Allergy season

[Stalk]

Well, it's here!

I've been trying some different medicine every year, but I always forget what works and what doesn't. I'm currently on Claratin-D, I think it's pretty good so far but I'm not sure how severe my allergy is because I started taking it long before my allergies began. But generally it should have started a few weeks ago.

Just out of curiousity, any others with severe spring allergy that found a magic-medicine that completely cured you?

[EZ_pulid]

Claritin is a pretty low allergy medicine. Try Allegra. It is prescription, but it works alot better and I haven't experienced any side affects.

[Stalk]

I'm doctoraphobic

But if all else fails, I guess I should see one.

Oh, and not too worried about side effects though. I've never experienced any side effects from any medicine, my whole life. I guess I'm like super-resistant or something. Edited by: Stalkyr Weaksoul at: 3/29/04 6:07 pm

[EZ_Vindicor]

I highly advocate Allegra. I tried Claritan for a time. It took one look at my allergies, then ran away screaming. Allegra has been the only thing to even actually protect me. I've never had a single side effect with it either.

[Dragynphyre]

Claritin didn't work at all for me. Zyrtec worked MUCH better, seems to work better on my brother's allergic hives as well. (we still haven't found the cause of those - they tend to cover his entire body and make him itch horribly - if no Zyrtec is on hand he has to go to the hospital before he hurts himself or others, being maddened by the itch)

I didn't have allergies until I was about 19 or so, and I figured out I am most allergic to maple pollen, as my allergies are worst at around the time that the yellow pollen turns my blue car to green. My allergies were worst the spring that I was diagnosed with lymphoma, in the two years that have passed since my successful treatment, they have not been as severe.

This year my boyfriend is trying the 'local honey' remedy that a friend of mine suggested. The theory is that unpasteurized honey collected no more than 40 miles away from your home contains some of the pollen that your area produces.

Apparently taking a spoonful a day can help build up an immunity of sorts to those pollens, basically re-trains the antibodies that cause allergies to stop recognizing the pollen as a harmful threat, thereby relieving the severe histamine reaction that many folks experience as 'allergies'.

He notes that he hasn't experienced any strong allergies yet, after eating a 1 lb jar of "spring" honey over the last two months, when usually he'd be rather miserable this time of year. He says his skin over his whole body feels slightly warm after he eats the honey, I believe this might be a mild allergic reaction to the small amount of pollen in the honey, which could mean that the theory actually works - he doesn't mind it much, especially, he says, if it keeps his nose from running like a faucet this spring and summer.

He'll be starting in on the 'summer' blend soon. Next year we will get twice the amount of spring and summer honeys from the local producer - who was nice enough to sell to us directly rather than make us pay double at the organic markets in the area that she usually sells to.

We also found out last year, on the suggestion of an herbalist friend, that freeze-dried Stinging Nettle works very well on the symptoms of allergies - we tried it and his sinuses dried up SO much that he didn't even have an occasional sniffle for an entire day.

Herbalist said that it must be freeze-dried. Any other method of preserving doesn't preserve that qualitiy of the nettle. Available in stores that specialize in "Health"/ whole or organic foods, possibly places like GNC. (Back In Black)
Delissandra Splitshadow - Marauder of Clan X
Grandmaster Poisoner (250), Master Potter (195), Grandmaster Lush (200)

Why is it that the last piece I've needed from EVERY armor set, from Ravenscale on up to Stanos' Wicked is the PANTS?
I honestly am beginning to think it's a conspiracy founded by Glip!

[EZ_CreepyPete]

Been on Allegra for a couple of years now and I've had no side effects other than it drying out the inside of my nose. I've noticed that it seems to not be working as well for me as it did when I started taking it. Going to hit my doc up for some Zyrtec next month and see how that works for me.

[EZ_Norpin]

That Allegra stuff works really well. I recommend it as well.

[Stalk]

Hmm looks like it's really worth going to the doctor. My allergies hit it's worst today, and it's quite apparent Claratin isn't helping. Stuffy nose, bloodshot eyes, runny noses, sneezing every 10 minutes, itching, hands blistering.

This sucks. As for the honey thing, I'm going to have to quote the Safehouse saying, "Don't take Medical advice from the Safehouse" It could work, but not gonna take that risk. Don't want to turn into Candyman somehow

[EZ_Vindicor]

Quote:I've noticed that it seems to not be working as well for me as it did when I started taking it.
There was a brief stint that I took Claritan after I started on Allegra (between work and school, I just didn't have time to go to the doctor and get my prescription refilled, so I went over-the-counter). Even though Claritan didn't work nearly as well as Allegra, that month or so gave my body a "break" from the Allegra and when I started back on it, it worked just as well as when I first started it.

My suggestion is to pick an allergy "off-season" (winter, for me) and switch to something else for a month or so to stop your body from getting so used to the Allegra.

[EZ_Emmrys]

I used Allegra for a couple years. Then I tried Flonase, and if i use that I dont need to take Allegra. Flonase is some good stuff.

[Gnmish Gearbinder]

Flonase never worked for me. Infact, it usually made me sneeze reflexively which all you seasonal allergy sufferers know is a death knell.

Recently I have been using Claritin RediTabs. They work damn good, you put them on your tongue and they disolve instantly. They start working usually within 15 to 30 minutes and last me all day. Beats having to digest it.

The only catch is that they are a big pricey so I only use them in emergencies. Oh, and keep them the hell away from water and humidity, heh. They'll disolve before you know you made a mistake. gnmish.gearbinder.ring.warden.sullon.zek
'Me? I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest... Honestly.'

[EZ_Vilkata Tasavalt]

All I ever used was Chlortrimeton...never really used anything else...though my doctor did give me Flonase to try and cut down on my seemingly annual sinus infections.

Vilk

[EZ_Ragwheed]

Nothing can't stop me!!!

/em shakes violently releasing his allergy-flaring pollen


/cackle

[EZ_JookaWoo]

Ive heard of the honey method but the version I was told about was designed for poisen ivy.

[Jhani Vandolay]

I wanna try this Winnie the Pooh therapy. Not to claim the status of a "real professional" in any one endeavor has been a small price to pay for the many benefits and pleasures of trespassing. ~Leo Lionni