Found this thread and I am really hoping someone can help me with this:

Claritine doesnt seem to be working for me this year (I have no idea why!), like it did last year.

I am feeling like a Narcoleptic with a bunged up nose. Going into sneezing fits every now and then, is extremely tiring and I dont think its socially acceptable to go out with a tube of Vicks inhaler stuck up my nostril all the time. In short, I am feeling really miserable and cannot imagine living through the rest of Spring and summer like this.

Does anyone have a good over-the-counter relief recommendation besides claritine, that wont knock you out? I prefer to try the over-the-counter stuff first before resorting to doctors. Thanks in advance.

Sniffles.

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Remember when someone annoys you, it takes 42 muscles to frown, BUT it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and b****-slap the mother-f***er upside the head.

I always suffer this time of year, probably because of the Birch pollen. I tried Cetallerg, but all it did was bung me up completely (didn't feel particularly drowsy though). What's worse is my sore, itchy eyes. Spersallerg drops bring short-term relief, but I'm an ardent eye-rubber, so my my eyelids are sore and swollen. If anyone knows any good OTC topical cream for sore eyes, I would be most grateful.

How do I get my officemate, who has nasty allergies and sneezes like a howitzer, to start taking something? I'm tired of the snot blowing every two minutes and having a heart attack every time he sneezes. You might think this is 'insensitive' but I'm not talking about moving him I'm talking about getting him to take something that a) makes his life better and b) makes being able to work around him better. He's clearly suffering but every time I've brought up going to see someone all I get is this East German muttering and 'No No No No No....they make you drowsy!' Well, I can't believe they all do that. In fact, I'm pretty sure they don't. This is the same guy who will come in sick because he seems to think he needs a note from his doctor to not show up at work.

I live here for 8 months and then go back to the states for 3 every year. My allergies therefore kill me because my body never really adjusts due to me being a gypsy.

BUT....I used to take claritine and it didn't really work, I've found zyrtec to be much more effective, although a little more expensive and you can get it from the apotheke. I also don't seem to get drowsy from it as i do take it in the morning.


As for will it get better, I don't have good news for you. I was told that the pollen count is very high this year and our very early spring has made it worse. But if it makes you feel better i'm about to go back to wisconsin and spring hasn't started there yet so I should get to experience this ALL over again! Misery loves company

Anyone know if wearing a maks would help much? Will be out in the garden at the weekend.

Not really suffered for a few years, but the last few weeks have been bad. Start with a nasal spray which helped, my eyes were itchy but ok, but last night and this morning my eyes have gotten worse.

I went to the chemist this morning and have a 'zyrtec' equivilent (at a lower price 7.65chf for 10 tablets). Contains: Cetirizini dihydrochloridum (10mg). Seems to be helping. Shame we won't get anymore rain for a while.

I got told that eaing the local honey will desensitise you. It won't help you now, but next year should see an improvement. Just like to add that I haven't tried this myself, so it may all be hogwash.

If you are getting hayfever at this time of the year it is probably tree pollen that is causing the allergy.
Honey ain't gonna help, leaves might I suppose. Less tasty though.

I'm in the UK and just bought 60 x "Loratadine" from Sainsburys for £4. Works well for my hayfever.

http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/web/e...nprognose.html

Looks like this will remain bad for at least the next few days.

My husband had a bad reaction to the pollen this year. For as long as I've known him he's never had a reaction as bad as this year. His whole face and much of his body blistered up. He had to stay indoors for a few days and it's taken a couple of weeks for the worst of it to go but the ones on his hands and arms have come up again in the last couple of days. Thankfully he doesn't get the eye and nose irritation. He's just itchy and hot. He's popping Zyrtec as that seems to work best but he's still uncomfortable.

Are you taking personal orders?

This year is the worse I've ever been and I'm finding nothing is working. I'm taking double the amount of Zyrtec or Claratine tablets as well as nasal spray and eye drops and still suffering. It is costing me an absolute fortune with 1 pack only lasting a week.

yep its a killer for me this year too, the el-cheapo tablets we bought from the uk (£1 per pack from tesco) are not working at all this year, just had to buy some cet eco's, before I read this thread, doh! they seemed to have done the job, now just waiting to fall asle

I have suffered for years and when things get really bad my doctor will give me a one-off cortisone injection. After a few days, I have relief and it usually lasts the season.

For those of you who are looking for a remedy that does not render you comatose, I was prescribed a fantastic one by a doctor in France, after I was bitten by a mossie on my eyelid and it ballooned. The pills contained bromelain, an enzyme that is found in pineapples, and my doctor advised me that they were also a natural antihistamine and are effective in the relief of hay fever. He actually offered me a choice of traditional pills or this natural remedy, and I chose the latter.

The pills were very effective and reduced the swelling quickly. However, I am sorry but I cannot remember the brand name ... but I am sure that a Pharmacist would be able to advise.

I have very bad allergies and have had for a long time now, I found that taking the antihistamine at night instead of in the morning has really helped. I am also sleeping very soundly due to the side effect, but I am not drowsy during the day any more. Maybe something for others amongst you to try

I'm a big fan of "old" OTC stuff but my allergies are so bad this year, I am having asthmatic response instead of simple allergies and my usual meds were not helping.

Doc prescribed Zyrtec (and a Seretide inhaler) but it's left me still stuffy even though it has reduced the itch and sniffle quite a bit.

Meanwhile, I used to get Sudafed and Chlor-Trymeton back in the US, these are available here, kinda, in something called Rhinopront N or something like that (I took the empty box from US with me and said "I want something like this") as well as Aleve Allergy. Paying < $5 in the US for 48 tablets hurt far less than paying something like 18chf for a mere 12 though.

Hopefully since the doc prescribed the Zyrtec my insurance will pick it up, I'm not keen on the cost otherwise, esp if it's not helping like I'd like.

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The Joys of Opticianry

When i moved here last year I suffered really badly with allergies and headaches for almost 2 weeks non-stop and went to a pharmacy in Germany on a trip there to try to get something. They recommended a natural supplement called Black Cumin seed capsules ( schwarz kummel kapseln in German). They told me that it wouldn't work immediately but would def offer relief. After a week of taking my allergies went away almost completely. I started taking them 3 weeks ago again and it has def helped take the edge off. Definitely would recommend it if you are tired of taking anti-histamines. try and look for purely Black cumin seed and not one that is mixed with vitamin e. They work better.

The hay-fever-related asthma also got me a couple of years ago. At which point I threw in the towel and went to the doc's, who prescribed Seretide plus steroids, eye drops, nasal inhaler, the lot.
In the Autumn, he referred me to an allergy specialist to determine the problem pollen, which turned out to be most trees and grass. She recommended the de-sensitisation therapy, which are sequential injections of birch and grass pollen, during the winter. The following year gave a big improvement. This year has been OK, but the first trees to dump their pollen were Hasel and Ash (which I am not being injected with), and thus I had symptoms. Now those trees have calmed down and the Birch trees are busy - the yellow pollen is visible everywhere and I am really 90% symptom-free!
Costs are around 600 to 800 CHF per year, which is conveniently below my franchise.

My doctor prescribed me Nasonex and for the first time since I was a child I am now able to enjoy the summertime! Amazing stuff!

yeah I'll pick you up a box. PM me your address.