I'm dying of allergies! I've never really had them before. I don't know what medicine is the best?

Question

I have a stuffed up head and runny nose and sneezing and headache and just all around miserable! I want them gone!

Answer 1

Claritin is my choice

Answer 2

When I had allergies like that, my doctor prescribed Claritin (loratadine), and it worked *wonderfully*. It's OTC now, and you can get your drugstore's generic brand for fairly cheap. Taking that daily should deal with the allergies, but the symptoms won't go away immediately. Take an oral decongestant like psuedoephedrine HCl (Sudafed), and take something for the pain at first (you can get them in combination as well - look for Tylenol Cold & Sinus or a generic brand that says "compare to"). I actually prefer nasal spray decongestants like Afrin (oxymetazoline HCl), but they don't do anything for the pain and can burn a little at first. There are also other OTC antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine HCl), but they make a lot of people very drowsy (knock me right out).

Answer 3

For the general antihistimine to stop allergens from affecting you, take claritin (get the generic Loratadine) everyday.

For the symptoms (stuffiness) take nasal decongestants/sinus medicine. I recommend buying some ephedrine hcl online because it works best, but pseudoephedrine works good as well (you can only get it OTC from the pharmacist though). Don't buy the stuff off the shelf cause it doesn't work (phenylephrine).

Answer 4

First, What I would do is take some benadryl. It will probably knock you out, but when you wake up you will feel better and after taking it for a while it won't make you drowsey.

After you wake up go make a Dr. appointment (dosen't matter what type of Dr. just as long as they can write you a perscription) Tell them what is going on and they will proabably write you a perscription for an antihistamine/decongestant (e.g. Zyrtek) after they write you a perscription be sure to ask them what to do when it stoppes working (your body adjusts to it after a while and then it's like you never even took the pill). Everything should be alright after you take that first one.

What you could do while waiting is take a really hot bath to bring your body temp. up it will clear out your nasal passages (bring some tissues with you and besure to keep your hands dry so you can use them if your nose starts to run). DO NOT open windows to cool the house off. This brings in everything from the outside inside, that you are probably allergic to, even if you have indoor allergies it disturbs the allergins and pushes them into the air. Then be sure and drink a lot of water and load your body up with antioxidants (take airborne, its only like 6 dollars for 10 tablets, and it helps with colds and allergies. Also, green tea is a good one). Then another thing if you run outside a lot or you are outside in general. Take a shower once you get inside to wash all the pollen ect. off of you, so you're not sleeping with it. Do not dry your clothes outside. Finally, get an airfilter (like the ionic breeze) for your home it will trap a lot of things that float in the air and clean you house if you have time (vaccume everything you can and then dust with things that are not going to push the dust into the air(that will only make things worse). Besure to keep up with your allergy medication, it will keep you from even having an attack (as opposed to taking it as needed). Another problem that I had with nasal sprays is when i was congested I couldn't use them becuase it would just run back out my nose.

Answer 5

Try Beconase...I suffer from allergies all year round, I began using this nasal spray 3 months ago, and it works a treat! I don't even need to use eye drops or tablets any more.
Just make sure your doctor Ok's that you can use it long term.


How does it work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient beclometasone dipropionate (previously spelt beclomethasone in the UK), which is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid (or steroid). Corticosteroids are hormones that are produced naturally by the adrenal glands and have many important functions, including control of inflammatory responses.

Beclometasone is a synthetic corticosteroid and is used as a nasal spray to decrease inflammation in the nasal passages.

People who suffer from nasal allergies (allergic rhinitis) such as hayfever tend to experience a variety of symptoms as a result of their allergy, including a runny, itchy or blocked nose, sneezing and sinus discomfort. These symptoms are a result of inflammation in the nasal passages.

The nasal inflammation occurs when the nasal passages are exposed to foreign particles (allergens), for example, pollen, dust mites or pet fur. The allergens cause the cells in the nose to release chemicals that help to produce immune and allergic responses. These result in inflammation in the nasal passages and the symptoms of the allergy.

When administered into the nose, beclometasone is absorbed into the cells of the nasal passages. Here it works by preventing the cells from releasing the chemicals that trigger the allergic response. This stops the allergic reaction from happening so the nasal inflammation is reduced and the symptoms relieved.

The nasal spray will not relieve the symptoms of nasal allergies immediately, and can take two to three days to have its full effect. It is therefore most effective to start using the nasal spray two to three days before you expect to get symptoms, for example before the start of the pollen season, or if you know you are going to be in contact with pets that give you the allergy. For maximum benefit the spray should be used regularly to keep the nasal inflammation under control.

Beclometasone nasal spray can be bought over-the-counter from pharmacies (eg Beconase hayfever) for the prevention and treatment of all nasal allergies (allergic rhinitis), including hayfever and pet allergies, in adults aged over 18 years. It can also be bought from general retail outlets such as supermarkets, but these more widely available products (eg Beconase hayfever relief for adults) are only licensed specifically for the treatment of hayfever (seasonal allergic rhinitis).

Beclometasone nasal spray can also be prescribed by your doctor. See the Beclometasone nasal spray (prescription-only) factsheet for further information.

What is it used for?

* Relief from symptoms of hayfever (seasonal allergic rhinitis)

* Treatment and prevention of allergic rhinitis (this use only applies to nasal sprays bought over-the-counter from pharmacies)

Answer 6

piriton works