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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
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
Posted by Quintal on May 2, 2007, at 18:59:18
In reply to Hayfever :-(............................, posted by Quintal on May 2, 2007, at 18:37:12
I've been taking ibuprofen in with my codeine for some time. I'm just wondering if there might have been having some slight beneficial effect being an anti-inflammatory and all?
Oh, and I've already had my first torrential nosebleed and haven't even started taking the steroids yet, so it's a double concern I won't be able to tolerate the spray. There's a depot steroid injection called Depo-Medrone (methylprednisolone) available that some GPs are using to cover all hayfever symptoms for three months. Any thoughts? I quite like the idea, and I guess it might help with chronic fatigue and adrenal insufficiency which I may well suffer from, but wouldn't it cause a 'crash' at the end of the summer hwn it wore off? http://notw.typepad.com/hilary/2007/04/hay_fever.html
Q
Posted by Declan on May 2, 2007, at 22:45:24
In reply to Forgot: Ibuprofen for hayfever?/Depo-Medrone, posted by Quintal on May 2, 2007, at 18:59:18
You have any herbalists up your way, Quintal?
That's how I control my allergies.
Albizia is an Ayurvedic(?) herb for allergies and might be available reasonably close to you.
Posted by kaleidoscope on May 3, 2007, at 16:04:27
In reply to Hayfever :-(............................, posted by Quintal on May 2, 2007, at 18:37:12
Hi Q
Cetirizine is often the most effective antihistamine for hayfever. The dose is 10mg/day ie. one tablet. It's available without a prescription in the UK. Have you tried it?
Ed
Posted by Quintal on May 3, 2007, at 17:19:16
In reply to Re: Forgot: Ibuprofen for hayfever?/Depo-Medrone » Quintal, posted by Declan on May 2, 2007, at 22:45:24
There may be a herbalist lurking somewhere around here but they'd be hard to reach while I have no car. I have a bottle of quercetin in my cupboard but suffered the same problem as with steriods - torrential nosebleeds after two days. Apparently it has some anticoagulant properties that most likely contributed to that?
I'll look into Albizia, thanks. Is it nice? Any drowsiness or suchlike? Do you have to see a herbalist to get it?
Q
Posted by Quintal on May 3, 2007, at 17:26:57
In reply to Re: Hayfever :-(............................ » Quintal, posted by kaleidoscope on May 3, 2007, at 16:04:27
Hi Ed,
Yeah, I've tried these:
Ceterizine 4/10
Levoceterizine 5/10
Loratidine 3/10
Desloratidine 3/10
Acrivastine 9/10
Chlorpheniramine 8/10 - but loses effectiveness after a few weeks.
Promethazine 7/10
Diphenhydramine 6/10None of them are much good come August. In fact two years ago I only managed to get through the summer still working because I bought a bottle of prednisone and took a small dose over the worst few weeks. It was miraculous, all the inflammation disappeared and I could breathe freely. I also tend to get a bit wheezy during the worst of the summer - maybe pollen asthma?
Q
Posted by Declan on May 3, 2007, at 22:37:44
In reply to Re: Hayfever :*-=(............................ » kaleidoscope, posted by Quintal on May 3, 2007, at 17:26:57
Lets see if this link works.
Posted by Declan on May 3, 2007, at 22:39:57
In reply to Re: Hayfever :*-=(............................ » Quintal, posted by Declan on May 3, 2007, at 22:37:44
Self hypnosis? O my goodness.
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 4, 2007, at 6:52:16
In reply to Re: Hayfever :*-=(............................ » kaleidoscope, posted by Quintal on May 3, 2007, at 17:26:57
> Hi Ed,
>
> Yeah, I've tried these:
>
> Ceterizine 4/10Have you tried adding in some niacinamide? I get basic control with this drug, but I take some niacinamide (a mast cell/histamine-release inhibitor) when my exposure to pollen/spores is very high. I take 500 mg at a go.
Lar
Posted by kaleidoscope on May 4, 2007, at 15:38:45
In reply to Hayfever :-(............................, posted by Quintal on May 2, 2007, at 18:37:12
Q,
Why not get a prescription for acrivastine from your GP?
Ed
Posted by Quintal on May 4, 2007, at 17:29:37
In reply to Re: Hayfever :-(............................ » Quintal, posted by kaleidoscope on May 4, 2007, at 15:38:45
Acrivastine isn't available on the NHS AFAIK. Do you know anything about it?
http://www.bnf.org/bnf/bnf/53/3020.htm
Q
Posted by Quintal on May 4, 2007, at 17:33:50
In reply to Re: Hayfever :*-=(............................ » Quintal, posted by Larry Hoover on May 4, 2007, at 6:52:16
I took a 1000mg niacinamide slow-release two days ago actually hoping it might help me sleep, but it didn't seem to work. I didn't know about the mast cell/histamine-release inhibitor thing - maybe it would be beneficial to take it long-term, but isn't there a risk of liver inflammation or some such?
Q
Posted by kaleidoscope on May 6, 2007, at 13:42:23
In reply to Re: Hayfever :-(............................ » kaleidoscope, posted by Quintal on May 4, 2007, at 17:29:37
Hi Q
>Acrivastine isn't available on the NHS AFAIK.
Good news. Acrivastine *is* available on the NHS. If acrivastine is prescribed, the pharmacy will dispense the 'OTC pack'.
Regards
Posted by Quintal on May 6, 2007, at 14:00:16
In reply to Re: Hayfever :-(............................ » Quintal, posted by kaleidoscope on May 6, 2007, at 13:42:23
Hi Ed, thanks for the info. How did you find out and why isn't it listed as being available on the NHS in the BNF? I just bought a packet at Superdrug - £4.99 for 12 capsules (i.e. four days supply!). I hardly dare ask my GP for it, she discontinued my aunt's friend's co-codamol last week because it was "too expensive"(?!) and the NHS is in crisis. She got the usual "you'll have to pay for it yourself or learn to live with it" line I've had many times myself.
Q
Posted by kaleidoscope on May 6, 2007, at 15:24:51
In reply to Re: Hayfever :-(............................ » kaleidoscope, posted by Quintal on May 6, 2007, at 14:00:16
Hi
>How did you find out and why isn't it listed as being available on the NHS in the BNF?
The BNF doesn't list a 'dipensing pack' because there isn't one. NHS prescriptions for acrivastine capsules will be filled using the OTC pack. OTC packs are available on the NHS provided that they are not 'blacklisted' in the Drug Tariff. They should be prescribed generically, not by brand.
>I hardly dare ask my GP for it
Hopefully she won't know how expensive it is.
>I hardly dare ask my GP for it, she discontinued my aunt's friend's co-codamol last week because it was "too expensive"
Oh well. At least co-codamol is relatively inexpensive to buy.
Ed
PS. I sent you an email.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on May 8, 2007, at 21:43:46
In reply to Re: Hayfever :-(............................ » Quintal, posted by kaleidoscope on May 6, 2007, at 15:24:51
flonase is meant to keep the sinuses from becoming infected when irritated.
advil cold and sinus (1 pill) works pretty well
i snorted warm saltwater with baking soda 2xday for 2 or 3 years
it was disgusting and annoying
and it changed my life
keeps inflamation of the sinuses down
Posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 22:23:11
In reply to allergies, posted by elanor roosevelt on May 8, 2007, at 21:43:46
>i snorted warm saltwater with baking soda 2xday for 2 or 3 years
Very resourceful! Thanks, I'll keep it in mind. The Flixonase/Flonase seems to have kicked in and my sinuses are perfectly clear for now! (((Flixonase)))
Q
Posted by kaleidoscope on May 10, 2007, at 13:51:28
In reply to Re: allergies » elanor roosevelt, posted by Quintal on May 8, 2007, at 22:23:11
Q,
Did you ever get my email?
This is the end of the thread.
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