<p>What do you use for your seasonal allergies? Mine have become so bad that I am considering going to the Dr. I have the itchy eyes, congestion and post nasal drip. It is having an effect on my quality of life.
I can use benadryl for night. I have different OTC products but don’t seem to get much relief or the side effects make it unattractive to take.</p>
<p>Loratidine (claritan) 10 mg daily
supplement with sudafed if you can tolerate it…we use the 4-6 hour doses, avoid it at night
Or
Claritan D 12 hour in the day and benadryll at night</p>
<p>also we use nasal sprays in pollen seasons only plus we use netti pots now</p>
<p>the netti pot in pollen peak season is hugely helpful for calming down reactivity to the pollen </p>
<p>sadly…my kids and i take three shots per week each as well…and we must stay indoors and off grass lawns when everyone is Spring Festivaling.</p>
<p>I had/have terrible allergies. They are “seasonal,” but it’s every season. I also have indoor allergies. My allergies affected my quality of life in that I basically had a severe cold every day of my life - so my routine is probably going to be more intense than yours.</p>
<p>To get my allergies under control, I had immunization shots for a year and an adenoidectomy. In addition to avoiding allergens at all costs, I take Zyrtec daily in addition to Singular. I also use Benedryl, Benedryl cream (since I have a dog that I love almost as much as I am allergic to), and eye drops as needed during my worst seasons (peak Spring and all of the fall).</p>
<p>Anyway, what was my point? Oh. Zyrtec works beautifully and is non-drowsy (I say this sincerely; Tylenol practically puts me to sleep).</p>
<p>EDIT: For what it’s worth, I found Claritan to be 100% absolutely worthless. YMMV.</p>
<p>I’m allergic in the spring when the pine trees shoot off their new growth and in August I’m allergic to goldenrod. Some years are worse than others but generally I just suffer through the month with Sudafed. The worse part are my eyes get so bleary it drives me nuts.</p>
<p>There are so many good drugs out there now. I use Claritin or Zyrtec and lately Zyrtec works the best for me. The trick is to use consistently as they can take days to fully kick in. I sometimes use 12 hour Sudaphed but have to avoid it now since I have high blood pressure. I use over the counter eye drops - Claritin makes some now but Patanol is fabulous.
Go to the Dr - you can get eye drops and/or nasal sprays - like Nasonex that work really well. You also might find that Allegra works for you but you still need a prescription for it.</p>
<p>About once a year I get an allergy “attack” where I just can’t stop sneezing and my nose runs like the mississippi. it breaks through the meds and the only thing I can do is go home and take lots of Benadryl and sleep it off.</p>
<p>Allegra 2x/day
Flonase 1x/day, as needed
Neti pot, occasionally</p>
<p>Generic Zyrtec and Gin & Tonic.</p>
<p>Allegra and Flonase. I used to take Sudafed daily too, but it’s such a hassle to purchase now. Thank you <em>NOT</em> meth addicts. It’s ridiculous.</p>
<p>I haven’t had any luck with Zyrtec, Claritin, etc. Mine aren’t seasonal; they’re all year. I don’t go anywhere without kleenex in hand. Am always stuffed up too. It really does affect quality of life.</p>
<p>I have had some wicked allergy attacks in the last couple of weeks. I use Zyrtec and it has worked great in the past , but I still am having a little bit of itching, sneezing and nasal swelling. I take a Benydryl at night too. I think it is a bit worse than usual and suspect that it is because of all the wet weather we have had lately.
Also feel the need to use Asthma meds a bit more too.
Claritin does not work for me at all</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I tried regular Claritin and it did nothing. In the past zyrtec worked but I can’t explain it but after using it several days in a row I feel off. I just don’t like how it makes me feel.
I picked up some Claritin D at the drugstore today (had to show my Drivers License and get it at the pharmacy counter. Took it in the parking lot and now several hours later I am feeling better. I also picked up the Claritin eye drops but haven’t tried them yet. I also picked up a Neti Pot.
I don’t know exactly what triggers me but I think it is some form of a tree allergy. I seem to be worse when the tree pollen numbers are high. We had a wet winter and now spring is in full swing and you can see all the stuff floating around in the air. I was on such a good exercise path and I hate that going out into the outdoors results in such congestion and sneezing.
Any truth to the idea that you should wash your hair at night to remove all the pollen from the day?</p>
<p>Absolutley true that it will help to take a shower at night (not just hair.). </p>
<p>If you think about it…any pollen on your hair comes off on your pillowcase…so you’re just rubbing your eyes and nose it in all night.</p>
<p>Makes a huge difference for one of my kids involved in sports. In the spring, when child goes to bed without full shower, wakes up with eyes nearly swollen shut. </p>
<p>Also…we were told to have kid start eyedrops about a month before usual start of spring allergyseason. They are prescription…but I don’t remember the brand. They apparently have a build-up period…so…if you wait until the allergies have already hit…there’s no time for the build up. Kid has done this for about 3 years, and it has lessened the serverity of the allergic reaction (except when child forgets to take that evening shower!)</p>
<p>We take ceterizine (generic for Zyrtec), used to be prescription but now very OTC and inexpensive at Sam’s Club.</p>
<p>justamomof4- I also have a super sneezing attack about once a year and I have never been able to figure out what triggers it.</p>
<p>Generic claritin works for my D, when I remember to get her started on it early (we started this week). She takes it spring and fall, sometimes has to add a nasal spray.</p>
<p>I take Singulair year-round and have not had problems in years with allergies, which would regularly trigger asthma symptoms. I have rarely had colds in the last few years either, which makes me think what I thought were colds could have been allergies.</p>
<p>My allergies are worst in March, I think I am allergic to mold that comes out with the snow melt. It is easing now, but this last month was awful. I also always have a hard time the first few nights we sleep with the windows open in the spring (also due to mold, I suspect). I take Clartin (or the generic) daily all year round in the morning (not Claritin-D, for some reason it does not do a thing for me…) and Benedryl allergy to sleep at night.</p>
<p>One thing to note is that many allergy meds do not work right away. Apparently you have to take them for several days to really judge whether they work or not.</p>
<p>Nasonex is what I had to resort to… am on it pretty much year 'round now, but it makes a HUGE difference. If I don’t use it, I have phlegm drip down my throat all night long.</p>
<p>Singulair can really help but some insurance companies won’t cover it as a first resport.</p>
<p>About decongestants - when I use one, I always go and get it behind the counter. original (crystal-meth) forumla works the best, I think.
Don’t use them unless you need them though - they can dry your sinus out too much setting you up for a full blown sinus infection. Also as I said before they can aggravate high blood pressure in some people.
Either Nasonex or Flonase can be very helpful. </p>
<p>FallGirl - so you know what I’m talking about! Yay! It’s not “all in my head” - lol.<br>
I buy my Zyrtec, generic at Sam’s club as well - very cheap!
When I was a kid, I suffered badly until I got shots in my 20’s. There just weren’t many good effective drugs - save for Benadryl - like there are today. No one should suffer allergies if they can get to a dr and have a good prescription plan ;)</p>
<p>For those who use the Neti Pot- how often do you use it? The directions on the box say you can use it every two hours. That seems like overkill. I used it last night and again this morning. I am thinking about going out for a walk in the pollen filled air and thought maybe after the walk is a good time to use it. Also am going to try showering after the walk and hope that helps.</p>
<p>Years ago I went to an allergist instead of trying to manage my allergies (mostly fall and spring) on my own. I take Clarinex (prescription Claritin, works better for me), Nasonex, and Singulair. If you have any “chesty” symptoms (my allergist’s word), Singulair works magic, and luckily my insurance does cover it. I have never found an OTC regimen that works as well as these. Claritin D makes me extremely spacey.</p>
<p>I usually don’t have “chesty” symptoms with my allergies but I am having them this time. I had pneumonia a couple of months ago and I think that is having an effect on the lungs. I am keeping an eye on the lungs. If anything that is what will finally push me over the edge to go to the Dr. I hate going to the Dr!</p>
<p>Once you have pneumonia I’m told it’s easier to get a recurrence.</p>
<p>I’ve never used the neti pot more than a couple of times a day, but I don’t see why a couple more times would hurt. If you use a nasal spray, our PA told me to:</p>
<p>1) Use the neti at night (neti-night!)
2) Lie on the bed face up with your head hanging over the side.
3) Then lift your head to do the nasal spray and put your head back over the edge of the bed. This lets the spray just fall into the sinus cavity up in the head. Sometimes when you snort it, it just goes into the back of the throat and never makes it all the way up.</p>