Good kids' allergy med?

aswin · #1 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 09:40 AM

Owen's been doing this...coughing thing. It's loud and obnoxious, but I don't think he can help it. Hubby & I think it's allergies or nasal drip, something running down the back of his throat. I've been thinking we should try to give him an allergy med and see if it helps. Any recommendations?

sungy · #2 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 09:50 AM

Have you tried a sinus wash? Helps to flush and break up to break up the mucous in the sinuses and will help prevent it causing post nasal drip.

Regarding medication, we use Zyrtec. I use it year round b/c my allergies are that bad and it's in conjunction with allergy shots and Singulair. My kids only take Zyrtec during allergy season which is spring - fall for us.

Some kids get very energetic with it though and can't sleep. So, you may have to give it to him in the morning.

aswin · #3 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 09:54 AM

I'm not sure how well he'd take to a sinus wash

May be worth a shot, though. I was thinking Zyrtec...do they make generics for that now (store brands, I mean)?

sungy · #4 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 10:45 AM

I hear ya. It's a very odd sensation. My 7 yr. old does it. She has no issues with it but my 10 yr. old -- no way.

At minimum, maybe you can use marine/ocean spray to loosen up the mucous so he can blow his little nose more effectively.

Yes, they have generic/store brand Zyrtec now. I get mine from Costco. I've seen the Target one too.

aswin · #5 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 10:54 AM

Cool, maybe I'll have him try it out and see if it works, and buy from Costco or BJ's if it does.

disscogrl · #6 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 11:41 AM

What you're describing sounds just like my older son and it's maddening because I know he can't help it (but that doesn't make it any less annoying).

In any event, both of my children are on Zyrtec: my 9yo takes it in pill form, daily, and my 6yo takes it in liquid form. Interestingly, my younger son's medication is an rx (*shrugs* it's cheaper lol). My husband is also on a daily dose of Zyrtec. My 9yo also got rx'd some sinus spray at his last check up, to help with the inflammation in his nasal passage. I think it's a generic form of Flonase and I think it helps him.

aswin · #7 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 11:47 AM

Christine, does it seem to help him? He'll break out with it in the middle of a store, and it kinda embarrasses me

It just sounds so horrible.

disscogrl · #8 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 11:56 AM

It does! We can totally tell the difference when we've forgotten a dose or two.

I don't have allergies but my husband does and he was adamant that both kids had at least seasonal and environmental allergies which is probably another lovely trait they got from my scummy ex! lol

aswin · #9 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 12:12 PM

Yeah, I have them a bit myself, my husband more than I do.

disscogrl · #10 (**permalink**) 08-02-2010, 12:29 PM

Fortunately my current husband was able to see the same symptoms in them that he suffers from. I feel so badly for all of them when pollen is going crazy.