Claritin-D or Aleve Cold & Sinus?

July 11, 2007 1:20 PM

How can I tell if I am experiencing allergies or a cold?

I am relatively new to the "seasonal allergies" diagnosis. My doctor diagnosed me about three months ago, put me on a 60-day course of Claritin-D, and told me to stop taking it at that point and see if my symptoms returned. That was about three weeks ago. He told me there was not really a need to figure out exactly what I was allergic to since it was just seasonal.

Well...now I feel like I might have a cold. My throat is achingly sore, I have lost my voice, and I have a very productive cough. I don't have a runny nose. Could this be a cold or allergies? I don't know what to take!

This is somewhat unlike what my allergies were - I had a very bad sore throat, a runny nose, and conjunctivitis-like symptoms in my eye.

So, is what I'm experiencing now allergies or a cold? How can you tell? How did my doctor know that my sore throat and goopy eyes were allergies and not a cold?

I ask the people of Metafilter because my doctor is unable to see me until Monday, by which time my symptoms may be gone...but I will have spent many miserable days without knowing whether to take Claritin or Aleve Cold & Sinus!

posted by BuddhaBelly to health & fitness (11 comments total)

Allergy symptoms tend to be a bit more "itchy" in nature - runny, itchy nose & eyes; a persistent throat tickle; dry cough; etc.

A productive cough and a very sore throat to me suggests you probably have a cold or slight infection. Note, however, that seasonal allergies can make you more susceptible to infections/viruses because of the constant irritation & rawness.

What color is your mucus by the way? If you're coughing up green & yellow, you've most likely got an infection and should probably see about getting into your doctor earlier if at all possible.

Feel better!
posted by tastybrains at 1:27 PM on July 11, 2007

P.S. I would, in your situation, focus on my symptoms and take remedies to soothe them rather than worrying about whether something is labeled "cold" or "allergy" or "sinus".

If I had a productive cough and a sore throat, I would be taking Mucinex with lots and lots of fluids and a mild painkiller like Tylenol or Ibuprofen. If I was congested as well I would also get some pseudoephedrine. If you know your allergies have been bothering you, I would also not stop taking Claritin, but I would not bother with Claritin-D. It's often easier to just buy the actual medications you need instead of combos - that way you're not stuck with leftovers that treat more symptoms than you have.

IANAD but I have allergies and have had some nasty colds.
posted by tastybrains at 1:30 PM on July 11, 2007

What tastybrains said - especially about itching... the itch factor is a major one. Does your skin, eyes or throat feel itchy? How about swelling around the eyes?

If you feel achy, chills, or that sort of "woozy" sick feeling, you probably have a cold/flu. Fever can also indicate illness.
posted by SassHat at 1:59 PM on July 11, 2007

green/yellow snot = sick clear snot = allergies
posted by wile e at 2:03 PM on July 11, 2007

wile e, you just inspired me to write a poem!

If it's yellow or green,
get yourself seen!
If it's runny and clear,
You've got nothing to fear.

Words to live by.
posted by tastybrains at 2:20 PM on July 11, 2007 [5 favorites has favorites]

Also, an easy way to tell is to notice if anyone else around you is sick. The cold is really contagious, and also, not very common in the summer months. If other people have a cold, then it might be a cold, and if they don't, then it's probably allergies.

My symptoms are exactly the same for both, because by the time my allergies have gotten to the point where they jack up my immune system so much that I get a respiratory infection and my post-nasal drip from allergies is giving me a sore throat at night, it doesn't really matter.

Allergy medicine, in my mind, is more about the prevention than the cure, but even taking it, sometimes you can get overwhelmed. I would be taking Aleve Cold & Sinus and the allergy medication.

I don't know how it is in Chicago, but down in Austin, it is like, the seasonal allergy Capital of the World, and I think 90% of the time, what people think is "cold" is really "allergy". It doesn't really make that much of a difference, since they both fuck you up and make you legitimately sick.
posted by mckenney at 2:30 PM on July 11, 2007

Sounds like a cold to me. I've been cursed with a rainbow of allergies my whole life - after while, you'll develop a sophisticated awareness of your mucous and grossness. Using what you leave in kleenex, you'll be capable of nuanced self-diagnosis. Welcome to allergies, you lucky dog.

Most often, itchy = allergies.

Oh, and as a side note - I don't think you get the most out of your Claritin bottle by taking it daily. I tend to save those little beauties for outbreaks, and work on building my tolerances up the rest of the time.

Thing is, neither of the possible culprits here is really curable. Whether it be allergies or virus, you've got a miserable, leaking face. Take a hot, steamy shower and drink lots of hot fluids (tea or water w/ lemon - cocoa or coffee is just gonna make things worse for you)

And finally, get you some local honey. It's not a total cure - nothing is - but adding local honey to your diet does help you combat seasonal allergies.

Best of luck! Be well!
posted by EatTheWeak at 3:27 PM on July 11, 2007

My MD told me fever == cold. I guess severe allergies resulting in a bad sinus infection could then cause a fever, but you wouldn't be starting out with the fever like you would with a cold.
posted by trinity8-director at 4:30 PM on July 11, 2007

I find with allergies, the symptoms come and go throughout the day, as my exposure to allergens varies, but with a cold, it's more consistent. And a cold will leave me tired and wanting rest, as my body fights it off, whereas I can generally function through an allergy attack.
posted by happyturtle at 6:39 PM on July 11, 2007

I would have to say that your "bucket" has filled and you are suffering from seasonal allergies. If you suffer from allergies you have a thershold that, once reached, you begin to feel ill. Once those symptoms take hold- runny nose, itchy throat- it begins to cascade and you can end up with an infection that will need to be treated with anti-botics.

In some instances the allergy medicine you are taking does not cover the allergies that you are suffering from. This sounds as if it is the case here. You can go to www.aaaai.org put in your zip code see what pollens are out there that might be causing your problems. Stay on top of the counts and you can head off a problem before it becomes something that sends you to the doctor's office. The site updates the count for your area everyday except weekends.

If I was you I would ask your doctor for a referal to an allergist who can determine specifically what you are allergic to and prescribe the appropriate allergy medicine to counter act the symptoms you are suffering from.

At this point I think you are too far gone to have any benefit from the Clartin-D. Take some OTC cold medicine to relieve your symptoms and get plenty of liquids and rest. Your doctor will determine if you need anti-botics to clear up your current mess when you see him on Monday. You might even want to call tomorrow to see if they can work you in so you don't have to spend the weekend feeling like doo-doo.
posted by bkeene12 at 8:30 PM on July 11, 2007

My experience with Claritin is that it's very good at solving about half of my symptoms. Usually, something else has to make up the difference. For instance, it does nada for my nasal congestion. Left untreated, that crud drains through my throat at night, which leads to raw throat and horking up green gunk. Fun! Adding nasal steroids magically erase the congestion, and thus the throat nastiness.

Also, try nasal saline spray from the drugstore. Great for gently rinsing away allergens and snot before they can cause their cascade of problems. Also soothes the inflamed membranes. Unlike medication, there's no limit on how often you get to use it. I keep spare bottles in my bag, in the desk, nightstand, etc.

If you get really miserable before Monday, don't forget old fashioned wonders like Nyquil. Who cares whether it gets rid of symptoms? A glug of that stuff, and you won't care.

Why do you have to go in anyway? Doesn't the doctor have a physician's assistant or consult nurse? Call and give 'em a brief clear rundown of which symptoms are the original ones that just haven't gone away yet and which are brand new. Unless your body is doing whole news stuff than what he already saw, they can probably get you a scrip right away.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 11:49 PM on July 11, 2007