I agree with Whistle..call the doctor.

Don't do it. I just got off of it after years of being on it. I had a severe side effect I had no idea was caused by the Zyrtec till I ran out and did not take it for a few days and my problem went away. However I decided to Google Zyrtec reviews to see if others were having problems and Omg pages and pages of complaints. I am surprised it has not been pulled.

Be very cautious. Do not do anything with out consulting your Dr.

There are dose limitations for medications for a reason, so I wouldn't double up. Sometimes medications don't work because our bodies become resistant to their formula, (kind of like antibiotics) so you may want to try something different for a while. I like to alternate between Sudifed 12 hour capsules and if you can take Ibuprofen, Advil Cold and Sinus. Advil really helps with the headaches and sinus pressure I get from allergies; the Sudifed as well. Both are kept behind the counter of the Pharmacy and you have to buy it at their counter.

Not a good idea at all!!!! Turn on the AC and stay inside as much as possible. Wear a dust mask if you must be outside for any length of time. You're right - it's a very bad week where I live for allergies, too.

A trick I have learned is to also take an Aleve when taking the Zyrtec or other allergy meds. It is a non-steroid ANTI-IMFLAMATORY and it's inflammation that is the enemy of allergy sufferers. You will be amazed at how much it helps.

Ask a pharmacist.

Try Claritin for a change.

Didn't you have a kidney transplant? I'd be overly cautious with that.

I may have an allergy to dairy. I tried to get tested for it several years ago and got the run around. I was diagnosed as allergic at birth and then when you go to see a doctor, it's "No, you are not allergic. You are lactose intolerant." I've cut back on dairy this year and my seasonal allergies have not bothered me nearly as much. You might see if you can cut out some of your other allergens.

I double-up on Claritin when my allergen counts are insane. I take it every 12 instead of every 24. But it's rare, and I only take it when my eyes/throat are itching like mad.

Thanks everybody so much for all of your responses. I have tried Claritin and Allegra which do nothing for me. No kidney transplant for me, must be someone else. I take meds for high blood pressure, so I don't think Aleve is a good thing - although it certainly makes sense. Need to talk to the doc I guess, was just trying to self-medicate :) Not always a smart thing.

I add over the counter stuff all the time during hi pollen time. The more I take, the less misery I feel.

Moni

I take blood pressure medication as well. Some are ok with Aleve, Advil and the likes and others may not be, but your Pharmacist can tell you if it is or not. I would just try something different and call the Pharmacist to confirm it's safe with medications you already use before buying it.

Thanks Moni and Irish!

I take loratadine (Claritin) and double up when I have severe symptoms. I will also use chlorpheniramine (an older antihitamine) if the loratadine isn't working.

OTC antihistamines:

• Brompheniramine (Dimetane)
• Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
• Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
• Clemastine (Tavist)
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Fexofenadine (Allegra)
• Loratadine (Claritin)
• Levocetirizine (Xyzal) - newest one

Have you tried a nasal steroid like fluticasone (Flonase Allergy) and triamcinolone (Nasacort)? While they don't work fast, when using it every day they seem to be very effective.

Flonase Allergy works very, very well!

Yes the sprays work better then the pills for me! Pills do nothing for me.

We have known for awhile nasal steroids work better, and now they are OTC, it makes them even more accessible for patients.

Rinne J et al. Early treatment of perennial rhinitis with budesonide or cetirizine and its effect on long-term outcome. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002 Mar; 109:426-32.

Nasal Steroids vs. Antihistamines for Long-Term Treatment of Perennial Rhinitis Results from short-term studies of patients with seasonal allergies generally have shown that nasal steroids relieve symptoms more effectively than do antihistamines. But what about long-term outcomes for patients with perennial rhinitis? In this Finnish study, sponsored by the maker of budesonide, 143 adults with perennial rhinitis were randomized to receive 1-year courses of either intranasal budesonide (dry powder, delivered once daily) plus placebo tablets, or cetirizine tablets (10 mg daily) plus intranasal placebo. All patients had eosinophils on nasal smears or positive skin tests for at least 1 perennial allergen. Throughout the year, mean nasal symptom scores were significantly lower in the budesonide group than in the cetirizine group. Significantly more budesonide recipients than cetirizine recipients reported "substantial or total" control of symptoms (74% vs. 50%). There were no significant differences between groups in the frequency of adverse events; 3 budesonide-treated patients withdrew because of nasal irritation, and 1 cetirizine-treated patient withdrew because of drowsiness. Daily use of an intranasal steroid was superior to daily antihistamine therapy in patients with perennial rhinitis. Allan S. Brett, MD

Thanks so much MDLN for all the info!

I don't know if this is relevant if you truly, truly have allergies, but 20 years ago I was diagnosed with allergic rhinitis and mild allergies to various molds, pollens, and suffered for years-couldn't stand the drugs, but did take Claritin for a few years. I was miserable with sneezing, nose blowing, headaches, and everything else. Finally went to an ENT who diagnosed polyps grown so big in my sinuses that breathing through my nose was almost impossible. After nasal surgery and a visit to a preeminent allergist who did skin and blood tests--it turns out I have no allergies at all. And after the surgery, I can breathe, smell, and feel very clear without medications. Maybe you are already seeing an ENT, it's just something to consider.

I have bad allergies for only a few days a year--lucky me. I have good luck getting the symptoms under control with Allegra; Claritin didn't work for me. If you take a steroidal medicine ongoing, is it impossible or very miserable to get off of it?

That's a really interesting article Mdln, thank you for posting it. It's certainly something I am going to consider trying.

HATE Claritan. Keeps me awake forever. Zrytec clears my allergies. Claritan keeps me awake forever. Probably genetics.

Sjerin - no one so far has answered your steroid question and I am not the person! But I did take a steroid a few months ago while fighting an upper respiratory problem and it wound down little by little, decreasing every day until I was off of it.

I cringe whenever anyone recommends Claritin. It was prescribed for me way back when, before it was over the counter. It worked fine for a couple of days, then an extremely erratic heartbeat kicked in. Scared the Beelzebub out of me! The doctor told me to stop taking it immediately. He replaced it with Allegra, which did a good job with no side effects. He also told me that if I had waited any longer to see him, and had continued the Claritin, I may have died. I know that was an extreme reaction to the drug, but because it can cause irregular heartbeat, I would never recommend it to anyone.

I've since eased off the Allegra, but do take it occasionally when sinus allergies act up.

I'm sure that you know not to take anything that incudes a decongestant if you have high blood pressure.

Rusty

Thanks Rusty, I do know about the decongestant with high blood pressure, another issue of mine. I am just starting to use nasal irrigation with a saline solution and trying not to feel like I am drowning, ugh. I hate getting water up my nose and so I am trying hard to overcome this since the pharmacist recommended it along with a trusted friend.

Flonase nasal spray. It works. I am not a brand queen... I just know that this stuff works, it smells like flowers, it is not aggravating or drying to the sinus passages like nasal decongestant sprays. Use it when you need it.

I am chiming in because I did do nasal irrigations during a aggravated allergy situation I had ongoing... and it did not work for me. In fact, I made it worse (not to get gross - I am sure you can figure it out) . So caution with the irrigation making matters worse, particularly when the nasal tissues are reacting to irritants that are causing the allergic reaction. The irritants will still be in the air if pollen is high.

I am thinking the strong point for nasal irrigation is that it is good for washing out bacteria that produce colds (rhino virus etc) and moisturizing the passages and loosening up mucous that is congested. Drinking more water also helps congestion.

My story is that I was taking the wrong meds.

Finally, I have found my sinus happy zone with Flonase (and on the severe inflammatory situations like mowing the lawn, or in a very allergy aggravating environment I take Zyrtec).

However, finding my "fix it" was not before I got a sinus infection and a horrible hacking and wheezing cough that would not go away because I delayed in treating initial the symptoms properly.

Earlier this Spring I could not wrap my head around the idea that I developed pollen allergies. Never had a problem with pollen before.

I innocently thought I had a never ending cold and I was treating it with cold meds... The decongestants helped a little bit BUT the sinuses were so extremely aggravated and then post nasal... ugh, it was a mess and I was a mess.

I went to the DR. she prescribed me cough syrup. (?!) As I was filling the prescription the pharmacist said I could get Robitussin- the same thing my script - for less over the counter... I guess that my Dr. did not listen to me- that I had tried all those cold meds(thus I was visiting the Dr. in desperation for help). I asked the pharmacist for a recommendation based on my symptoms- I was visibly suffering symptoms- and I knew the cough syrup was going to be a waste of time.

Pharmacist recommended: over the counter Flonase nasal spray,

over the counter Zyrtec 10Mg ...

behind the counter Sudafed ( short term use to alleviate the massive congestion that I had).

All to be used in conjunction until symptoms get under control. Then use Flonase or Zyrtec as needed.

If it was not for that awesome pharmacist who knows how long I would have been suffering the detached head, sneezing, ears popping, non-stop snotting, dry weary eyes, voice hoarse, post nasal drip choking me when I slept, lungs hurting from coughing so much, etc... really I was just barely functioning. I am so grateful for that Pharmacist's help.

Paying it forward and I hope this helps someone else. :)

Thanks Angie! Boy you have really suffered. Your info about the nasal irrigation was enlightening. I am currently waiting for a return email from my eye doc because there was a warning on Flonase about using if you've had cataracts which I have had. Onward and upward. My good news is that I am improved yet the pollen count in my area hasn't changed - I've been here upstate for 3 weeks now, maybe my body is adjusting.

Wishing that you have enjoyable allergy-free days very soon! :)

I get 3 allergy shots every 2-4 weeks. Have an inhaler, 2 prescription nasal sprays and take Allegra. When the allergies flare and all I do is sneeze and scratch my eyes and ears I use my salt water sinus rinse, microwaved neck wrap, take Advil and sometimes Sudafed. I still get a sinus infection and ear infections Abt once a year or so.

Sinus rinse. Use the salt packets that come with it and use distilled water. Zap in microwave for Abt 30 seconds.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/SINUS-RINSE-KIT/10324362?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227001207984&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=t&wl3=40753293992&wl4=pla-54664080816&wl5=9006621&wl6=&wl7=9006582&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=10324362&wl13=&veh=sem

Neck wrap. This is a true lifesaver for me. I zap it for a minute, shake it up, give it another minute then you can wrap it around the back of your neck and around to the front and lay it across your eyes/forehead/below your eyes/temple. It's a miracle how well that deep heat relieves the pain and pressure.

https//www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/anti-stress-microwavable-comfort-wrap/1016883620?Keyword=Microwaveable+neck+wrap

Shower before going to bed at night, very important. Shut doors and windows and turn on the ac.

I hope you feel better, it is truly exhausting.