Posted by Quintal on May 2, 2007, at 18:37:12
I thought I'd been lucky and escaped it so far this year. But no, I was struck down yesterday evening in the middle of tea and I've been snivelling and itching ever since. After one night wide-eyed and stuffy nosed I feel ready to kill myself, or maybe drench the entire countryside with weedkiller, anything for relief. And just as I was starting to get over my (seemingly) irrational hatred of the summer months. How I'm going to endure an entire summer of this I don't know.
So:
Antihistamines: tend not to be very effective for me, by August they're usually having no effect at all. I took 50mg diphenhydramine (Benadryl) last night and all it did was make my nose very dry and the mucus cement into an airtight seal at the top of my nostrils. I started itching and sneezing even more vigorously when it wore off, as if it sensitised me to the pollen or something. This is allegedly the most effective antihistamine known to mankind.
I'm looking into acrivastine, which seemed to work well a few summers ago but it's very expensive. I think I remember reading that acrivastine was unique in some way and could actually reverse an allergic reaction that was well set in, where most antihistamines are better at prevention. Anyone know more about it?
Steroid nasal sprays: are probably the most effective. I use Beconase for about three months over the summer and it works very well. They have the downfall of causing torrential nosebleeds in me, which further clog up my snout with congealed blood, which is both unsightly and almost defeating the purpose. Last year it got so bad I became slightly anaemic from the blood loss, so that is a concern. I've just ordered a bottle of Flixonase (Flonase to US babblers) containing 0.05% w/w fluticasone propionate (50 micrograms per spray). Is this less likely to cause nosebleeds that Beconase (beclomethasone dipropionate 50mcg)? Is it less/more effective?
I'm also interested in Nasaleze: http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/details.asp?productid=NAS200. Is it just a gimmick? Any thoughts?
All this would be more tolerable if it weren't for the fact I've run out of codeine and I felt grotty and irritable to begin with.
Q
poster:Quintal
thread:755304
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070502/msgs/755304.html