Spring Allergies- What is working for you? (house, living in)

[DMom]

Looking for alternatives for my extreme spring allergies...Please I have already consulted a doctor and been on many different medicines including steroids.

Just looking for what other folks out in the area are doing to fight this season.

[HokieFan]

My husband takes Claritin D(but his are relatively mild). I have a friend who has severe allergies - she takes Zyrtec.

[slduvall]

Close all windows - horrible for spring allergies. It is like spending all day outside. Sucks when it is so pretty out!

Take a shower and wash your hair every night before going to bed, in my house that means adults are taking 2 showers a day - neither of us can function in the am without a shower.

Netti pot - if you haven't done one before..this could change your nasal life!

Zrytec - lots of zrytec!

[Lena627]

I take Allegra D until I can find a doctor here. I used to go to a doctor in Fayetteville, NC to get weekly injections. The pollen is horrible down there.

Claritin D used to work for me until my body got used to it. Zyrtec never worked for me. Your friend made need to switch meds or go to a doctor like I did. Change air filters often, and if your friend has pets wash/cut often, change bed linen more than often (especially pillow cases) and never go to bed without washing face/neck ears.

For me, if I'm taking something over the counter, the "D" formulas always works best. Also have your friend try saline drops and possibly steroid drops from the doctor.

[spencgr]

Not recommending stopping the drugs, but try 2-3 tablespoons of LOCAL honey daily. the key is that it is LOCAL, so you build up immunity to the pollens that the bees are collecting around here.

[need_more_light]

I used to take the normal Claritin for a year or two but it stopped working. So I then took Claritin-D and Zyrtec-D (not at the same time) for a few years and then they both stopped working. I've been taking Allegra-D for the past 2 years and they seem to work well. I also avoid spending time outside as much as I could during the month of April.

[matsmom]

Another vote for Allegra. Although, I only take the Allegra (doesn't raise BP) not Allegra-D. It seems to work just fine for now but we'll see - it's suppose to be a rough year for allergies.

[Woof]

I've never had any relief whatsoever from natural remedies, including homoeopathic and neti pots. Nasonex works perfectly but of course is a prescription med. The secret that some people neglect in using prescribed meds is to use them consistently, every day at the same time. Some people make the mistake of using them only when they feel symptoms, but it just doesn't work that way.

[beachbag4]

I take Allegra (generic OTC from Costco) in the morning, and Singular (generic Rx) at night, both year round. Agree with WOOF above, you must be consistent, no stopping and starting. If by the beginning of March I feel like it's going to be a bad year I add in Flonase in the morning which is also generic Rx, and keep it up through August. This is what works for me personally. And rarely do we open windows at home or even in the car. Living in NOVA you get used to that.

[cdmurphy]

I take Allertec (Costco's Kirkland version of Zyrtec - it's cheap - less than $20 for a year's supply) and use a neti pot or saline rinse. I went through over 2.5 years of immunotherapy about 10 years ago but the past couple of years I've started needing the drugs again. I also use a special pillowcase cover.