allegra

[flickfire]

My allergist put me on Allegra (180mg) for allergies (I have many). After about 6 months of taking it and feeling fine, I started developing chest tightness, I have since stopped taking it. I now just use Albuterol (for asthma, throat tightness), and Claritin (10 mg) for the same thing.

I also notice if I take the Claritin for more than a couple times a week, I get the chest tightness too, though it's not as bad as it was with the Allegra. My allergist told me that sometimes people just develop sensitivities to medicines, and sometimes if you stop taking them for a while and resume, that you can tolerate them again.

I haven't taken the Allegra in about a year, and it really does help with the throat tightness along with the Albuterol and Claritin. I was just wondering since I haven't taken the Allegra in a while, if it's safe to start it up again. It's especially effective for my hayfever, which I get from March through about late May or early June.

I know this a question I should probably ask my Allergist about, I was just wondering if the folks on this board might have some suggestions for me. I was also wondering if some of the preservatives and dyes they use in medicines could cause my chest tightness too. I'm allergic to sulfates as well.


Thanks!

[Titchou]

Why aren't you on a preventive inhaler for the asthma? That seems strange...I would think that's the problem....

[flickfire]

He put me on Advair, Maxair and Singulair and I didn't like the way any of those medicines made me feel( lightheadedness, dizzyness, trouble breathing, esp. with the Advair) so I've just been sticking it out with the Albuterol and Claritin. The tightness in my throat comes from so many things( like nuts, fish, molds)
is much more of a problem for me that the asthma itself.

I also work as a nurse taking care of a Parkinson's patient, who's family is Indian. And from time to time they cook spicy food,when I'm not there, which bothers me too, because the smell tends to say in the air (throat tightness is my main symptom), and I've had go to the Emergency room and use my epi-pen 2 times this year because of my allergy to their cooking food, and also because his wife had vials of almond oil in a dresser (in the same room where I bathe her husband) and I had a bad reaction to the vapors rising it the air from it.They've gotten rid of them, and cleaned all the dresser drawers out, so that's helped.

They are very nice people, and I really don't want to leave the client, so I often have to remind them when there is a "smell" in their house, and they'll open up the windows and use air freshners to get rid of it.

It 's a lot to deal with I know. I'll see my allergist in a couple of months, so I'll ask him about restarting the allegra then.