Claritin/Allegra/Zyertec ?

[AnnaS]

For those that take Claritin, etc. for allergies - how long do you take them for? Probably a stupid question - every year - I think I am getting sick/nasty sinus headache and forget it's allergies. I start taking them and feel better but how long do I keep taking them for.

TIA.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

For those that take Claritin, etc. for allergies - how long do you take them for? Probably a stupid question - every year - I think I am getting sick/nasty sinus headache and forget it's allergies. I start taking them and feel better but how long do I keep taking them for.

TIA.

My 15yodd takes them everyday, yr round. I take them when necessary because they dry me out.

Go to pollen.com and figure out your counts and keep a watch on it. Try and see what is bugging you the most.

 

[shortbun]

In our house, it seems it will be forever.

 

[AnnaS]

My 15yodd takes them everyday, yr round. I take them when necessary because they dry me out.

Go to pollen.com and figure out your counts and keep a watch on it. Try and see what is bugging you the most.

I had forgotten about the website. Sometimes the weather news cast mentions the pollen/trees/grass count, etc. I should have looked last Monday since I was really bad and not only can I see from outside (all the stuff flying off the trees is like snow right now) that it's going to be bad for a while but the website just proved it too - we are high 10.8 and it looks like it will be like that for a while. I will keep taking Allegra - don't want to feel that crap again (headache, nausea, stuffy nose, runny nose, eyes - forget it).

Thank you.

 

[PeterPan09]

I take a Zyrtec every day.

 

[136368]

If you don't care about the sedation, you could crack out the big guns. Phenergen is a top notch antihistamine with marked hypnotic qualities.

 

[BrerMama]

I take Zyrtec when it's prime allergy season -- spring when things are blooming, fall when things are dying. The rest of the year I take Claritin.

I have to say that Flonase has changed my life. My dr prescribed it last fall when I went in with an allergy induced sinus infection. 2 squirts a day in each nostril and my health has improved noticeably. I teach pre-K and tend to get really sick with a cough/cold at least twice a year. Since I've been using Flonase, I have not. Right now we're at the beginning of the allergy season that would usually knock me out, but with the Flonase I'm barely noticing it. I think it's a miracle drug.

 

[goofy4tink]

My 18 y/o dd takes a Claritin D every day once the the spring starts to arrive. Too bad they're so expensive..costs a fortune every month, but they do work. As soon as we see buds on the trees, she starts. Then, she continues daily until the frost hits in the fall...it's the only thing that works for her.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I take allegra, more or less, every morning. When my allergies are really really acting up, I'll take a benadryl at night.

 

[MrsDuck]

I take them what seems to be the wrong way: when I start to feel icky.

I'm actually going to the allergist today and I'm assuming he's going to tell me to take something daily!

 

[asta]

Right now I am taking Zyrtec year round. Before that it was Claritan. I also use Flonase and Astelin nasal sprays frequently but not everyday. I have dust mite alergies that are not seasonal and a skin condition where my body goes into overdrive and produces too much histamine. I have to have these drugs daily to control the itching.

If you are wondering if it is safe, I have taken these things daily for 25 years so I wouldn't worry about long term use.

 

[disfan07]

I take 2 zyrtec and 1 allegra everyday year round. I also use patanase nasal spray and patanol eye drops 2x day. I have severe year round allergies and I actually just started allergy shots 2 weeks ago because even with all those meds I am still miserable.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

My 12yo son and I take Allegra..almost daily--we have used all of them, and this is the only one that doesn't make us super sleepy or drugged up feeling..(even when they say Non-Drowsy)...also, I do saline nasal spray every day--I think that has made a tremendous difference...we both tend to get headaches quite a lot--allegra does reduce the intensity of them. I haven't gotten a sinus infection really bad like in the past if I keep up with it like this..for me, anytime between the end of March and the end of May, then, Oct- Thanksgiving are killer!!!!! This last year has been much better!!!
Also, I take Mucinex if I feel a HINT of drainage!!!
And if I do start to feel a sinus infection starting, I take Echinacea....this has really worked for me!!

 

[debknight]

I take 2 zyrtec and 1 allegra everyday year round. I also use patanase nasal spray and patanol eye drops 2x day. I have severe year round allergies and I actually just started allergy shots 2 weeks ago because even with all those meds I am still miserable.

You take three allergy pills everyday? I thought you were only allowed to take one of these per day?

 

[disney1990]

My 18 y/o dd takes a Claritin D every day once the the spring starts to arrive. Too bad they're so expensive..costs a fortune every month, but they do work. As soon as we see buds on the trees, she starts. Then, she continues daily until the frost hits in the fall...it's the only thing that works for her.

You do know they make a generic of this, right?

 

[Pixiedust34]

My doctor recommends switching brands every once in a while. She said that after long term use one brand may not work as well as it used to. Once I finish a BJ's sized bottle of one allergy med, I'll buy a different brand the next time.

 

[charming23]

I take a generic Zyrtec, every other day all year round. It seems to work best for me and does not dry me out. I will pop a benedryl on the "off" days if I feel I really need it.

 

[*JoGo*]

My son takes Loratadine (generic claratin) and two sprays of Flonasein each nostril daily, year round.

My other son and I take Loratadine as needed. When he starts getting drainage I make him start taking them.

 

[disfan07]

You take three allergy pills everyday? I thought you were only allowed to take one of these per day?

Its off label use. I actually wrote that wrong. I take 2 zyrtec everyday all year + the patanase nasal spray 2-3 times per day and patanol eye drops 2x day. In addition, I do take allegra in the afternoon during the worst times for me which is probably about 6-8 months out of the year. I am also on symbicort 2times per day and xoponex as needed for asthma plus methotrexate for eczema.

My allergies are so bad that those antihistamines are the only thing that keeps me functional. My allergist adn I were curious how well it was working since I was still having symptoms and we did allergy tetsing while on the medications and it still showed mild to moderate allergies to all of the allergens we know I am allergic to. My IgE is currently over 2000....highest its ever been is over 5000.....I have an extremely over reactive and allergic immune system.

 

[Schmeck]

Generic loratadine user here! When the pollen counts get really high, I have to take two tablets a day, 12 hours apart. Otherwise, the effects wear off and my eczema flares up. I just started up for the Spring a few days ago. May have to double up on the pills next week, as things are popping like crazy around here! We are having a very early Spring, and I wasn't prepared.
Itch, itch, itch, scratch, scratch, scratch, ow!