I've tried taking claratin, & other random OTC drugs, but those furry buggers make my eyes watery & itchy and my nose stuffy & runny! The BF has one, so I'd like to be able to go to his place & at least be alert and not sickly-looking (& feeling!) the whole time...
2006-12-21 15:13:43 · 8 answers · asked by how empty of me 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Allergies
kill the cat
2006-12-21 15:21:01 · answer #1 · answered by glacier 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two days before you go over, start an oral antihistamine to try to prevent the allergic reaction. An hour before you go, start using a antihistamine eye drop (like OTC Naphcon A and house brand equivalents or Rx Patanol) for the allergic eye symptoms. If possible, try to stay in a room where the cats aren't allowed into. As soon as you leave his apartment, take a shower and change clothes to remove allergens from your body.
If you spend the night in his apartment, ask him to start the practice of not allowing the cats into the bedroom. Have the carpets and linens cleaned, and keep the door shut so those cats can't get in. That way when you come over and are in the bedroom, you have a place in the apartment that has less allergens. Think of it this way, if you sleep 8 hours a night... that means you spend a third of your day in the bedroom. Less allergens in the bedroom means runny nose, itchy watery eyes, etc. for you!
2006-12-21 15:23:42 · answer #2 · answered by sarahears 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm wicked allergic to cats. My symptoms are the same as yours.
Claritin works perfectly, but I give it a head start - take it about 30 mins before exposure.
If you're donig the same and still getting symptoms - I don't know what to tell you. But if you take Claritin 30 mins or an hour in advance, you should be okay.
2006-12-21 15:22:46 · answer #3 · answered by T J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
claritin (loratadine) and benedryl (diphenhydramine) are the only things available without a prescription. if you don't have high blood pressure or diabetes, you can try one of those with a combination of pseudophedrine (ie. Claritin-D or Benadryl-D) to deal with the runny nose.
you can also try an eye drop like Visine Allergy, or any eye drop labeled for allergy.
if none of those work, you'll have to ask for a prescription for something else.
also, maybe your boyfriend can make 1 room of the house cat free, and THOROUGHLY clean (vaccuum, wipe all surfaces) and get an air purifier/filter machine (you can get them at places like Home Depot).
good luck!
2006-12-21 15:21:19 · answer #4 · answered by Elaine T 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know how you feel, it sucks!
The loading up on anti-histamines works sometimes. I've had some success with Zyrtec. Also, my suggestion is bring your own pillow and blankets and put one down over the bed spread and cover up with the other and crack a window to keep some fresh air flowing.
Or tell him it's you or the cat!
2006-12-22 14:35:05 · answer #5 · answered by Daughtry-luver 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have good insurance, allergy desensitation shots will work. They take two years or more to start working, but they really help.
2006-12-22 03:37:47 · answer #6 · answered by pennypincher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am very allergic to cats myself and unfortunately i've tried all of the things listed above and nothing works :(
it really depends on how bad your allergies are.
good luck
2006-12-21 19:00:20 · answer #7 · answered by pele 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HAHA! I have the same problem. Taking Benadryl at bedtime every night will help this problem!
2006-12-21 15:22:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋