A 23-year-old woman arrives at the emergency department with her boyfriend. She is wheezing and short of breath. Her respiratory rate is 23 breaths/min, her heart rate is 104 beats/min, her blood...

A 23-year-old woman arrives at the emergency department with her boyfriend. She is wheezing and short of breath. Her respiratory rate is 23 breaths/min, her heart rate is 104 beats/min, her blood pressure is 88/60 mmHg, and she has hives over most of her body. Her boyfriend says she was eating strawberries and suddenly started having trouble breathing. She has eaten strawberries for years and nothing like this has ever happened before. The health care provider prescribes epinephrine for her allergic response.

1. Why did the health care provider not prescribe an antihistamine for this allergic response?

2. A second dose of epinephrine is given and the nurse inserts an IV. With a reduction in her wheezing, the patient’s respiratory rate is 18 breaths/min, heart rate is 100 beats/min, and blood pressure is 98/64 mmHg. The health care provider prescribes Benadryl, 10 mg IV. Describe why the health care provider is now prescribing an antihistamine for the patient.