STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

member · Hermes

Are Anyone Else's Allergies Driving Them Nuts?

theotherjess · Chanel

My allergies vary year to year. This year I have hardly had any problems, although I do have a pesky cold right now , so I feel your pain.

Claritin is sold over the counter now, so you won't have to get a prescription. Also, with Claritin, you have to take it every day because it builds up in your system. It won't start to work right away. I think there might be a generic brand at Walgreens or some place like that.

member · Hermes

So if I were to start taking Claritin (or it's generic) would I have to then take it every day, year round, or just when my allergies are bothering me?

bex · Chanel

me too!

they have been really bad recently... my dr. prescribed me Allegra-D last year- but i couldn't take it because it made me feel like i was on speed! my heart was racing and i was really shaky... he switched me to some nose spray (which i told him i hated) and i didn't fill it- i just bought claritin like i used to take and it helped.

lsubatgirl · Gucci

Oh I'm joining the club! I have been feeling crappy lately. I started taking Zyrtec D and its ok. Claritin doesn't really work on me but it works on most people. I would start with that at Walgreens and if you aren't feeling better after a week go to the doctor and get something better.

theotherjess · Chanel

shopchicago33 wrote:

So if I were to start taking Claritin (or it's generic) would I have to then take it every day, year round, or just when my allergies are bothering me?

You take it every day during allergy season or time of year when you have a lot of allergy symptoms. What I'm saying is that if you have allergies during fall and you start to feel better in the middle of fall, keep taking it until winter. Don't stop in the middle of your allergy season. It's not like a cold medicine that makes you feel better temporarily, but it is more permanent and has longer lasting effects. I hope that made sense

!

Kel · Coach

Lately I have been just waking up really stuffy and i sneeze a lot. But so far it has been mild. I give it another month before it is in few swing. I normally get it bad when it rains a lot. But anyways, when I get it bad, I just have really painful headaches, where i can not concentrate. But I went to the dr. about it a couple of years ago and he gave me a pill that I take whenever i have a headache and it goes away in the matter of mintutes. But that is just for headaches not all the other symptoms.

-- Edited by Kel at 21:06, 2005-09-11

member · Hermes

Kel wrote:

Lately I have been just waking up really stuffy and i sneeze a lot. But so far it has been mild. I give it another month before it is in few swing. I normally get it bad when it rains a lot. But anyways, when I get it bad, I just have really painful headaches, where i can not concentrate. But I went to the dr. about it a couple of years ago and he gave me a pill that I take whenever i have a headache and it goes away in the matter of i swear mintutes.

What pill do you take that gets your headaches to go away that fast? I have been getting sinus headaches for years..

cc · Marc Jacobs

My allergies are really horrible too. I also have been getting sinus headaches multiples times a week for years and when my allergies get really bad my eyes itch or sting and I get itchy all over - my face, my nose, inside my ears - I feel like my insides are covered in hives. I've taken Claritin and a few other pills and they make me feel awful. I'd rather put up with my allergy symptoms. I'm going to see an allergist and will probably start getting shots. I used to get them from 3rd grade until I went away to college and I think I probably need to do that again because I'm miserable and nothing else seems to help. You should definitely try to get a referral for an allergist and he can help figure out the best way to treat you.

ejc423 · Coach

Oh me too. . .

I always forget I have allergies until I get them. Mine are worst in the fall, so when everyone is suffering in the spring I am always fine. I thought I had a cold this time because everyone in my program seems to have one (a lot of them have internships in elementary schools this semester--their immune systems are taking a beating).

But I've had that "cold coming on" feeling for about a week and a half but my nose never gets stuffy. Just a tickle in my throat, sneezing, coughing, occasional headache. . .Is that allergies?

I had a prescription for Allegra-D that I took in college and it worked well for me, but alas it has run out. Maybe I'll try some Benadryl tonight. How old-school.

As mild as mine are, I feel so sorry for those of you with severe allergies--you have to be miserable!

jacL · Coach

theotherjess wrote:

My allergies vary year to year. This year I have hardly had any problems, although I do have a pesky cold right now , so I feel your pain. Claritin is sold over the counter now, so you won't have to get a prescription. Also, with Claritin, you have to take it every day because it builds up in your system. It won't start to work right away. I think there might be a generic brand at Walgreens or some place like that.

Correction: Claritin is an antihistamine. You only need to take it as needed. It flushes out of your system within 24 hours or so.

Kel · Coach

shopchicago33 wrote:

What pill do you take that gets your headaches to go away that fast? I have been getting sinus headaches for years..

They are chewable, because i can't swallow pills but I bet they have a non-chewable form. It is called AH-CHEW D 10 MG. It is a decongestant. But it works really fast. I normally get headaches were i just can't concentrate and i stare into space, they hurt so bad. But this works. And you only take it when you have a headache. But I like i said it doesn't help with any other symptoms.

theotherjess · Chanel

jacL wrote:

theotherjess wrote: My allergies vary year to year. This year I have hardly had any problems, although I do have a pesky cold right now , so I feel your pain. Claritin is sold over the counter now, so you won't have to get a prescription. Also, with Claritin, you have to take it every day because it builds up in your system. It won't start to work right away. I think there might be a generic brand at Walgreens or some place like that. Correction: Claritin is an antihistamine. You only need to take it as needed. It flushes out of your system within 24 hours or so.

Oops. This is what the doctor told my mom

KaffeeKlatsch · Marc Jacobs

Perfect Timing!

I've never notice allergy symptoms in myself during the fall...UNTIL THIS YEAR!

And yeah, they are OUT OF CONTROL! Argh!

gruiz · Kenneth Cole

I usually don't react well to allergy medications. Zyrtec made me tired, Claritin did NOTHING, and I've tried others over the years. About 2 months ago I started using Nasonex and it works wonders. It's a nasal spray, so you don't have any crazy side effects like you would from a pill. You do have to use it continuously though or it won't work properly.

As far as headaches go. Three Advil Liqui-gels + a caffeinated beverage. The liqui-gels work fairly quickly on their own, but the caffeine really helps.

Tara · Dooney & Bourke

gruiz wrote:

I usually don't react well to allergy medications. Zyrtec made me tired, Claritin did NOTHING, and I've tried others over the years. About 2 months ago I started using Nasonex and it works wonders.

I second the Nasonex - works better than any allergy medicine I have tried...and I tried them all claritin, clarinex, allegra, zyrtec, etc. And I swear by drinking tons and tons of water during allergy season. I swear, if a day goes by where I don't drink tons of water - I automatically get a sinus headache

member · Hermes

Well I went searching through my medicine cabinet and what did I find? A perscription from my dermatoligst for Clarinex (from a while ago for itch skin that I had at the time). I took it the past 2 nights and I've felt much better. I think I'm going to tell the derm. I'm having itchy skin again and see if he'll refill this prescription - that way I don't go have to see a different doctor. I'm so relived to not be sneezing today!

Thanks for all of your suggestions & help. Hopefully the Clarinex will continue to work.

jacL · Coach

theotherjess wrote:

Oops. This is what the doctor told my mom

I am sorry, but that Doc is wrong (hey, we are all human). I have worked in a pharmacy and studied a tiny bit of pharmaceuticals (SP?), but I looked it up on an allergy web site just to be sure. I just wanted to get the correct info out to everyone!