[ewizabeth]

I've been taking Claritin for years, 24x7. I developed a sinus headache three days ago.

I also take Naxonex for seasonal allergies.

I read on drugstore.com that Claritin stops working for some people. Could I be one of those? I bought some generic Zyrtec at Walmart tonight. My brother and niece have good results with it.

What are your results?

[Twinkletoes]

I've taken Allegra because it doesn't make me sleepy during the day. It does/can interfere with my sleep, though.

Wiz, is it possible you have a sinus infection? I had one of those just a few weeks ago. Weird that Claritin quit working for you after all these years.

Nasonex (or a similar Rx nasal spray) worked great, but gave me weird thoughts and semi-suicidal thoughts. Had to quit taking it.


The best thing I ever did was to get my nose reamed out (septum straightened). As a kid and young adult, my sinuses were so swollen that I couldn't even hum!


I hope you find some relief, Wiz. Here's a hanky, now BLOW!!!

[Friend2U]

I've been having good luck with 12 hour time release sudafed. I get the generic brand though. My doctor suggested it. The other stuff makes my crazy legs go crazier, but the timed released doesn't, plus it really works for my sinuses.

[Friend2U]

Also, do you ever use a sinus rinse to clear out your sinuses. That helps me.

[mrsD]

I think Claritin is useless. It is a rotten, poor antihistamine, and some people get elevated liver functions from it.

We have switched to Zyrtec in this house. If Zyrtec makes you feel "funny" try breaking them in half. 5mg twice a day still works for us with no drowsiness.

Zyrtec is related to RX Atarax, which is the most potent antihistamine there is. So I tend to prefer the Zyrtec.

That horrible sore throat I had in early March? Well, Zyrtec took the swelling down, so I could swallow. Benadryl did nothing.

My husband has switched now to Zyrtec too, and he loves it.
We take it at night, so by morning there is no drowsy weird effects and it works all day. Don't need to break them in half anymore!

Claritin did not do well in studies when it first came out. There were many that were comparable to placebo. It is an example of a drug highly promoted and manipulated by sales, to convince people that it works. I don't think it does diddly.

I used to use Allegra, but our insurance stopped paying for it.
So the Zyrtec has been the most effective for us. We have alot of spring allergies here.

[Dejibo]

I like Zrytec because it prevents those allergry chemicals or histamines from being released in the first place, instead of covering them or fighting them with anti histamines.

When starting an injectable med that many used an anit histamine for, I found claritin was a great product, and while non drowsy, it wasnt as effective as I had hoped. I switched to zrytec and it made a huge difference. I took it at night and it also helped me sleep.

I use a neti pot to rinse my sinus when I have a cold or inflammation. those salt rinses really do a nice job.

[ewizabeth]

Thanks everybody. That's what I needed to hear. I think the Claritin stopped working a few years ago. I took a Zyrtec last night and so far no headache today. I still have the Nasonex but maybe I won't need it with this?

I need to get a neti pot. I use hot salsa when my nose is really stuffed.

I can't take most decongestants because they raise my blood pressure too much.

Maybe the Zyrtec will even help with my itchy eyes that I get so often?

I'll check in and let you all know how it works after a couple of weeks of working in my garden and also after dusting the house. We're going to be doing some painting prep so there will be patching and sanding of drywall going on here. I wear a dust mask when doing the close work but it doesn't block all the dust.

[ConsiderThis]

Some years ago I thought (wrongly) that I could get rid of my vitamin B12 deficiency by taking MegaB vitamins several times a day -- with lots of liquid.

They didn't improve my serum B12 level at all, but... they did get rid of my allergies.

This year they didn't totally get rid of my allergies, but there's been SO MUCH stress that I'm not surprised. On the other hand, they kept my allergies from being particularly bad.

Just mentioning...

[FinLady]

I'm a so far so good with the nasonex.

I also use sudafed once in awhile (the kind I have to go to the pharmacy counter in my area for) because I NEED a decongestant to avoid sinus infections.

I was taking claritin, but it was only working for my fall and winter allergies.

[SandyC]

None of the RX pills work for me. Nasonex is all I can take that works. That and Ibuprofen.

Hope you continue to feel better. Antihistamines make my legs feel like jello and I can't sleep through the night. Nasonex doesn't do that. Not sure why. I will on occasion use Sudafed Sinus Headache when nothing else is working.