# Seasonal allergy sufferers - help! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 27, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasonal-allergy-sufferers-help/639051 "2012-10-27T15:35:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasonal-allergy-sufferers-help/639051/21 "2012-10-31T20:33:49Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Meanwhile, you could try a neti pot (saline nasal rinse) to see what that does for your symptoms. Many of my allergy patients found this device to be helpful, and the scientific literature supports it as safe and effective for most people. I’ve been using one every day for a couple years now, and while I do have some times of elevated symptoms, I rarely have any symptoms at all. So it seems to keep the mild stuff at bay and brings the severe down to mild. What it works best for is my ears. If I don’t use it just in one day my ears will start “fluttering” from whatever is sloshing around in there. It also keeps me from having that crazy “one nostril plugged” at night symptom. Not saying it’ll cure bad allergies but it does seem to be a harmless helper. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasonal-allergy-sufferers-help/639051/22 "2012-10-31T21:08:23Z")
I was miserable-- MISERABLE-- this morning… so far Claritin-D works well for me, but Zyrtec-D seemingly not at all. The -D may not be suitable for all allergy sufferers, though! ---
**Author:** ![zhoen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c4cdca/32.png) [@zhoen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zhoen)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasonal-allergy-sufferers-help/639051/23 "2012-11-01T02:26:03Z")
What they all said, re:allergist and identifying the source. Neti pot has helped me keep my sinuses clear so I don’t get infections along with allergies. And a bit of eucalyptus in every laundry load to kill dust mites. Cheapest I’ve found is from NOW Essential Oils, but the laundry detergent we got last has some in it already. Good filters on HVAC, frequent damp dusting. ---
**Author:** ![Pither](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@Pither](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pither)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasonal-allergy-sufferers-help/639051/24 "2012-11-01T21:02:19Z")
I went to an allergist a year ago for testing and found out I was off-the-charts reactive to every grass species they tested for, plus mildly reactive to the typical dog, cat, mold, etc. I started taking shots twice a week, then tapered down to every other week and now go once a month. It always sounded like a pain in the ass when people described this treatment regime to me in the past, but I got used to the routine quickly (especially compared to the days I would spend as a zombie hopped up on every antihistamine already mentioned). I can honestly say that I’ve been allergy free since I started treatment a year ago. The day I new it was working was after mowing the lawn not too long after starting treatment and noticed just a bit of post-nasal drip. If I’d have appreciated how effective this was going to be I would have done it years ago. There have been a number of camping trips that I had to enjoy from an antihistamine induced coma that would have been much more enjoyable… I do have to say that before treatment, my doctor said that people who are strongly reactive to one group of allergies and start treatment at the end of that alergy season tended to be much more responsive to treatment. I’m very glad I fell into that category of patients. ---
**Author:** ![Pither](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@Pither](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pither)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasonal-allergy-sufferers-help/639051/25 "2012-11-01T21:26:48Z")
In response to the original question, I eventually stumbled onto Zyrtec and was very happy with it, although there were a few times that I would have to take a second and occasionally a third before I started getting some relief. Then they would all catch up and kick in and I would be back into the zombie-zone. Proactively going in for the ocasional quick shot that prevents those alergies and all of the accompanying headache is _much_ better than reacting to the inevitable onslaught… ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasonal-allergy-sufferers-help/639051/26 "2012-11-01T21:39:23Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I’ve been using one every day for a couple years now, and while I do have some times of elevated symptoms, I rarely have any symptoms at all. So it seems to keep the mild stuff at bay and brings the severe down to mild. > > What it works best for is my ears. If I don’t use it just in one day my ears will start “fluttering” from whatever is sloshing around in there. It also keeps me from having that crazy “one nostril plugged” at night symptom. > > Not saying it’ll cure bad allergies but it does seem to be a harmless helper. I’ve also had good results with a saline nasal rinse (I use the squeezy bottle type rather than the neti pot). I very seldom need anything else, instead of having to use OTC medicines nearly daily for weeks on end. It’s worth a try in my opinion, before shelling out to go to a specialist. Give it a week or so and see if it helps. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasonal-allergy-sufferers-help/639051/27 "2012-11-02T13:49:11Z")
I’ve had great luck with Zyrtec, and it’s available in cheaper store-brand form. ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasonal-allergy-sufferers-help/639051/28 "2012-11-02T22:36:35Z")
Okay, here’s the update: Went to an allergist this morning. She offered lots of suggestions. We settled on prescriptions for generic Singulair (montelukast) and generic Xyzal (levocetirizine). Took them both by 11 am today. Feeling much much better! Wow! I feel human enough to even attempt going out to First Friday tonigh. And I will get to sleep in my own bed instead of propped on the couch. Thank you those that just encouraged this route. It was more work than just picking up something at the store, but very worth it. Hopefully this will be it for the allergies this year. Very happy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasonal-allergy-sufferers-help/639051.md?page=1)