PLEASE help me out!!OTC allergy meds?

[TNTed]

I have suffered with allergies all my life, they dont seem to get better or worse with the seasons or weather like most peoples do, its just random, normally, if i am having sneezing and watery itch eyes, i take a tylenol allergy sinus and it pretty much fixes it right then and there, but the days i have it VERy severely, nothing seems to help, i have it severely probably 5 times a year and it goes like this EVERY time..i will wake up with a sore throat and nothing else, i will put up with that for 1 to 2 days, then it will go away but i will have a SEVERE runny nose and sneezing for about 3 days, and i cant tolerate it, my nose runs so bad that i rub my face raw and bleeding from blowing it so much, i need something for the severe days of the runny nose, i cant take rubbing the skin off my face anymore, i have tried loratadine (claratin, alavert, etc..) clorephramine(tylenol allergy sinus) and everything else, is there ANYTHING else OTC i can try? I want to give benadryl a shot, BUT, the last few times i took benadryl it made me feel like i was doped up so bad, makes me feel drunk and i HAVE to go to sleep, unless they have come out with a non-drowsy formula? anyone know? i cant afford an allergist right now so need some OTC relief. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Melba]

I have unbearable days as well...the itchy eyes that just drip, the continuous sneezing and blowing until everything is raw...been there. Unfortunately the best antihistimine for me has always been benadryl. It dries me up and even helps keep the itchy eyes at bay. I have used just about everything...prescription and OTC and benadryl is the most effective for me.

It makes me drowsy but I counteract the effect with coffee. (I am not suggesting you do that!) After using it for awhile I do find the drowsiness diminishes.

I think antihistimines are like anything else in that different people find different ones effective. I know plenty of people that swear by claritin and that particular medication does absolutely nothing for me. Maybe you could do a "drug challenge" by taking benadryl on a day when you know that you will be home and see if you can tollerate it and if it has the desired effect.

Good Luck!

[Titchou]

Try the benedryl at night and then maybe sudafed in the AM...you can get it OTC VERY cheap...like the local chain has it generic for $1 a box (you have to ask for it probably as most keep it behind the counter)

[xmerkatx]

Funny how I asked the same question and people actually reply giving help on this one.

[CheerAngel]

Hi 'TNT'... I too have very bad allergies and meds are not really helping. I have symptoms every single day. I have taken lots of different medications... Telfast D, telfast, clarinase, claritin, nasacort, nasonex... and the list goes on. I am currently taking a levocertrizine (a newer generation of certrizine), nasonex(spray) and singulair. I have seen improvements for the first time on this combination. Though I still get symptoms but they are milder.

Do you take different antihistamines at once or only one type at a time? Maybe a combination of antihistamines might be better than only one type. But do consult with the pharmacist in the pharmacy about taking multiple types of antihistamines. You can also ask them which are the newer ones and see if it works for you.

Since you have severe symptoms, a nasal steroid spray will work and help to lessen or stop the symptoms like runny nose, congestion. But however, this is a prescription medication so unless you see a doctor, you can't get it.

And since you know you are allergic, you should also start by avoiding the allergens. Btw, what are you allergic to? As for benadryl, take it before you go to bed, so you won't doze off in the day though when you wake up, you might feel tired. Everyone reacts to a medication differently, so only you can tell which is best. Have you taken cirrus before? Hope you feel better soon!