allergy medications?

[ehygon]

I've been taking reactine [or ZYRTEC. a.m.] for a while, because i'm allergic to dogs, and live with 2 golden retrievers.

For the last 3 or 4 days, it hasn't been working so well. I have facial itch, like, painkiller style. So I'm wondering, has it pooped out on me, like an antidepressant?

It's driving me crazier.

[Loon-A-TiK]

Usually when something like that happens to me, it is because a new allergen was introduced into my living environment, like changing laundry detergent or something. I've had HORRIBLE allergic reactions to deo, face cream, latex, being pregnant, you name it!

Try to figure out what is new and remove it.

My theory, and some pdocs agree, is that it isn't our meds pooping out. It is that our disorders break through the meds and we actually need dose increases or more meds to add-on to what we already have.

For one, I'm already a human test subject, never mind the allergy meds~!

[null0trooper]

I've been taking reactine for a while, because i'm allergic to dogs, and live with 2 golden retrievers.

For the last 3 or 4 days, it hasn't been working so well. I have facial itch, like, painkiller style. So I'm wondering, has it pooped out on me, like an antidepressant?

It's driving me crazier.

I'm not familiar with Reactine, but there seems to be a tolerance curve for pseudoephedrine. At least

for me it lost effectiveness if I had to take it too often. My response to diphenhydramine changed

over time too, but nowhere near as quickly.

[AirMarshall]

Personally I think the answer is NO.

My first allergist did tell me that they do, and that it was important for me to try a lot of the anhithistamines so that I would know which ones work for me. Now this fellow was ooold school. Had been in practice 40 years, for good/bad. He was a paediatrician/allergist.

I asked my second allergist about this and he just rolled his eyes at me. He is an internist/family practitioner/allergist. A lot more credentials and a lot more recent.

I agree with the comment above. If your allergies are worse its generally because you are being exposed to more allergens. I don't know what you are allergic to, but Its early summer and though tree pollen has dropped off, the molds have picked up, also many cities are having air quality degraded which tho not an allergy is an irritant. Are your dogs going outside and bringing the world back in on their coats?

Is the house dusty? carpet need vacuuming? Bedclothes been washed in hot water recently? Are you sleeping on old feather or foam pillows(dust mites)? Showering (including washing hair) and changing clothes in the evening to get rid of outside allergens helps.

Its is a never ending cycle. achh.

I supplement with benadryl, and sudafed prn (but ask your pdoc). Plain saline nasal spray helps by literally rinsing allergens out.

Good luck, achhoo.

a.m.

[wifezilla]

It may be that you have developed a new allergy to something else in your enviroment.

FYI... just found this....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11506004/

[tallulah]

hmm.

i have always questioned my GP/allergist(s) with this. i have taken (what feels like ) every drug/nasal spray on the market for my allergies and nothing seems to work. in fact, my allergies have been SO bad this year, that i dont get ANY benefit from one pill anymore - i have to take 2 or 3 with sometimes no relief at all.

ive suffered from allergies for as long as i can remember, and ive switched from one to the next, to the next, etc. this is after taking them religiously AND as my doc's have recommended.

although, i do know many people with terrible allergies that have used the same medication for years with no poop out effects.

hrm.

tal

[ehygon]

nullotrooper; It is available with pseudoephedrine, but I take the type without; good try though

wifezilla; very interesting. I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if that was relevent to me somehow. I am the posterchild for depressive/anxious/"neurotic" I'm also unmedicated and out of my mind since 10 days before the original post too.

airmarshall; you bring up a variety of good points. I am only aware of the dogs being a problem, because it's fairly obvious when it happens. I usually break out in hives, turn red, and get very (b)itchy when they touch me. I try to stay vigilent against this, by keeping them away from my stuff and out of my room, but they still manage to get to me.

nasal spray sounds like a particularly good idea, because thats also a problem. I liken it to snorting lines of dryer lint

I think I'll end up getting an allergy test done, to take stock of all the things in the world which have made a point of being difficult to deal with. Not that I'm bitter, hahaha.

thanks for the replies everyone.