Gothamist: Allergies Are So Hot Right Now. Allergies.

ABC Girl

Mon, 15 May 2006 15:42:26 -0500

I am beyond help. Currently I am taking: --Allegra 190 mg: desperately doubling the dosage sometimes just to stop sneezing --Nasacort AQ: desperately doubling the dosage sometimes just to breathe --Guiatussin (RX) an expectorant to get rid of the accumulating phlegm --Cough Syrup with codeine: all the post nasal drip affected throat, tickle led to severe honking which led to dry hacking cough. A walking phramacy, I'm barely keep my eyes open.

jaydawg

Mon, 15 May 2006 14:21:09 -0500

Allegra + Flonase = able to get through the day. I don't understand why anyone takes Claritin. Studies have shown it is effective on only 15% of the population. Does nothing for me. Allegra is a good replacement for Seldane, except I notice I'm drowsy the first two days I begin taking it, then I'm fine.

Karen

Mon, 15 May 2006 12:26:22 -0500

Astelin, for allegies, and Nasonex, for the swelling inside my sinuses seems to be working for me. Both are nasal sprays, but I have a hard time remembering to use them! You have to use them continually, even on days when the allergies are not bad...so, its hard to remember to use them. Also, just plain saline solution nasal spray, before I use these prescription sprays, helps to sort of loosen things, so I can at least get a little bit blown out. In WNY, the tree pollen has been bad, so far-maples and birches. So far, the grass doesn't bother too many people, unless its being cut. Can't wait for ragweed to pollinate...ugh. As for AC...don't you hate running it, when it isn't even 75 out? I'm not looking forward to my electric bill...NYSEG must love allergies.

nina

Mon, 15 May 2006 09:31:13 -0500

Zyrtec and Nasonex. Both work like magic.

Jenny

Sun, 14 May 2006 18:01:44 -0500

I've never had allergies before, but these year it got so bad that my boss, convinced I was sick, requested that I don't go back to work until I get better. Even on Claritin, I was pretty much incapacited for the past three weeks 5 boxes of kleenex later... I finally broke down and saw an allergist. He said "Claritin is garbage for bad cases" and put me on a battery of Nasonex, Clarinex, and Singular. I feel like I've been granted my life back. These days, I've bought an AC, which is running 24/7, I'm constantly monitoring pollen.com, taking showers 2x a day, on a cocktail of prescribed allergy meds and finally think I have a handle on this allergy stuff.

Kevin Walsh

Sun, 14 May 2006 16:24:06 -0500

I never leave home without a couple of Bounty sheets in my pocket. Great for sneezing into and blowing into. I haven't used Kleenex in years, they're way too small and not heavy duty enough. www.forgotten-ny.com

abc1

Sun, 14 May 2006 16:02:09 -0500

i'm way passed the point where claritin alone is sufficient... i'm finding it necessary to potentiate the effect with healthy doses of flonase.. hopefully the combo isn't dangerous. i've been so thankful these last two days because the rainy and cloudy weather has meant way less allergens in the air...

Toby

Sun, 14 May 2006 16:00:11 -0500

I seem to recall Seldane working for me, too. My allergies are really bad this year and the past few days my head feels like I am going to re-enact the head exploding scene from Scanners. Nothing seems to help, including eating locally produced honey and taking all sorts of allergy medicines with no improvement. Just because some stupid people didn't follow directions and die, we all suffer.

Karen

Sun, 14 May 2006 15:28:39 -0500

Try this site...http://pollen.com/Pollen.com.asp You plug in your zip code, I think, and it tells you what pollens will be high for the week. I'm still ticked about Seldane being yanked, too. That was the only thing that really worked for me, without either making me wired, or drowsy. I think it was because you weren't supposed to take it with a particular antibiotic, or you'd end up with heart damage, something like that? So...why not yank all the painkillers and sleeping meds...I bet if you took a lot of them with alcohol, you'd run a good chance, of not waking up!