allergies

[freshsushi]

As the weather gets nice and toasty, I'm spending more and more time outside riding my bicycle & gardenning. However, it's getting to a point where my eyes are just getting too itchy and the nasal drip is keeping me awake at night.

I'm wondering what kind of allergy medication you guys might have tried, both perscription and non-perscription? I have a dr's appointment tomorrow and I was hoping to get a basic list of medication I could ask her about.

[sah]

have you tried rinsing your sinuses with saline solution? OTC saline solution or create your own with salt and warm tap water.

[Dianyla]

have you tried rinsing your sinuses with saline solution? OTC saline solution or create your own with salt and warm tap water.

Seconding the nasal irrigation suggestion. Physically removing the allergen from your nasal passages will help you feel much better. Otherwise, if the pollen and stuff stays up in there you'll continue to get symptoms for hours/days after a single exposure. Most allergists sell nasal irrigation squeeze-bottles, or you can use a neti pot that you can by at a hippie/organic food store. An allergist can also do a series of skin prick tests to see what your biggest indoor and outdoor triggers are. There may only be specific plants that you need to watch out for, or you might have indoor allergies to dust mites, pets, etc.

[indysteel]

I've used both OTC Claratin and Allegra, both with good success. I've also tried Allegra-D, but the decongestant just made me feel really wired and dried out.