has worked for you in the past, it is a good idea to have it handy in case your symptoms recur.
Oral Antihistamines
These medications are taken orally. You should only use them if your healthcare provider has already evaluated your signs and symptoms and has told you that this is a good option.
Use the medications according to the package instructions and get medical attention if you begin to feel worse or if you have trouble breathing or feel faint.
If you experience side effects such as sleepiness or drowsiness, ask your doctor if you should switch to another antihistamine that you can tolerate. In general, non-sedating antihistamines likecetirizine, which don’t cause drowsiness, are preferred over sedating versions likediphenhydramineandhydroxyzine.
You might need prescription medications if you have recurrent angioedema or if your symptoms are severe.
Intravenous (IV) Steroids
Epinephrine
Epinephrine is a powerful medication that suppresses the immune system more quickly than steroids and antihistamines. It is used as an injection when you have a severe, sudden reaction and when you are prone to respiratory (breathing) difficulties or heart involvement.
Your healthcare provider may recommend that you keep an EpiPen with you at all times so that you can inject yourself or have someone inject you if you begin to have a dangerous allergic reaction. They will teach you or a family member how to do this.
How to Safely Use an EpiPen
Treatments for Hereditary Angioedema
People with a hereditary form of angioedema do not have enough of a protein called C1-esterase inhibitor. If you have this form of angioedema, there are a number ofprescription drugs that can be used to prevent attacks or to treat acute attacks. These drugs may also be used to treat idiopathic or acquired C1 inhibitor deficiency angioedema:
Surgeries and Specialist-Driven Procedures
In general, you should not need surgery or special procedures for treatment of angioedema. However, there are rare circumstances in which you could need special procedures if your breathing is affected.
Tracheostomy
If your tongue or throat becomes extremely swollen, you might need to have a lifesaving procedure called atracheostomy. This is a procedure in which a hole is placed in the neck and windpipe and a tube is placed in the hole so that air can get to your lungs. This hole will be surgically repaired after you recover.
Mechanical Ventilation
If you experience respiratory difficulties or respiratory arrest, you may need mechanical ventilation that provides the pressure needed to move air in and out of your lungs as you recover.
You might come across advice to use complementary treatments for angioedema, but it is important for you to know that they are not effective and they can be unsafe.
Vitamins
Vitamins have been recommended for the prevention and treatment of angioedema, with little solid evidence.
In particular,vitamin Cis claimed to lower histamine levels, although there is very little scientific proof. Furthermore,vitamin C supplementsmay interact with other medications you may already be taking, such as chemotherapy drugs, warfarin, or estrogen.
Vitamin B12 injections have also been studied as a possible treatment to reduce the frequency of recurring angioedema attacks. But again, there is not a lot of evidence.
Herbs
Herbs have long been used in traditional medicine for treating diseases. But just because they are natural, doesn’t mean they are always safe.
Some people take an herb calledgoldensealin hopes of treating allergies.However, goldenseal is known to interact with blood thinners, cyclosporine, and other medications, and may also lower blood sugar.
Another well-known herb,chamomile, has traditionally been used to soothe hives. If you are taking antihistamines, you shouldn’t use chamomile, as it can increase the antihistamines' sedative effects. Chamomile is also known to interact with estrogen and birth control medications.
As is always the case, it’s best to consult with your healthcare provider before attempting to treat angioedema with herbs, vitamins, or other CAM therapies.
Summary
The first step to treating and preventing angioedema is to identify the cause. Once identified, known triggers need to be avoided. If angioedema causes systemic (whole body) symptoms, you may need to carry a EpiPen at all times and educate yourself on how to use it.
Your doctor may recommend or prescribe oral antihistamines to block the immune response that causes angioedema. In very severe cases, specialist-driven procedures may be necessary to help you breathe during an angioedema episode.
A Word From Verywell
The signs and symptoms of angioedema can differ based on which tissues are affected:Skin: Welt-like swelling of tissues with redness and warmth and sometimes painGastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, sometimes with nausea and vomitingLarynx: Throat tightness, voice changes, and difficulty breathing, which may be life-threatening
The signs and symptoms of angioedema can differ based on which tissues are affected:
The duration of symptoms can range from a few hours to a few days, depending on the severity and underlying cause.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fromer L.Prevention of anaphylaxis: The role of the epinephrine auto-injector.Am J Med. 2016 Dec;129(12):1244-1250. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.07.018Brown T, Gonzalez J, Monteleone C.Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema: A review of the literature.J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2017 Dec;19(12):1377-1382. doi:10.1111/jch.13097Penn State Hershey, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.Angioedema.Long BJ, Koyfman A, Gottlieb M.Evaluation and management of of angioedema in the emergency department.West J Emerg Med. 2019 Jul;20(4):587-600. doi:10.5811/westjem.2019.5.42650National Library of Medicine.C1-esterase inhibitor human injection.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Treatment of hereditary angioedema.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Kalbitor (ecallantide) label.Firazyr.Product information.Busse P, Kaplan A.Specific targeting of plasma kallikrein for treatment of hereditary angioedema: A revolutionary decade.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10(3):716-722. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.011Takhzyro.Product information.St. Luke’s Hospital.Angioedema.Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema.JAMA.2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860Kalambay J, Ghazanfar H, Pena K, Munshi R, Zhang G, Patel J.Pathogenesis of drug induced non-allergic angioedema: A review of unusual etiologies.Cureus. 2017 Aug;9(8):1598. doi:10.7759/cureus.1598
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fromer L.Prevention of anaphylaxis: The role of the epinephrine auto-injector.Am J Med. 2016 Dec;129(12):1244-1250. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.07.018Brown T, Gonzalez J, Monteleone C.Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema: A review of the literature.J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2017 Dec;19(12):1377-1382. doi:10.1111/jch.13097Penn State Hershey, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.Angioedema.Long BJ, Koyfman A, Gottlieb M.Evaluation and management of of angioedema in the emergency department.West J Emerg Med. 2019 Jul;20(4):587-600. doi:10.5811/westjem.2019.5.42650National Library of Medicine.C1-esterase inhibitor human injection.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Treatment of hereditary angioedema.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Kalbitor (ecallantide) label.Firazyr.Product information.Busse P, Kaplan A.Specific targeting of plasma kallikrein for treatment of hereditary angioedema: A revolutionary decade.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10(3):716-722. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.011Takhzyro.Product information.St. Luke’s Hospital.Angioedema.Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema.JAMA.2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860Kalambay J, Ghazanfar H, Pena K, Munshi R, Zhang G, Patel J.Pathogenesis of drug induced non-allergic angioedema: A review of unusual etiologies.Cureus. 2017 Aug;9(8):1598. doi:10.7759/cureus.1598
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Fromer L.Prevention of anaphylaxis: The role of the epinephrine auto-injector.Am J Med. 2016 Dec;129(12):1244-1250. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.07.018Brown T, Gonzalez J, Monteleone C.Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema: A review of the literature.J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2017 Dec;19(12):1377-1382. doi:10.1111/jch.13097Penn State Hershey, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.Angioedema.Long BJ, Koyfman A, Gottlieb M.Evaluation and management of of angioedema in the emergency department.West J Emerg Med. 2019 Jul;20(4):587-600. doi:10.5811/westjem.2019.5.42650National Library of Medicine.C1-esterase inhibitor human injection.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Treatment of hereditary angioedema.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Kalbitor (ecallantide) label.Firazyr.Product information.Busse P, Kaplan A.Specific targeting of plasma kallikrein for treatment of hereditary angioedema: A revolutionary decade.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10(3):716-722. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.011Takhzyro.Product information.St. Luke’s Hospital.Angioedema.Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema.JAMA.2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860Kalambay J, Ghazanfar H, Pena K, Munshi R, Zhang G, Patel J.Pathogenesis of drug induced non-allergic angioedema: A review of unusual etiologies.Cureus. 2017 Aug;9(8):1598. doi:10.7759/cureus.1598
Fromer L.Prevention of anaphylaxis: The role of the epinephrine auto-injector.Am J Med. 2016 Dec;129(12):1244-1250. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.07.018
Brown T, Gonzalez J, Monteleone C.Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema: A review of the literature.J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2017 Dec;19(12):1377-1382. doi:10.1111/jch.13097
Penn State Hershey, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.Angioedema.
Long BJ, Koyfman A, Gottlieb M.Evaluation and management of of angioedema in the emergency department.West J Emerg Med. 2019 Jul;20(4):587-600. doi:10.5811/westjem.2019.5.42650
National Library of Medicine.C1-esterase inhibitor human injection.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Treatment of hereditary angioedema.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Kalbitor (ecallantide) label.
Firazyr.Product information.
Busse P, Kaplan A.Specific targeting of plasma kallikrein for treatment of hereditary angioedema: A revolutionary decade.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10(3):716-722. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.011
Takhzyro.Product information.
St. Luke’s Hospital.Angioedema.
Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema.JAMA.2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860
Kalambay J, Ghazanfar H, Pena K, Munshi R, Zhang G, Patel J.Pathogenesis of drug induced non-allergic angioedema: A review of unusual etiologies.Cureus. 2017 Aug;9(8):1598. doi:10.7759/cureus.1598
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