Hi,

Have had allergic rhinitis for decades. Now that I've become so Rx shy, haven't taken anything for it so since 2009 (pre-PN) although this season is the worst in memory. One day the sneezes reached 10 consecutive. Exhausting. Unfortunately, allergic to most of what grows outside.

Have taken various Rx meds for it, but one by one the allergy would break through them until I just gave up.

So - anybody know of something that's not going to be harmful to either the autoimmune disease (Sjogren's) or the PN?

Thank you!

Sheltiemom

Yes, I can sympathize completely...

One night I woke up sneezing...came down here to check the boards, and sneezed for 2 hours... must have been 20 of them!

Even the cats are sneezing!

I got hubby Allegra, for his daily use and he likes it alot. I used to use it but thought it was fairly weak.

He uses Chlorpheniramine at night and Allegra during the day.
I use Zyrtec at night and nothing during the day. (normally he uses the chlorpheniramine at night only during the year).I will sometimes take grapeseed extract for one week bursts to calm some allergy responses down.

Both WalMart and Walgreen's have a generic version of Allegra now, for much less $$ expended.

I think Claritin is useless. It matched placebo in studies..yet still has a market share! It can also raise liver enzymes, which it did for me. I'd avoid it.

Thanks, MrsD - especially the tip about Claritin. Maybe if I go back to Zyrtec, it might start working again.

Don't know about you, but it's like having a cold 24/7, day in and day out. I've been going through Kleenex like crazy.

Sheltiemom

I don't get much drainage with this season...I had allergy shots when I was first out of college for trees grasses and mold, and away from home. This rather helped I think for now. But I get stinging eyes alot, and sneezing still.

Hubby is always blowing his nose, though.

The first generation antihistamines are the most potent I think.
Benadryl and chlorpheniramine, but they are also drying and would bother Sjogren's patients.

Allegra and Zyrtec less so.

Another option is NasalCrom, a spray which inhibits mast cells from releasing histamine. It is gentle and works, if you don't mind spraying. (which I tend to dislike). NasalCrom is OTC now and not a steroid.

I found Flonase (Rx) and NasalCrom (no Rx) very helpful--you spray them up your nose. But my hay fever type allergies mostly went away in my late 30's. I always wondered if the Flonase cured me, but no basis for that really.
Electron

I suffered terribly for years and then it was discovered I had Nasal Polyps which were removed and I have been fine since-I had also lost my sense of smell but it returned. I used a nasal spray called Nasonex( don't know what it's US name is) and it was great. Hope you both feel better soon. In Scotland we have no chance of hayfever this year, it seems to have been cold and rainng for weeks, I have only worn my sandals twice this year

We both resorted to masks outside this year. Both of us went thru a bad spell in the Spring. That was when I bought the masks and we use them until Summer came. My husband still uses his when he is mowing and weed-eating. They really helped a lot.