Hay fever remedy

[Hutch]

For many years, I've been able to keep my "seasonal allergies" well controlled with a generic OTC of Chlor-Trimeton.  It's about the most benign as far as side effects go.  My symptoms are usually just itchy eyes, scratchy throat, the occasional sneeze.

Well, that seems to have played out.  I went to a doc-in-the-box with symptons that seemed to suggest a sinus/ear infection, and he assures me it's allergies.  I'm ready to try something other than chlorpeneari.. whatever, but not Benadryl (sleepy-time).  I refuse to set much stock in the TV adverts out there.  What do y'all recommend?

Thanks...

[BrokenPaw]

Until a week or so ago, I'd never been subject to any sorts of allergies.  For some reason, this year my body began to object to all of the trees and grass having sex in my nose, and I've gotten all of the typical symptoms:  itchy/watery eyes, runny nose, itchy throat. 

At first I only got the symptoms at night, and so I would occasionally take Advil PM, which has more Benadryl than Benadryl does.  Downside:  drowsy.  They're called SleepHammers^TM in our house for a reason.

Once the symptoms started affecting me during the day, I decided to give Claritin a try, and it does seem to hold it all at bay, although their "24-hour" claim is nonsense; their 24-hour dose works for about 12 hours for me.  Also, even though the symptoms are gone, I can sort of feel them...lurking, just below the surface. 

[Scout26]

Just stop breathing...... 

or use Detcord ??


(Someone had to say it.....)

[Gowen]

Most allergy pills put me out or don't work.  I go straight to a kenalog (sp?) shot.  I've heard eating locally produced honey helps.

[Angel Eyes]

I've had pretty good luck with Claritin-D for relief of symptoms, but has the side effect of making me jittery.  Regular Claritin is no better than a placebo, in my experience.

Omnaris nasal spray is also effective, but you need a prescription.

[mtnbkr]

Until a week or so ago, I'd never been subject to any sorts of allergies.  For some reason, this year my body began to object to all of the trees and grass having sex in my nose, and I've gotten all of the typical symptoms:  itchy/watery eyes, runny nose, itchy throat. 

Me too.  I wonder what is making this year so bad.

Chris

[Scout26]

Me too.  I wonder what is making this year so bad.

Chris

Gaia is sad that the Gore's are divorcing ?? 

[BrokenPaw]

Me too.  I wonder what is making this year so bad.

In my case, at least, it may be at least partly my own fault; I mowed the upper field yesterday.  It was 6 feet tall in places.  And had gone to seed, of course.  After 3 hours of mowing that, my sinuses were threatening to secede.

[Iain]

This year has been odd for me too. I usually manage with simple cetirizine and that's it, although my hayfever always initially presents in a new and interesting way (sore throat, cough etc) and it may take me a few days to figure out what it is.

This year I've been very chesty, and I've now got sinusitis with bad pain in the eyebrow/facial nerve regions. Figure it must be allergies.

[Ben]

Me too.  I wonder what is making this year so bad.

Chris

Me three (or six or seven by this point in the thread). Though I've occasionally had mild allergy symptoms in the past, this year is the first year I've ever actually been miserable from allergies for multiple days where I actually have to medicate to get through the work day.


In my area, it's been reported that a combination of well above normal rainfall this winter after a long drought has sprung up not only an abundance of grasses and other pollen-carrying vegetation, but many varieties that would normally remain more dormant in low rain years.

That plus what we call "Sundowner winds" here, where hot air (and pollen)  blows down from the mountains to the coast, have been going on more than usual for this time of year. Luckily one of our other weather phenomena, "June Gloom" started promptly on June 1st and we've been socked in with marine layer fog, so I'm breathing easy today.

[Iain]

Actually, there's an obvious reason for me. I'm working in a forest at weekends. Saturday before last you could see the pollen in the air, and when it rained this weekend all the puddles had a yellow scum of pollen at the edges. Last week I was doing physio/hypertonic saline twice a day and coughing out more each time than I usually produce in a week.

[sanman]

Most allergy pills put me out or don't work.  I go straight to a kenalog (sp?) shot.  I've heard eating locally produced honey helps.

Correct on the local honey. A local farm keeps bees to help with crop sex and each year they produce their own honey. HAs helped my wife and granddaughter quite a bit.

[bedlamite]

Ironically, this year has been much better than usual for me. I haven't even had to take anything in the past couple weeks.

[Tuco]

I'm on my second dose of Poison Ivy.

I rode the first (back of legs) out cold turkey, but this batch is on my fingers and am soooo Benadryl buzzed I'm afraid to drive.

[roo_ster]

Stack generic claritin and zyrtec, one in the AM one in the PM.

Include Nielmed sinus rinse AM & PM.

[tyme]

honey and/or turmeric powder

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

In my case, at least, it may be at least partly my own fault; I mowed the upper field yesterday.  It was 6 feet tall in places.  And had gone to seed, of course.  After 3 hours of mowing that, my sinuses were threatening to secede

you need goats! i'll have some in august available

[mtnbkr]

In my case, at least, it may be at least partly my own fault; I mowed the upper field yesterday.  It was 6 feet tall in places.  And had gone to seed, of course.  After 3 hours of mowing that, my sinuses were threatening to secede

you need goats! i'll have some in august available

After the goats eat the field, you can bbq them.

Chris

[seeker_two]

Stack generic claritin and  OR zyrtec, one in the AM one in the PM.

Include Nielmed sinus rinse AM & PM.

Other than my edit, +1 on that....esp. the NeilMed rinse....

[sanman]

After the goats eat the field, you can bbq them.

Chris

Yum

[S. Williamson]

Ate local honey for the first time ever, back in February.

I've had zero allergies so far (aside from the usual skin-related issues).  Just sayin'. 

[roo_ster]

Other than my edit, +1 on that....esp. the NeilMed rinse....

If I wasn't clear, one of the two AM & PM.  I do zyrtec in the AM & claritin in the PM.

The have different mechanisms and are complementary.

[Hutch]

Thanks.  I'm absolutely astonished at how little sleep I've had in the last 3 days/2 nights, due to the prednisone.  No more than 4-5 hours total, max.  I'll try the Claritin/Zyrtec cocktail.

[Fjolnirsson]

I've had very good results with Claritin. For sneezy, itchy, watery complaints, it does the trick for me about 90% of the time. When it fails, I go for the Benadryl. Congestion is another matter. I used to rely on Nyquil for congestion, but Oregon got a new law a few years back that requires a RX for anything an effective decongestant. I refuse to pay $50-$90 for an OTC. Nyquil helped, but it isn't effective enough to warrant a Dr visit and fee. Last year I found Veramyst, thanks to my sleep doc. The only thing in 30 years that has truly stopped my congestion problems. I love it.

I use the neilmed bottle through all but about 4 months of the year, and have few allergy problems, despite living in the grass seed capital of the US.

[Ex-MA Hole]

Neilmed Sinus Rinse.

It's gross.

The first two or three times were uncomfortable.

Now?  A year and a half into it....well...It's like this...

Pre-December 08, I was taking 3-4 allergy pills a day, had sinus infections, congestion, chest congestion and ear infections frequently.

Since December of 08, ZERO allergy pills, zero on the other symptoms as well.

I did manage to catch two colds twice since then.  Instead of lingering for 2-3 weeks- they were gone in 2-3 days.

Oh, and 2 in the last year and a half vs five or six colds a year, in addition to the other stuff.

The Neilmed thing works, and it's cheaper than all the pills.