Alternative to Zyrtec???

[tink29]

My allergies have been horrible this year!! I have actually been taking a Zyrtec everyday for the last 4 months. If I miss even one dose, I get a major headache, and I also start to get a sinus infection!!

My question is, is there anything over the counter that is just as good? I will even try herbs, or vitamins!! It's getting exspensive to buy the Zyrtec.

If this helps, I've been told I'm highly allergic to dust mites. Second on the list ( but not highly allergic ) is cats, we have 2 in the home.

 

[RealMickeysGirl]

I am alergic to tree pollen, dust mites and a little to cats (and I also have 2).

I have taken Zyrtec daily for years. If I forget to take it, the next day I am sneezing. My insurance has a $50 co-pay for it to, since claritan came out over the counter.
I have tried claritan, allegra, and a couple of others that didn't work for me. You might try the over the counter version of those. Everyone is different, what works for me or you might not work for someone else.

HOpe you find relief soon??

 

[luvwinnie]

I used to take Claritin, but I find Zyrtec to be better for me.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I can get relief with the otc claritin, but even that is expensive. I even use the eckerd version of it. I never had such a bad summer. Usually my allergies end with spring. I hate that since claritin went otc every allergy med has a $50. copay with my insurance. I also pay that much for my aciphex because there are otc brands.

 

[tink29]

Thanks for the comments, and advice. I too have taken other meds. ie... allegra, claritin, benedryl, and they don't work as well as the Zyrtec. Hopefully there will be relief soon, in the changing season??!??!!!

 

[Christine]

My son has tried them all and the only thing he loves is Zyrtec. We tried to switch to Allegra because our co-pay for that is much cheaper but after 3 days he was begging for his Zyrtec.

Have you tried one of the prescription nasal sprays. They are supposed to do a good job.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Have you tried good old Benadryl? My husband has horrible allergies. Claratin and Allegra do NOTHING for him. Our insurance has a fit if you try to get Zyrtec. We are currently waiting on approval to get it for our 8 year old dd. We have been waiting for 2 months. Anyway, dh has been taking benadryl to keep his sneezing undercontrol. It seems to be working.

You might also see if you can get a rx for singulair. Its an allergy/ asthma med. The insurance companies dont seem to seem to mind paying for it because its for asthma, but its great for allergies too. But, that will require you to go back to the dr. to get an rx.

eta- just saw that you said benadryl doesnt work.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Claritin, now over the counter, works well for me. I know there are people who it doesn't work for. Maybe try a small container (very inexpensive) of it for a day or two and see how you feel.

 

[mickeyfan2]

You might also see if you can get a rx for singulair. Its an allergy/ asthma med. The insurance companies dont seem to seem to mind paying for it because its for asthma, but its great for allergies too. But, that will require you to go back to the dr. to get an rx.

I have asthma and take Singulair. All the studies that I have read say it does little good for allergies and does not recommend it for that purpose. Now it is excellent for asthma.

 

[cinmell]

I wish I could help you but the only thing that works for me is Zyrtec.

 

[disneymom3]

I actually used to take Zyrtec but stopped because it was making me have a very hard time sleeping and I had the weirdest dreams. I started by just taking Benadryl at night instead of my evening Zyrtec. Then I decided to try taking the Benadryl in the day too and it was a huge improvement. The Zyrtec was just not cutting it this year. I had used all the typical remedies in the past and they hadn't worked, including Benadryl. Don't know why it did this year, but it seemed to do the trick.

 

[Lorix2]

The only alternative if all other meds fail, is immunotherapy, which I'm headed for since my copay for Zyrtec is so high.

Zyrtec is the only one that works for me and I have severe allergies year round, which Zyrtec is supposed to be for. I'm allergic to dust, cats, mold, pollen, smoke, etc...my copay is $50. a month too which kills me to have to pay, but without it I am miserable. Allegra did nothing for me and Claritin worked for a while but soon became like Allegra for me anyway.

I also recommend a nasal spray. I use Rhinocort Aqua and it really, really gives me relief from a continuous itchy and running nose and sneezing violently.

I use Patanol eye drops and it is heaven in a tiny little bottle and by prescription only.

I can totally relate to you and everyone else on how miserable and sick you can be with allergies.

 

[golfgal]

Thanks for the comments, and advice. I too have taken other meds. ie... allegra, claritin, benedryl, and they don't work as well as the Zyrtec. Hopefully there will be relief soon, in the changing season??!??!!!

DS took Zyrtec for a year and he could have been drinking water for all it helped. Allegra works great for him. Funny how different meds work for different people.

 

[Linda/MA]

My husband is in the same boat. Zyrtec is so expensive and Claritin doesn't work. He has been taking OTC Chlor-trimetron and says that helps a lot along with the generic version of Allegra. He swears by it.

 

[shortbun]

My son has tried them all and the only thing he loves is Zyrtec. We tried to switch to Allegra because our co-pay for that is much cheaper but after 3 days he was begging for his Zyrtec.

Have you tried one of the prescription nasal sprays. They are supposed to do a good job.

My son is taking Zyrtec, using Nasonex and Patanol eye drops during the high pollen seasons. He backs off to just Zyrtec in the winter. We've tried other stuff but we came back to Zyrtec. Once when he dropped his last pill into the heat duct, I gave him a Benedryl for the night. He got a good night's sleep but really noticed the difference in allergy symptoms. Good luck. I hate that he's on 3 meds but he gets horrible sick without them.

 

[georgina]

I have asthma and take Singulair. All the studies that I have read say it does little good for allergies and does not recommend it for that purpose. Now it is excellent for asthma.

I take singulair. It does help me a lot with allergies, but lately my eyes have been itching, so I have added claritin to see if that helps the eyes. The doctor said it is fine to take them together because they work differently.

 

[horner5]

I've been on Zyrtec for about 4 years now and I have to take a pill every day. I do supplement the Zyrtec with Tylenol Cold and Sinus if I am miserable for a couple of days. For whatever reason, this Spring and Summer have wreaked havoc on my sinuses. I came down with a whopper of a sinus infection while we were at WDW in June (that totally sucked!). I know the Zyrtec is expensive, but for me, I'd rather pay than be in misery and nothing else works for me.

 

[beachbunny]

Ask if your insurance company makes a distinction between Zyrtec liquid and the pills. My copay for the pills is $50 but my copay for the liquid is $20. Also, take heart, the patent on Zyrtec expires at the end of 2007. Then they'll be able to go OTC or generic.

 

[minnieandtink]

I agree with OP we have both been on Singulair with the Claritin and the combination works. Singulair works on the seasonal rhinitis great..

 

[my3kids]

The only thing that comes close to Zyrtec for me is also one of the cheapest! Try the generic for Chlortrimeton. The bosed at the drug store are generally green and yellow. Zyrtec is great. In periods where things aren't as bad I can use the generic Claritin. Allegra is now available in generic so a lot cheaper prescription copay. But as far at OTC products Chlortimetion works much better than Benedryl for me.