Translation guide
A medication that blocks histamine to relieve allergy symptoms. In Japanese, the term is commonly used in medical and everyday contexts, with both loanword and native equivalents.
Referring to the class of drugs that counteract histamine, used for allergies, hay fever, hives, etc.
Standard medical term. Used in pharmacies, hospitals, and formal contexts.
Antihistamines are often prescribed for hay fever.
Slightly more common in pharmaceutical contexts. Interchangeable with 抗ヒスタミン薬.
This antihistamine may cause drowsiness.
Shortened form, common in casual conversation and product labels.
I'm looking for an over-the-counter antihistamine.
More precise pharmacological term, less common in everyday language.
Histamine antagonists suppress allergic reactions.
When talking about taking an antihistamine tablet or buying a specific brand.
Natural way to say 'antihistamine medicine' in daily conversation.
After taking an antihistamine, my sneezing stopped.
Common colloquial term; literally 'allergy medicine'. Often implies antihistamine.
Do you have any allergy medicine?
Specifically for hay fever; often an antihistamine.
If you need to ask for an antihistamine at a Japanese pharmacy, you can say: 「抗ヒスタミン薬はありますか？」 (Do you have antihistamines?). For non-drowsy types, you can add 「眠くならないタイプ」 (non-drowsy type).
Do you have a non-drowsy antihistamine?
Every spring I start taking hay fever medicine.