Help me stop my seasonal allergy flare-up!
September 11, 2007 12:28 PM Subscribe
The sudden shift from hot to beautifully cool weather has made my seasonal allergies go berzerk! Please help me find an over-the-counter solution that won't interact with the crap I've already ingested before I sneeze my head off!
So we slept with the windows open last night... big mistake. I woke up this morning with a nose full of snot, itchy eyes, and I've been sneezing about once or twice every few minutes. I immediately took some 24 hour Claritin at 9:30, but have yet to see an affect some five hours later. I squirted some NasacortAQ up my nose at noon, but that didn't do anything either. Finally, as a last resort, I took one 25mg pill of Benadryl, which also seems to have had no effect.
What can I go buy that will help me? I don't want to overdose on drugs, I just need to dry up my head before the next powerful sneeze cleans it straight off. HELP!
So we slept with the windows open last night... big mistake. I woke up this morning with a nose full of snot, itchy eyes, and I've been sneezing about once or twice every few minutes. I immediately took some 24 hour Claritin at 9:30, but have yet to see an affect some five hours later. I squirted some NasacortAQ up my nose at noon, but that didn't do anything either. Finally, as a last resort, I took one 25mg pill of Benadryl, which also seems to have had no effect.
What can I go buy that will help me? I don't want to overdose on drugs, I just need to dry up my head before the next powerful sneeze cleans it straight off. HELP!
Yeah, Claritin takes a couple of days. For emergencies I take Tylenol Severe Allergy, but it usually knocks me out. Works like a charm, though.
posted by SixteenTons at 1:50 PM on September 11, 2007
posted by SixteenTons at 1:50 PM on September 11, 2007
1 - Avoid the Afrin and other decongestant nose sprays like the plague - they are highly addictive and the rebound nasal stuffiness will make you feel like you have a brick shoved up your nose. Not kidding.
2 - Claritin and Nasacort - stick with them, everyone's right about them both needing time to build up in your system.
3 - Either use a SALINE nasal spray (which you can use constantly with no addictive side effects) or go whole hog and invest in a Neti Pot or similar nasal wash - these things are amazing and will keep your allergies at bay.
4 - I also supplement my allergy meds with Quercitin (1000 mg a day) and I swear by it.
posted by OhPuhLeez at 2:43 PM on September 11, 2007
2 - Claritin and Nasacort - stick with them, everyone's right about them both needing time to build up in your system.
3 - Either use a SALINE nasal spray (which you can use constantly with no addictive side effects) or go whole hog and invest in a Neti Pot or similar nasal wash - these things are amazing and will keep your allergies at bay.
4 - I also supplement my allergy meds with Quercitin (1000 mg a day) and I swear by it.
posted by OhPuhLeez at 2:43 PM on September 11, 2007
Just to clarify, according to my doctor, Afrin is addictive if you overuse it. But a couple of days while the other stuff kicks in is not going to kill you. The Nasacort will probably take care of nasal swelling once it kicks in and you probably won't need anything else.
I had terrible rebound stuffiness after over-reliance on Afrin after a bout of Martian death flu a few years ago. It sucked massively. However, I had been using the stuff four or five times a day for two weeks. YMMV, of course, but I think that was as much my fault as the product's. I figure the sleep deprivation (and the driving to work after in such a state) I have when I can't sleep because I can't breathe is more dangerous than the nasal spray.
posted by mostlymartha at 2:56 PM on September 11, 2007
I had terrible rebound stuffiness after over-reliance on Afrin after a bout of Martian death flu a few years ago. It sucked massively. However, I had been using the stuff four or five times a day for two weeks. YMMV, of course, but I think that was as much my fault as the product's. I figure the sleep deprivation (and the driving to work after in such a state) I have when I can't sleep because I can't breathe is more dangerous than the nasal spray.
posted by mostlymartha at 2:56 PM on September 11, 2007
Can you get a prescription? I take 180mg Allegra (generic: fexofenadine) when my hay-fever acts up and it puts me right.
posted by nicwolff at 4:54 PM on September 11, 2007
posted by nicwolff at 4:54 PM on September 11, 2007
Costco sell their generic version of Claritin, which they call Allerclear, at a cost of about $15 for 300 tabs. The savings even pay for the Costco membership.
posted by anadem at 5:25 PM on September 11, 2007
posted by anadem at 5:25 PM on September 11, 2007
Where do you live? I've had the same thing going on and attributed it partially to the fact that it hadn't rained in weeks...I may be mistaken but I think rain washes the mold/ragweed from the air? Or is that just pollen? At any rate, it rained today where I live and my allergies have instantly relented.
I take prescription Zyrtec for allergies as it has no side effects (no drowsiness).
posted by annabellee at 8:39 PM on September 11, 2007
I take prescription Zyrtec for allergies as it has no side effects (no drowsiness).
posted by annabellee at 8:39 PM on September 11, 2007
In California you have to ask for the 'real' Claritin from the pharmacist, even though its non-prescription, so the meth freaks don't steal it. The stuff on the open shelf is completely ineffective. You knew that right? Is it that way in MO?
posted by pgoes at 9:03 PM on September 11, 2007
posted by pgoes at 9:03 PM on September 11, 2007
Try the Dolimed homeopathic spray for your area, which you can find at a health food store.
posted by brujita at 9:40 PM on September 11, 2007
posted by brujita at 9:40 PM on September 11, 2007
Screw homeopathic anything. it's just a scam.
Suck up the shame of being a junkie/criminal, got to a pharmacy, and pick up anything with appx. 25-30 mg of pseudoephedrine.
Yes, you'll be branded as a a junkie/meth-head, tweaker, dealer for life, but you'll breathe quite well.
A bronchial-dialator that pulls moisture from mucus membranes is exactly what you're asking for.
posted by sourwookie at 10:46 PM on September 13, 2007
Suck up the shame of being a junkie/criminal, got to a pharmacy, and pick up anything with appx. 25-30 mg of pseudoephedrine.
Yes, you'll be branded as a a junkie/meth-head, tweaker, dealer for life, but you'll breathe quite well.
A bronchial-dialator that pulls moisture from mucus membranes is exactly what you're asking for.
posted by sourwookie at 10:46 PM on September 13, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
Supplement with frin nasal spray and sudafed as needed to help with the symptoms until everything else kicks in.
(Or, in the case of my killer allergies, continue to use afrin and sudafed with everything else on days when the pollen count is above 8).
posted by mostlymartha at 12:58 PM on September 11, 2007