Allergies - does anything work for you?

I'm currently suffering with ragweed allergies... actually suffering is an understatement. Last night my ears hurt so bad I was actually in tears because nothing was working.

I get this once a year and usually I just take some Allegra-D and everything is fine. This year the Allegra-D isn't working So now I'm in pain and I need suggestions.

Claritin-D doesn't work
Allegra-D is now not working either
Mucinex-D sort of helped a little... and I may get more if I can't find something better.
Sudafed was not fabulous either.

More than specifically an allergy medication, what I need is the world's best decongestant. I don't have the money to go to a doctor, nor do I have the money for a prescription... so what is *the best* OTC decongestant you've ever used?

I thank you... and my ears thank you too

I don't know if it'll work for ragweed, but I'm allergic to pollen and all kinds of other things... so I take a teaspoon of locally harvested honey every day. It certainly helps... doesn't make it go away completely, but it minimizes the reaction. It does this by building up an immunity to the pollens (since local bees would harvest pollen locally, you should get local honey from a farmer's market)

Of course, if you're allergic to honey, then that nips that one...

I stopped taking OTC allergy meds a few years back... nothing really helps me either.

With the pain you're describing, I'd hit the doctor for a scrip if I were you... esp. if you prefer going traditional routes. I'm more untraditional nowadays, so the honey works for me... besides, it's cheaper than drugs... tastes better too!!

Amanda

usually nothing works for me. But i have found that taking Alvert -D works well for me.

I use Nasonex - but that is prescription....

Good luck - our ragweed season has started yet. This will be the 1st time in 3 years that I haven't been preggers or breatfeeding so I can take some reactine. yeah!!

Originally Posted by RubSluts'Mommy

I don't know if it'll work for ragweed, but I'm allergic to pollen and all kinds of other things... so I take a teaspoon of locally harvested honey every day. It certainly helps... doesn't make it go away completely, but it minimizes the reaction. It does this by building up an immunity to the pollens (since local bees would harvest pollen locally, you should get local honey from a farmer's market)

Of course, if you're allergic to honey, then that nips that one...

I stopped taking OTC allergy meds a few years back... nothing really helps me either.

With the pain you're describing, I'd hit the doctor for a scrip if I were you... esp. if you prefer going traditional routes. I'm more untraditional nowadays, so the honey works for me... besides, it's cheaper than drugs... tastes better too!!

Amanda

Click to expand...

Well, unfortunately I can't afford my doc right now... not that I really want to ever speak to him again anyway. Ahem, sorry... bitter over the way I was treated last time. But yeah, I'm still out of a job, so there really isnt any money for that.

Usually I'm more of the natural route myself and have even attempted ACV, but this is just so far beyond any allergies I've ever had before that all my usual routes aren't working. I will tell you I am doped up on Vit C, quercetin, bromelain, and vit e tho At this point I'm so desperate that if they told me to stand on one foot for the whole day as a sure fire cure, I'd do it! Which is why I'm turning to OTC stuff.

I haven't found local honey yet... but now that I'm writing this I'm remembering that my MIL's neighbors are beekeepers. Hmm! I'll have to go talk to them. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Liza24

usually nothing works for me. But i have found that taking Alvert -D works well for me.

Click to expand...

This is an OTC one right? If so, then this will be my next attempt

I started with Seldane, then they took it off the market because if you mix it with antibiotics you can die.

Then they gave me Clariton, and I took that until I built a tolerance to it.

They switched me to Zyrtec which worked GREAT, until health insurance refused to cover it.

They tried Allegra next, did NOTHING.

Back to Clariton, then health insurance stopped covering it because they started marketing it OTC.

Now I order generic Zyrtec from a Canadian website, they ship it to me from Germany, no prescription needed. I take that daily with Sudafed - the original formula, NOT the PE version. The PE does NOTHING.

Are you getting the real Sudafed that is now kept in the pharmacy area and you have to fill out a form?? I agree that the sudafed PE stuff is fairly worthless.
Also make sure your head is propped up at night to breathe better.
My allergies haven't started yet and its the stuffy nose problems not too bad with the itchy eyes.
Also make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids that seems to make a difference and I also bought some saline spray to keep the nose lubricated.
I wonder if you go to health food store and pick up a neti pot to flush your sinuses??? While I haven't done this its supposed to work great.

i have to say i also SWEAR by this. my mom got me to use itm and it works well!!!!!!

https://www.achooallergy.com/sinus-neilmedbottlekit.asp

I use Claritin (generic) and I take Ibuprofen when I get sinus headaches. After everything I've tried (and I've been to the Dr numerous times for it) this works best. I also try to use my Neti Pot daily when pollen counts are high. It washes the pollen and dirt out of your nose/sinuses with salt water.

When I notice I've built up a tolerance (it happens sometimes), I switch to plain old Benadryl for a few days, then go back to the (generic) Claritin.

I also vacuum 2-3 times a week, and right now we have the air conditioning running. I can actually feel my sinuses swell up when we have the windows open right now. We use a 3M Filtrete furnace filter for people with allergies.

I hope that helps.

I was going to suggest a Neti-Pot if you can stomach it. I haven't been brave enough, but know quite a few people who swear by it.

Afrin is also good, at least for temporary relief. Like Laureen said, you aren't supposed to use it regularly because you can become dependent on it, but it sure works when you're miserable and you need help fast.

I totally sympathize with you - ragweed is EVIL!

Have you ever tried Percogesic? It's an over-the-counter painkiller that consists of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and a mild antihistamine. The antihistamine is included for its soporific effect, but it might help... and certainly Percogesic has long been my go-to medication, the one thing that helps when nothing else does.

Although it's OTC, some pharmacies keep it behind the counter, because it's strong stuff... so you might have to ask.

Also... some say you can immunize yourself against local allergens by regularly eating locally-produced honey -- the idea being that the bees are visiting the same plants that are causing your problem, and you can gradually desensitize yourself to those plants by having a little of their honey every day.

I'm sorry you're in such pain! Good luck...

I wish I could help you with OTC stuff. The only OTC stuff that kind of works for me is Sudafed, then I use the sinus stuff if it gets REALLY bad.

But what truly works for me (and the kids who have grass allergies as well) is one of the nasal sprays. The kids use Nasonex, I use a generic Flonase. And am I thankful for insurance, that stuff is pricey!

Make sure you use a decongestant though if you are stuffed up. Dd #1 was having allergy issues, didn't tell me, and wound up with a nasty sinus infection. The other kid got one from out-of-control allergies last year.

Wow guys, this is so helpful! Thanks!

Most of these replies came in after I left to go food shopping, so while I was at walmart I cried to the pharmacist who hooked me up

She said based on what I've tried already, the only antihistamine I hadn't tried was chlortrimeton (sp?) So right now she said to try 60mg sudafed, chlortabs (generic chlortrimeton) and nasalcrom nose spray. So I took the first two in the car in the parking lot and then used the nose spray when I got home. I've found the best way to take nose sprays is to spray and then lay on the couch with your head hanging off (facing the ceiling) so it all drips upwards into the sinuses... if I don't do this, it just drips down my throat which doesnt help nearly as much.

She also said that based on what I told her she thinks its better for me to take 4-6 hour meds instead of 12 hour meds because for some reason I'm metabolizing them quicker than normal. She didn't know why, but I think its my new diet. Ever since I've been eating better my metabolism has been through the roof. But I didn't get into all that.. I was too busy sobbing about my poor ears

So after all this, it's the first time I've been able to breathe through my nose in at least 3 days. I'm 18 different kinds of excited about this Still feeling under the weather, but SO MUCH better!

I've printed out this thread so if this stuff starts not working I know what to go buy. You guys are the best!

Dayquil works on just about every cold and allergy symptom I have.

I never am without a supply on hand......I thank God for it!!!!

I have to rotate my allergy meds b/c they stop working every now and then. AND even weirder, the ones that used to make me sleepy (they make most people sleepy) DON'T make me sleepy anymore! And they work!

Check the active ingredient to make sure you're trying different things and not just different packaging . Supposedly the "first generation" antihistamines (e.g. benadryl, chlortrimeton) work better than the 2nd generation ones (the brand name stuff that's popular now), but people don't use them b/c of potential drowsiness. I recommend you give them another try; I gave them a 3rd try , and now they work w/o making me sleepy!!

Meds that used to work for me:
Allegra
Claritin (= Alavert, generic = loratadine)
Zyrtec

The meds that work for me now: (all OTC meds & cheap!)
chlortrimeton-D (has decongestant)
benadryl (which used to knock me out, no longer!)

P.S. Eyes: I've tried ALL the OTC eye drops including the "alternative" ones at WholeFoods ...the Similasan one is pretty good. And I've become desperate and required Patanol at $50 co-pay for 2.5mls!!!

Pataday is the OTC version of Patanol. It might be worth a try.

Hey Guys,

I just read the thread title and thought this would be an appropriate time to show you Karen's (AbbysMom) article she wrote for TCS about allergies. I dont think I have seen a thread started saying what a great job she did in writing it .......... but here it is. I hope it has some info you can use.

http://www.thecatsite.com/Health/223...t-Allergy.html

YAY Karen Great job!!!

Singlair and Nasonex.

however, NOTHING i've tried works for my eye allergies -they're horrid!

Ugh I know all about allergies. I have been allergic to grass and weeds all my life, and now they are the worse they have ever been,so I ahd to go to the allergist. Well I have a thread on here somewhere with all my whining, but the allergist really helped!! I have'nt felt this good in years!! He gave me allegra 180 plus veramist nasal spray, and i also use saline solution. It has helped alot. I am also getting allergy shots once a week, so far so good. I feel alot better. it is nice to wake up in the a.m. and be able to BREATH!!