Non-drowsy antihistamine

Butterfly

Butterfly

SF VIP
Location
Albuquerque, New Mexico USA
This year my allergies are terrible. Does anybody know of a good antihistamine that is truly non-drowsy?

My pharmacist recommended the generic equivalent of Zyrtec, which is allegedly non-drowsy, but it completely flattened me. I slept most of the day the 2 days I took it. It worked great for respiratory allergies, but doesn't do me any good if I can't stay awake while using it.
 

I'm not very sensitive to drugs that make you drowsy, but I have Hay Fever, allergic to seasonal pollen and ragweed. When I need to use something, I take this cheap Walmart version of Chlor-Trimeton.

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Butterfly said:
This year my allergies are terrible. Does anybody know of a good antihistamine that is truly non-drowsy?

My pharmacist recommended the generic equivalent of Zyrtec, which is allegedly non-drowsy, but it completely flattened me. I slept most of the day the 2 days I took it. It worked great for respiratory allergies, but doesn't do me any good if I can't stay awake while using it.
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My allergies are much worse this year; I've been meaning to contact my dr. for suggestions. I getting tired of swollen[shut] sinus' and/or runny noses, but I just cannot stand drowsiness or the risk of elevated blood pressure.
 
There used to be one about 20 years ago but I think it went off the market. I don't remember its name anyway!

I will "warn" you that DayQuil used to make me sleepier than NyQuil did, despite being "supposed" to be for daytime use.
 
Be aware non drowsy antihistamines frequently have caffeine. Also add B and C vitamins through out the day in small doses. If I am active I can take almost any antihistamine. If I'm sitting down they make me sleepy and start a war with the Z monster.
 
I get prescription antihistamine that I take all year - Ceterizine. Label says it can make you drowsy but doesn't do that to me.
 
Ameriscot said:
I get prescription antihistamine that I take all year - Ceterizine. Label says it can make you drowsy but doesn't do that to me.
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I notice with many antihistamines one can build up a resistance. I try to avoid them weeks if not months on end or only take as needed rather than automatically. Sometimes 1/2 a benadryal can make me sleepy because sometimes it's weeks between doses. Once in a while I'll have to take them two days in a row or a couple time a week.

Also a recent study. Benadryl and others impair thinking-duh so do most things that make one sleepy. Brain damage from antihistamines?

http://www.waff.com/story/31786748/some-allergy-medicine-linked-to-brain-damage
 
WhatInThe said:
I notice with many antihistamines one can build up a resistance. I try to avoid them weeks if not months on end or only take as needed rather than automatically. Sometimes 1/2 a benadryal can make me sleepy because sometimes it's weeks between doses. Once in a while I'll have to take them two days in a row or a couple time a week.

Also a recent study. Benadryl and others impair thinking-duh so do most things that make one sleepy. Brain damage from antihistamines?

http://www.waff.com/story/31786748/some-allergy-medicine-linked-to-brain-damage
Click to expand...

Yea, my husband read an article about that recently, but mine wasn't one of the offenders. I can't skip doses with mine. After about 3 days I start to itch all over from withdrawal. After about 3 or 4 years it still works. A benefit I discovered is that mosquito or midge bites don't swell up a lot any more.
 
jujube said:
Unfortunately, if it's a "good" antihistamine, it's going to make you sleepy.
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Yes, I find that the non-drowsy antihistamines don't work that well either.
On the other hand, I find that using a nasal wash really helps me, personally with allergies and colds.
After trying other brands, I found that hydraSense worked best for me.
 
Like you, I couldn't take enough of medications to help my allergies without it making me so sleepy. So, what I have found that helps me is herbs. I am taking a cayenne pill with a ginger pill each morning with food. I was shocked how much it has helped. Occasionally, but not often, I need to take an allergy pill so I take the 12 hour Claritin or Allegra and with the cayenne & ginger, it is enough without making me sleepy. This combination has done more for me than anything without all of the side effects of the allergy medications.
 

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