Hate it. What OTC Rx do you take for ragweed/pollen allergies?

I used to have bad sinus infections that lasted about three weeks with bleeding sinuses, earaches and ruptured eardrums, Spring and Fall.

Tried Claritin and no help. Tried Zyrtec (right after it went OTC) and it was instant and effective after 2 days.

Been taking one a day since for almost 20 years, and rarely have any issues. If I do, they are mild and last maybe two or three days.

Side effect is I have a "dog nose", it is slightly "runny" some days more than others. (thinning of mucus I guess)
It's like the effect of coming out of a hot shower or swimming.

But I rather deal with this than the former.

^^

Muchas gracias. I'll try it.

I get the Walmart "Equate" about 25% the cost.

Example.
Zyrtec 90 tablets @ $39.97
vs
Equate 90 tablet twin pack (180 tablets) @ $19.88

https://tinyurl.com/3kcck2vm

Hope it helps.

The big four non-drowsy once daily OTC allergy meds are: fexofenadine (Allegra brand name), loratadine (Claritin brand), cetirizine (Zyrtec), and levocetirizine (Xyzal). They are all very safe, but as always in medicine, different folks will respond differently to different meds in the same class.

If none of the above works for you, Biker_dude, you might want to consider fluticasone once daily steroid nasal spray (Flonase is brand name). It's actually recommended as first-line therapy for nasal allergy symptoms, although I know many folks have concerns, when they hear the word "steroid". I have never had any patients who experienced systemic side effects from using fluticasone nasal spray for short-term treatment during allergy season.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

The big four non-drowsy once daily OTC allergy meds are: fexofenadine (Allegra brand name), loratadine (Claritin brand), cetirizine (Zyrtec), and levocetirizine (Xyzal).

I was concerned that cetirizine might raise blood pressure; however, Mr. Google says that it will not.

^^^ None of the four will raise your BP. They are anti-histamines, not decongestant like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed brand name), which will raise your BP.

Now, if you see Allegra-D or Claritin-D or Zyrtec-D, the D part stands for decongestant, you should be very cautious if you have hypertension. Your doc most likely will discourage you from taking them.

Claritin and Benadryl

I also use Flonase

quote:

Originally posted by Biker_dude:
Hate it. What OTC Rx do you take for ragweed/pollen allergies?

Have you tried using netipot? I have allergies, worse are my eyes. I don't really mind not being able to breathe through my nose as I can breathe through my mouth but I have no backups for my eyes.

I make it a habit to regularly use netipot and it has helped a lot. My theory is that flushing out my nose keeps the allergens from building up which starts the allergic reaction.

I recommend you start using a netipot in addition to whatever OTC you settle on.

I take a generic Zyrtec every night of my life and it just keeps it to a dull roar. It is my eyes that are just killing me. High winds and dust storms and extremely high pollen counts, plus I have dry eye, so they tend to run and tear already.

^^^^^^^ Melissa, consider Astepro. Talk to your Doc or pharmacist. I also have Pataday brand OTC Eye Allergy Itch Relief. Works great for me. Talk to your doc or Pharmacist. ^^^^^^……

I take XYZAL.

I also do a nasal flush with the disposable squeeze bottles. Sometimes it flushes out some disgusting sinus or snot that clogs me up, whatever it is. I usually get the Equate brand. I don’t like the Neti Pots.

I have Flonase but I have started using a nasal squirter named Astepro Allergy spray. It’s a steroid-free OTC antihistamine nasal spray. Works great for me. I usually buy it at wallymart. I *think* it’s based on a prescription med named Azelastine.

Astepro link


Pataday Link

(Flonase is a steroid)
.

XYZAL tablets seem to be better than the rest for me. Pataday Extra Strength eye drops are life changing though, can’t recommend them enough.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:


I also do a nasal flush with the disposable squeeze bottles.

This is what I use. The first time you use it, it's a bit of a disconcerting slightly drowning feeling but you get the hang of it fast!

NetiPot daily, and always after any outdoor activities, sports, mowing, etc. I keep mine in the shower and use it there, cleans out a ton of nasal congestion.

Flonase (costco brand) and Singular but they don't keep up with this years pollen count.

Oak Pollen this year is unbearable in CFL, my chest congestion and cough is bad, some Prednisone and antibiotics just finished up.

If you take Zyrtec and have a Costco membership you can get their generic Aller-Tec, 365 pills for $12.

Link

Thank you for the Pataday advice, I will try it. . I sure miss the little RX dry steroid nasal inhalers before they decided the ozone hole was more important than me feeling like crap all the time. Worked like a charm. I just hate wet nose sprays.

I take vitamin C along with quercetin in food like apples which has eliminated hay fever for me.

Here is a good article with some helpful advice:

https://articles.mercola.com/s...tihistamine-use.aspx

Flonase totally changed my life.
I had sinus allergies so bad it was debilitating.
Now it is simply almost a non issue. You do need to take it regularly / daily, not just when you get an attack.

Loratadine, cheap and effective for me. Las Vegas has some kind of allergen seemingly year-round.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
I get the Walmart "Equate" about 25% the cost.

Example.
Zyrtec 90 tablets @ $39.97
vs
Equate 90 tablet twin pack (180 tablets) @ $19.88

As HRK mentioned (above), Costco has a Zyrtec clone, even less expensive than the Walmart Equate brand.

Zyrtec D is the only thing that works for me.