Allergies and Anxiety

[ocdengineer]

Guys,

The last month I have been experiencing what the natives here in Texas call Cedar Fever. I have to admit it is the most horrible allergy that I have ever experienced. My nose is so stuffed up that I can't breath while I eat and drink and the only think that gives me relief is Afrin and that is only for a short period of time. I also can't take Afrin for more than a few days and I am well past that time frame already and the allergies are not subsiding.

The problem is I have been taking all kinds of other meds as well; Claritin, Benodryl, Tylenol Sinus, Robitussion, Afrin, Sudafed, Alavert etc. in a desperate attempt to find the cure. Nothing seems to work at all for this type of allergy. All of this medicine and the fact that I am experiencing this discomfort for such a long time is really causing me to have a lot of anxiety.

Questions:

Has anyone experienced a negative reaction to any of the drugs above that would cause more anxiety?

Has anyone found themselves highly anxious from what you know for a fact are physical symptoms of an unrelated problem? ie. I am anxious because of the sinus headaches and the inability to breath through my nose, for instance.

Has anyone found a cure to this "cedar fever"?

I can't even meditate in the mornings because that requires deep breathing throught the nose which is impossible for me. I am going to see a doctor about the allergies asap because if is really affecting my life for the last few weeks.

Thanks in advance for your responses,
OE

[alex12]

Hi OCD.... Just to let you know, I also have terrible allergies. The 2 that give me the most anxiety is, Clarinex (by far the worse) and Benadryl makes me jittery not sleepy. I am currently on Zyrtec and that is the best out of all of them, however it still makes me a bit groggy, especially since I also take Paxil. My mother swears by Tylenol cold and sinus (she has no anxiety just bad allergies). About the Afrin, do not use it more then 2 days, it will have a rebound effect that will stuff you up more then you started. You should get Flonase from your doctor to spray in your nose, I have no side effects from that.
I don't know anything about cedar allergies, I just know that here in NJ where it is humid and polluted we all suffer from some allergy.

I hope you get some relief.

[SanyBelle]

OE, are you sure it's allergies? Right after Christmas I went to my PCP to start talking about my anxiety/depression and he did a physical and found I had a sinus/throat infection. (The white count on the CBC verified this). I just thought I had a simple cold or tickle in my throat. I was using Vicks Sinex and it worked well but I was starting to get addicted to it. Of course sleeping was miserable because the side that I slept on blocked up as soon as I laid down. He perscribed antibiotics (which I don't like to take too often) but the infection was gone in about a week and now I can breath and sleep and haven't needed the Vicks in weeks!!!

[edz1961]

OCD:

My doctor recently gave me an antihistimine called Atarax, it helps me sleep GREAT it helps my allergies and it helps anxiety as well. GREAT stuff, I take two pills at night time as per his direction. Evidently it used to be available over the counter but now it's prescription. It has worked well for me

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[ocdengineer]

Alex12,

I am currently on Zyrtec and that is the best out of all of them, however it still makes me a bit groggy

I haven't tried Zyrtec, but my father recommended it to me the other day and Benedryl also causes me to get restless. I will ask the ENT about it on the 29th.

Trevellerflorida,

are you sure it's allergies?

No, I actually did a little research. You know how it goes. LOL. Anyway, I was reading about sinusitis and that is a possibility. I already have an appointment for the 29th for allergy testing and to check me out. Hopefully I will be feeling better sooner than that however.

edz1961,

My doctor recently gave me an antihistimine called Atarax

Never heard of it, but I will check it out on-line and see what it is all about and ask my doctor about it. In the meantime I am definitely using Afrin way too much, but it is the only thing that gives me any relief.

The lady at the doctor's office recommended I take some benedryl at night and alavert in the morning, but i can't take anything for 7 days prior to allergy testing, so unfortunately I may be a very unhappy person for 7 days. I am getting a humidifier tonight and stocking up on the Vicks vapor rub.

Thanks for your posts. I think the Afrin makes me kind of high, like a stimulant of some sort and it is really wreaking havoc with my anxiety. I wish there was something else I could try. I will have my wife pick me up some Flonase on the way home. Hopefully it isn't a prescription med.

Take care,
OE