I haven't really suffered from allergies since I was a kid. I'd get a lot of itchy eyes and runny nose from things like pet hair, grasses, dust.. but I got shots for a couple years and they went away.
Now I'm 33 and recently moved to Arkansas and I'm DYING! Headaches, eye aches, burning eyes. I'm thinking it's allergies. It was especially bad the morning after I went trail riding in the national forest near my place. So, since I've not had to deal with this much as an adult, what are my options? I can't even think straight with this swimmy head! I have to be pretty miserable to even take an Advil, I don't like to take a lot of medications, but I'm miserable enough to want to take something I just don't know what. I don't want to take something that will make me feel even worse! Any suggestions for something OTC? Thanks!

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Sarah

www.horsesofproudspirit.org

I have really bad allergies, and I take prescription strength Reactine (cetirizine, 20 mg). Take it at night though, because a) it makes you a little tired and b) that way, it will be already effective when you wake up. Some people like the 12 hour allergy + sinus medications that contain pseudoephedrine (a decongestant) but I don't because I can't sleep at night when I take those, plus while they do clear congestion, they do it by making my nose runny.

I'd consider getting the shots again since they lose their effectiveness. I had the shots when I was a teenager but now I find my allergies are getting worse again. I wish I had the time to get them again, because I don't know how long I'll be insured for.

For immediate relief of really bad symptoms, nothing beats Benadryl but it is really drowsy so don't take it if you have to do anything the least bit important.

claritan D really works for me. its best when i take it before bed b/c i usually wake up with a really bad headache from allergies.

I really like mucinex. I take that and ibprofen (I know I butchered that) and I am good to go...me and my mom both have really bad allergies (living down here will totally do that to you). My dad never had allergies until he moved to Oklahoma...then he developed them bad.

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Must buy nothing until after New York!

Note to self: do not move to Oklahoma or Arkensaw, no matter how much the weather in Ontario sucks.

good idea. I swear once I leave this place I will be like allergy-free...which will be nice because I am def. feeling the allergies right now (either that or I am getting really sick) cause even with 8 hours of sleep I'm really tired, and I'm always hot or cold, and I'm not ever hungry but if I don't eat I get woozy...*sigh*. But I can't get sick! Even if I do I'm going to school...throwing up or not.

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Must buy nothing until after New York!

i use claritan, the 24hr kind. if it starts wearing off come night, my doc says to take a benedryl. that seems to work for me.

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forget shopping ban, it's all about the shopping binge!