thread: Aaaachhoooooo! What hayfever remedies work for you?!

  1. #1
    Enchanted Guest

    Aaaachhoooooo! What hayfever remedies work for you?!

    I have suffered from hayfever for roughly 12 years and I get it badly!
    I suffer all year around but spring is when I am my worst. I have tried Beconase, Rhinocort, Claratyne, Telfast, Zyrtec so all the main ones. Over the years I have built up an immunity to them Since being pregnant with DS which was 4 years ago, I have been on Avil tablets. A common anti-histamine which does cause drowsiness. I can only take 1/4 tablet at a time as I would be on the floor asleep if I took more. They work fantastically but the drowsiness factor was getting to me. I saw my GP last year and he prescribed me a stronger dose of Rhinocort which was fantastic. The only downside is the steroids in them. So I have taken a few breaks from the Rhinocort and have found that either Aerius or Xyzal are fab. The pharmacist told me that Xyzal is completely different to any of the other meds I have taken and it is a winner!! It is meant to last 24 hours but for me only lasts 12. Any relief for me is welcomed!!

    So tell me what works for you and if there are any natural remedies you have found?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Hork-Bajir Valley
    5,722

    its not natural...but a friend of mine swares by it...

    its an intra muscular injection, you have to have a drs perscription for it. but you just need one at the start of the season, and never experience hayfever at all. her son experiences it so bad, he has spent many days lying on the couch with cold washers on his face cause he couldnt open his eyes. since she started giving him the needles (he actually needs 2 cause he is so big) he hasnt gotten so much as a runny nose.

    its called:
    Depo-Medrol, 40mg/1ml amp for IMI injection.

    you do need a script, so might be worth asking your dr about it, see if its worth it or not...im not sure on what it is actually or sideeffects etc..so talk to your dr, all i know is she thinks it is holy water how much it has helped her kids.

  3. #3
    Enchanted Guest

    Thanks heaps for that info T. I would much rather a natural alternative but with how bad I can get, I don't think it's really an option. The days I am bad I am on the couch and can barely function. There aren't too many of them atm but it all depends on who plants what in my neighbourhood really.
    When I was first pg with DS I knew I had to swap my medication to a safer one and went and saw the Pharmacist and I remember him being so horrible to me. He told me in no uncertain terms that I was putting my baby at risk by taking anything and I should only take something if it was affecting my lifestyle. He was such a douche, I told him I worked as a receptionist for a leading Real Estate company in the area and that noone who was selling their house worth mega bucks wanted to deal with a snotty nosed chick who could barely see out one eye Plus that I would have to pull over whilst driving etc as it was unsafe for me to be driving. Ugh... the inconvenience it causes is shocking!

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Nov 2007
    Off with the fairies.
    4,370

    I usually just get in it in Spring the worst (this year seeming one of the worse hayfever springs for me so far) , then here and there during the year sometimes. I haven't found any so far that have worked for me, like over the counter ones. My mum suggested I try Avil. I haven't yet though.

    I'm having a few good days in a row lately. YAY!

  5. #5
    Enchanted Guest

    That's great you are having a few good days Jewel! Nothing like some relief!
    Give Avil a try, it is fab and cheap! Just start by taking 1/4 tablet though. If you take a whole one you will be out cold with Zzzzzz's everywhere
    If I am really bad, I take 1/2 but then I am a abit of a zombie for quite a few hours!

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Dec 2005
    6,706

    I've also built up immunity to most of them. Telnase was the best until they took that drug off the market and replaced it with telfast. Claratyne was a bust, zyrtec was the only one that was actually still working before pregnancy.

    Since having Sam, my allergies have been INSANE! I'm told that it has a lot to do with coming off corticosteroids used to treat my arthritis as I was on them for a couple of years going through IVF, pregnancy, post-birth RA flare, etc.

    These days I'm relying on a combination of polaramine and prednisone (the evil corticosteroid!). Even with my arthritis flaring badly I only do short bursts of the steroids to help get me through. I won't go back to the long-term low-dose treatment unless I have another pregnancy.

    I kept waking up with one eye absolutely swollen shut. The GP I saw for that said it's actually a really common way for allergies to present (just one eye) and that the old fashioned sedating antihistamines work much better than the more modern non-sedating ones. I suspect I've just about worn out the polaramine now. The next on the list is phenergan. Is avil more or less sedating than phenergan?

    BW

  7. #7
    Enchanted Guest

    It's so frustrating isn't it BW?!

    I am not sure about Avil & Phenergan and what is more sedating. Avil is pretty shocking and with phenergan being given to kids to help them sleep I would imagine they would most likely be on par. Maybe also look into the Xyzal, I am on my third day and it's been great so far. I get tingles every now but I would highly recommend it.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Hork-Bajir Valley
    5,722

    i know phenergan knocks me out for days, i take it when i get stung by a bee, and not only do i sleep for a day, i have a couple of days where i feel like im stoned afterwards.
    other anit histermines ive had havent been as bad as the phenergan sleep wise....but then again i do only take it when i get stung, so those side effects might be the actual bee sting rathr than the drug *shrugs*

  9. #9
    Enchanted Guest



    Teirae- What a shocker, I can't take a whole Avil tablet overnight anymore as I am in a drugged out haze the next day.

    I have had it terribly for the past week, I mean really bad. So I finally went to refill the Rhinocort Aqueas script that my Dr gave me last year. So have dosed myself up and am feeling a little clearer already, so hopefully after taking it for a few days I will be almost hayfever free!!

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Hork-Bajir Valley
    5,722

    Did u ask about that injection?

    Sent via my vortex manipulator (using tapatalk)

  11. #11
    Enchanted Guest

    No, I haven't yet. Haven't been back to the Dr and *touch wood*I won't need to be back there for a while! I must write that down though on my list of questions I have to ask when I am there next.

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Oct 2006
    Sydney NSW
    4,837

    I used to get acupuncture for my hayfever /sinus problems and it was fabulous. I only had laser cause I was a wuss but it worked really well.

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Feb 2010
    Travelling
    666

    Mrsmac, I was thinking of asking my accupuncturist about it at my appointment tomorrow - glad to hear you recommend it!

  14. #14
    Enchanted Guest

    Fantastic MrsMac! I will look into that also, I have a bit of time tonight so might go and google. I have a few other issues I hope that an acupuncturist can help with also!

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Feb 2010
    Travelling
    666

    I find they're great for everything Enchanted, definitely worth a try! I had it for my sinuses a few years ago and that worked brilliantly.

  16. #16
    Enchanted Guest

    I think I will for sure. Hmmm.... off to Google!