Allergies - What Medicine Works?

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 10:13am

I am stockpiling my Allegra-D in anticipation of spring allergies. It seems to be the only thing that can prevent a sinus infection and general lousiness.

Any recommendations for nasal sprays, homepathic remedies, etc?

I'm trying to start early to avoid total havoc.

[KelRel]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 10:30am

I recently started using Flonase and so faar so good. No weird side effects other than a nasty taste in the back of your throat if you happen to spray it too far into your nose and it drains down. I was told to take it with my normal Claritin-D (acctually I use the off brand Claritin and take an off brand suddafed, it saves you A LOT of money that way), but I forgot to take it and I was fine. Normally if I forget I am miserable and I start having asthma attacks from the pollen and such. So far I am a big fan of Flonase.


Also if you want a more natural way to handle allergies go to a farmer's market or a local health food store and buy some honey that was made locally. Then buy some bee pollen tablets. This will help build up your ammunity to the allergens in your area. (Thus the importance of buy local honey)

Updated On: 3/30/06 at 10:30 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 10:35am

Cheno, I've had allergies all my life and I have them year round. oy. I've done it all. I took shots for 10 years, didn't work. Did the bee pollen and all those natural remedies with no luck. For me it's medication all the way. I take Claritin because there are no side effects. I don't do anything with D (sudafed) in it because it's bad for the heart. Even with medication, I still suffer, but I'm guessing I have allergies much worse than you do. Good luck with the homeopathics, but I think you may get the best results with pills.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 10:42am

Last year I had adult-onset allergies so bad that Lynne Cheney looked like a saint next to me.

Allegra.

I now swear by it. If we use it in Iraq, there is a tiny chance that the US will come out ahead. That's how good it it is.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 10:49am

again, what does your doctor say?

I used to use flonase, but as kel says it has a funny taste, and it smeels weird.....

I take claritin daily, and I take claritin-D when needed, I use a couple sprays with euycalyptus (probably spelled wrong) in it...

BUT AGAIN, consult and ask your doctor....

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 10:52am

They say neti-potting helps...

[KelRel]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 10:52am

Elphie, to me Flonase smells like roses.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 10:56am

I also love the smell of those sprays, they smell like flowers to me too!

Doctors don't know s*** about allergies.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 10:57am

Kel, steve hates the smell....hence I don't use it, lol

[KelRel]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 10:58am

It usually goes away within 10 minutes for me, but it can be a bit over powering.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 11:03am

My allergy doctor was quite knowledgeable about allergies...

I took shots for many years, which helped tremendously.

I currently have a prescription for Allegra-D, and find it to be extremely helpful when I get seasonal allergies. I also use prescription eye drops, as most of my allergy reactions involve itchy eyes.

Netti-pots help, also, on a daily basis.

[zaneyb3000]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 11:04am

I take Zyrtec. Works fine for me.

My mom is a staunch supporter of "nasal irrigation," which basically means you use warm, salty water and this weird looking thing to rinse out the excess "junk" in your nasal cavity. It's kind of weird, but effective if you're having a lot of trouble with congestion.

http://www.sinucleanse.com/?ovchn=GGL&ovcpn=Sinus+AdGroup&ovcrn=nasal+irrigation&ovtac=PPC

This is the kind that I have. It's really weird the first time, but it is a good and all-natural relief!

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 11:05am

Alcon D is my over the counter eye allergy drops...

the uber-Claritin is my allergy medication of choice. Allegra D when it gets BAD...

[CanadianSnowbird]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 11:10am

I'm taking shots now, so far so good, except I really don't like needles. I find Benadryl to work very fast once you're having a reaction. I usually use Claritin if I know I'm going somewhere where I'm going to have a problem. My doctor gave me Aerius, I haven't tried it yet, but she says that is what her kids use.

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 11:15am

I've been neti-potting for years. Love it, and it helps to some degree. But usually late April/early May is when I get full-on allergies. Allegra-D (although it does raise blood pressure) is the only thing that has prevented me from getting the yearly sinus infection.

I want to add a nasal spray like Beconase (I love the smell also) but wasn't sure if there was something newer and more effective.

And Jane, doctors do NOT know anything about allergies, you're right. 2 of mine prescribed the same lame medications even after I told them they did absolutely nothing.

I guess it's my usual regimen of Neti, Allegra-D, and some spray TBD...

Thanks guys!

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 11:21am

Zaney-right on! I did that last year when I was really congested-that saline solution cleans out the nasal area of pollens which are in there! It helped me greatly.

Cheno-that's right. I'm sure the doctors try but allergies change constantly. what you're allergic to one day, doesn't affect you another. also, our environment and what's in the air changes from day to day. I could be in bed barely breathing because of what's flying around outside one day, and the next day, it could be like I never had an allergy.

I'm afraid that trial and error works best. We all react differently to the medications, shots and all the other remedies.

[camerangel]

Posted: 3/30/06 at 11:48am

I am a big fan of Flonase.. I have been on it for several years and it works wonders.. Trust me the funky taste isn't bad comparatively speaking.. There was one the Doctor had put me on that was so nasty I couldn't force myself to use it..