Hives Medication Online Prescription | Same-Day Shipping - Mona Clinic

What is Urticaria (Hives)?

Urticaria, or hives, is a condition where red, raised welts (wheals) suddenly appear on the skin, accompanied by intense itching. These wheals typically disappear within tens of minutes to 24 hours without leaving any traces, making it a very common condition, with an estimated 1 in 5 or 6 Japanese people experiencing it at least once in their lifetime.

While it's natural to try to pinpoint the cause, thinking "I must have eaten something bad," in reality, about 70-80% of chronic urticaria cases lasting longer than 6 weeks are "idiopathic," meaning the cause cannot be identified even with examination.

Important: "Symptom Control" is more important than "Finding the Cause"

According to domestic and international clinical guidelines, for chronic urticaria of unknown origin, the basic treatment involves controlling symptoms with continuous use of second-generation antihistamines rather than continuously searching for the cause.

This means that in most cases, what's needed for urticaria treatment is not "special tests," but "continuously taking appropriate prescription medication without interruption." This treatment style is highly compatible with online medical consultations, more so than repeated hospital visits.

Online medical consultations are suitable for these types of urticaria:

• Urticaria recurs multiple times a week (appearing and disappearing repeatedly).

• Appears in the evening/night and disappears by morning.

• Over-the-counter anti-allergy medications cannot fully suppress the itching.

• Medication previously prescribed by a hospital was effective, but hospital visits were interrupted and the medication ran out.

• Too busy to wait at a dermatology clinic.

Prescription second-generation antihistamines offer more options than over-the-counter drugs, allowing doctors to adjust based on symptoms and propensity for drowsiness.

Why does urticaria appear or worsen at night?

It's very common to hear people say, "I'm fine during the day, but it appears at night." There are three main reasons for this:

1. Diurnal variation of chronic urticaria
   At night, the parasympathetic nervous system becomes dominant, making skin blood vessels more likely to dilate and histamine more likely to be released. If you experience "appearing in the evening/night and disappearing the next morning" almost daily, it's a sign of chronic urticaria.
2. Cholinergic urticaria (triggered by bathing, exercise, sweating)
   This type involves numerous small wheals (1-3mm) appearing every time the body temperature rises, such as in the bath or under blankets. It is common in people in their teens to thirties.
3. Accumulation of fatigue and stress
   While stress and lack of sleep are not direct causes of urticaria, they significantly contribute as aggravating factors. Many people experience this pattern, where it recurs particularly during busy periods.

For all these types, antihistamines are the mainstay of treatment. It is recommended to start medication early rather than enduring the impact of nighttime symptoms on sleep.

Causes and Classification of Urticaria

Urticaria is a condition where histamine is released from mast cells in the skin, causing blood vessels to dilate and leading to itching and swelling. It can be acute or chronic.

Additionally, it is classified by cause as follows:

"Dietary restriction will cure it" is a misconception.

For chronic urticaria where the cause cannot be identified, self-imposed dietary restrictions are unlikely to bring improvement and often only lead to nutritional imbalances. Unless a specific allergen is confirmed, the basic approach is to continue a normal diet while undergoing drug treatment.

Urticaria Treatment | Antihistamines are the first choice

The mainstay of treatment recommended by international guidelines is second-generation antihistamines with less drowsiness.

※The dosage and potential for drowsiness may vary depending on the specific medication used. Please confirm the characteristics and select your preferred medication. Prescription may not be possible based on the consultation results.

What's important in treatment is "continuation."

• Even if symptoms disappear, stopping the medication too soon makes recurrence likely, so continuous use for a certain period is recommended.

• The goal is to gradually reduce the dosage once symptoms stop, then stop completely.

• Most cases of chronic urticaria settle down with consistent and appropriate medication control.

Topical medications (such as steroid creams) generally have limited effectiveness for urticaria, which is fundamentally an internal histamine reaction. If you are "managing with topical medications but not getting better," please consider switching to oral treatment.

Precautions in Daily Life

• Hot baths, saunas, and strenuous exercise can worsen symptoms (opt for lukewarm showers).

• Alcohol and spices can dilate blood vessels and intensify itching.

• Avoid tight clothing and underwear.

• Lack of sleep, overwork, and stress are aggravating factors. Be sure to continue medication during busy periods.

• Cool itchy areas instead of scratching.

For these symptoms, seek emergency or in-person care immediately, not online consultation:

While urticaria alone is rarely life-threatening, if accompanied by the following symptoms, it may indicate anaphylaxis or angioedema. These are not suitable for online consultation.

• Difficulty breathing, wheezing, hoarse voice → Call 911 immediately

• Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat

• Decreased blood pressure, impaired consciousness

• Eyelids swelling completely shut and lasting for several days

Mona Clinic's Urticaria Online Consultation Process

• ① Purchase Medication: Select your desired medication and complete the purchase.
• ② Answer Questionnaire: After purchase, fill out the questionnaire with your symptoms, history, and other relevant information.
• ③ Online Consultation: A doctor will conduct a video consultation to determine if a prescription is appropriate.
• ④ Medication Shipping: If a prescription is deemed appropriate, the medication will be shipped.

Why Choose Mona Clinic?

• Online consultation allows you to receive treatment from home.

• You can choose and purchase your desired medication.

• Clear pricing including consultation fees and shipping (private pay).

• If deemed suitable for prescription, shipping is as early as the same day.

• Discreet packaging delivered to your home with privacy in mind.

Urticaria is not a disease that "cannot be cured because the cause is unknown." It is important to use medication appropriately according to symptoms.