Hay fever/allergies from this time of year are in high gear.

Benadryl makes me feel weird and out of it so I thank God every day for the inventor of Claritin (Loratadine).

Anyone else getting their butts kicked by pollen and all the rest right now?

Yep, morning crusty eye is my favorite.

Zyrtec is getting me thru the day. But the 1 a day seems to wear out after 20hrs.

Yep, I use Claritin D, actually the Costco AllerClear D version, way less expensive, plus the Aller-Flo which is the house version of Flonase..


Obligatory Linkatory

Allegra for me. Cottonwoods like to explode around Mothers Day. Some years I’m okay and others, it’s misery without it.

I make sure to start taking allergy meds around Feb, every morning a daily shot of nasal spray until the Fall/Winter rains start, usually around Nov; this year I switched from Nasacort to Astepro , I had been using Nasacort for 5+ years and it's effectiveness was wearing out. I used to take the tablets but, found the newer nasal sprays to be more effective. The trick with allergy medications (like finding shoes) is finding the one that works for YOU; daily meds take about 2-weeks to have an effect so, start early and keep at it. Flonase is the other popular spray that's OTC.

Also, Zaditor antihistamine eye-drops I've found to be effective if you're suffering from puffy/watery eyes due to all the stuff blowing around in the air.

Could not get control of them in April and had to go on Prednisone. That did the trick.

Now, Allegra D 12 + 24 hour Allegra + Nasacort + Zaditor seem to be holding the line.

Just watch your blood pressure, if you're taking the "D" allergy med, or any cough/cold meds that has that "D".

D = pseudoephedrine (aka Sudafed, a decongestant) that can raise the BP. If your BP is not under control, avoid it altogether.

Don't confuse it with "DM" (= Dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant).

Allegra, Claritin, and the other 24 hour antihistamines all give me a bad headache after two or three days. A local doc commented they're mostly derived from the Stinging Nettle plant that grows all over. A daily tea of dried nettle leaves works about the same as Allegra without the bad side effects. It's available on places like Amazon but the doc said locally sourced nettle will work best.

quote:

Originally posted by bryan11:
Allegra, Claritin, and the other 24 hour antihistamines all give me a bad headache after two or three days. A local doc commented they're mostly derived from the Stinging Nettle plant that grows all over. A daily tea of dried nettle leaves works about the same as Allegra without the bad side effects. It's available on places like Amazon but the doc said locally sourced nettle will work best.

Allergies are funny as people react differently to different drugs, never heard that one about stinging nettle plant. I usually consult with the pharmacist, they're the chemists who's understanding is what's working, the why & how they work, and more importantly which drugs can be used together and to be avoided given an individual's medication record. Too many times do doctors flippantly recommend a OTC drug and really don't lay-out the reasoning and background as to what's happening.

Been taking Claritin for a few weeks now. Maybe it’s helping some. I’m not really sure. After the bottle runs out I’ll try something else.

Claritin does nada for me. I take a generic Zyrtec every night of my life and this time of year it just keeps it to a dull roar. Sometimes add a benadryl. My uncle is a doctor and he told my mom if she wants to do Claritin to take two when one ain’t doing it.

I've got the same issues, after some years they stop working for me.

I'm currently using XYZAL LINK TO CLICK You can get a coupon at the link.

It's working very well for me. I get mine at Costco, best price around.
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Your bloodlines are weak. You never would have survived life as medieval peasants.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Your bloodlines are weak. You never would have survived life as medieval peasants.

Actually it’s the reverse. The Amish don’t have allergies. Scientists studied the reason why and concluded there is a connection between one’s proximity to hay and cows and allergies.

So presumably if you were a medieval peasant you wouldn’t have them anyway.

Reuters

If I have a day or two of Claritin in me before being exposed to mosquitos and chiggers, I've noticed it really knocks down my reaction to those.

I take allertin but you know what really helps?

Neti pot. This morning, I had to use it twice. But for the rest of the day, I was fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
I take allertin but you know what really helps?

Neti pot. This morning, I had to use it twice. But for the rest of the day, I was fine.

I was just going to post similar. I started using the Neilmed bottles a few years ago when I had a really nasty sinus infection that refused to clear up.
I have kept using it since because I noticed that I just breath a LOT better day to day when I use it. Makes a huge difference in allergy season.

For those Costco members, you can get the normal generic Claritin there for like $12 for a year supply.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Just watch your blood pressure, if you're taking the "D" allergy med, or any cough/cold meds that has that "D".

D = pseudoephedrine (aka Sudafed, a decongestant) that can raise the BP. If your BP is not under control, avoid it altogether.

Don't confuse it with "DM" (= Dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant).

That is true, the standard Claritin does nothing for me, without the D there is no relief and it's difficult to function when you can't breath.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Just watch your blood pressure, if you're taking the "D" allergy med, or any cough/cold meds that has that "D".

D = pseudoephedrine (aka Sudafed, a decongestant) that can raise the BP. If your BP is not under control, avoid it altogether.

Don't confuse it with "DM" (= Dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant).

That is true, the standard Claritin does nothing for me, without the D there is no relief and it's difficult to function when you can't breath.

The amount of pseudoephedrine you need to watch closely and not use it for too long; it's great for stopping a reaction but not as a daily control medication.

Sounds like you need to find a daily allergy med that keeps you on a good level when everything is blooming and in the air, then add a separate med (Sudafed) that has pseudoephedrine only when needed. Check with a pharmacist.
While Claritin is classified as a second generation allergy med (same as Zyrtec, Xyzal and Allegra), many long time allergy suffers have switched to nasal sprays (Nasacort, Flonase, Astepro, etc) for their daily allergy med; I switched years ago and found them to be much more effective.

I agree with Corsair’s last paragraph.

Back in the Sacramento area, I’m having lots more allergy symptoms than in San Diego (or Hawaii). Last couple of days have had facial pain—-not really a sinus infection as no drainage, no tenderness.
It takes a combination of loratidine, generic Flo-Nase from Costco, saline spray, and a couple of days (no more) of Afrin. Now the facial pain is gone and symptoms are pretty well controlled.