I'm new to the whole allergy thing as I've only been experiencing it the last couple of years.
Currently I just take antihistamine tablets when the symptoms get bad and they seem to mostly get rid of them, but I'll still have a bit of an itchy nose and eyes. I wonder if I took them twice a day at set times would that be more effective at getting rid of all my symptoms?
I'm thinking that by doing this I wouldn't be allowing histamine levels to build up at all or is this not how it works?
It doesn't bother me enough that I'd book a GP appointment for it.
Speak to the pharmacist? There are different types of antihistamines available (e.g. for eyes, nose or systemic) and they may be able to help you find the best solution for your symptoms and recommend the correct regimen for you.
I actually did this a few weeks ago because I had a similar question. They told me to speak with my GP :|
@lechuck123: And then in 6 months when you finally get into a GP clinic they will google the answer and tell you to use the antihistamines in moderation along with a balanced diet and sleep.
"That'll be $140 thanks"
ask a pharmacist maybe?
edit beaten by 46 seconds
You just started taking OTC medicine after a self-diagnosis?
No I went to a GP originally because I thought I had an eye infection, they just said to take an antihistamine tablet and eye drops and fobbed me off. Didn't really give me a rundown on how they interact with the body.
@Cheaplikethebird: An optometrist can recommend an eye drop antihistamine and double check there's no other underlying cause or treatments required. I always go to an optometrist for anything involving my eyes.
@[Deactivated]: The issue only appears during hay fever season and the tablets take care of 90% of the symptoms so I'm not too stressed. I'm just wondering if taking them at regular intervals would eliminate the remaining 10% of symptoms. In my head I imagine it like a game where I have a health bar for histamines and once it reaches a certain level, let's say 70%, I get symptoms and taking an antihistamine resets the bar by 50%, if that's the case then resetting the bar every day rather when I experience symptoms would be more effective.
@[Deactivated]: Go on, give me your theory.
I get it the same time each year, developed symptoms late in life, onset doesn't usually match up with other (I guess more sensitive) allergy sufferers, the season lines up with when grasses go to seed. I really don't think it's psychosomatic but lets hear it anyway.
@[Deactivated]: Wow not quite the conspiracy I was expecting and I'm sorry to hear about your friend. I will keep it in mind although it does seem to be a common complaint from people who've moved to Melbourne from places without such a high pollen count.
@Cheaplikethebird: Why were you expecting a conspiracy from me?
It's not just Melb - my friend was born & bred & died in Sydney.
Also, be wary of prefacing a medical issue with 'common' as it tends to reduce any urgency to attend to it.
Why were you expecting a conspiracy from me?
This is a massive red flag for conspiracy believers:
DYOR or see a naturopath.
Nothing wrong with researching something but often people do the research on social media rather than factual sources. Naturopathy is a scam too.
@donga100: There are many health care specialists on social media and have been for quite a while now so it can also be a factual source; you just need to ensure your research includes other verifiable sources.
I'm not going to even going to attempt to sway you on your views re: naturopathy.
@donga100: Naturopathy isn't a scam, but the field is full of scammers.I certainly would never expect one to be able to diagnose an allergy, that's for sure. A comment further up suggested normalising hay fever was a big pharma thing. Well it looks like they duped meterorolgy and a few other sciences as well. Ryegrass pollen,pine pollen etc are all seasonal and are common allergy triggers. Plane tree's are also a problem because of irritants during parts of their annual release of crap that spikes into the inner surfaces of our 'blow holes'.
GPs are the first stop, from there you can take or leave their advice.
You're right. Ozb is the go to font of knowledge. Apparently
@Protractor: Having been to Naturopaths several times a year, from the age of 3 until 25yo, I have had a lot of success with some of, and referrals to other holistic practitioners.
However, over those years I saw 4 different naturopaths, and they grew progressively more and more quacky, insisting that "GPs can be dangerous and are an expensive waste of money", "pathology lab tests are unreliable and can be tampered with" and only their electro dermal testing device, eg. the infamous Vega machines, or kinesiology (both of which rely of sleight of hand and random guessing to show results) the only way to a clear diagnosis of your bodies' ailments and imbalances. They also cost far more than any doctor, and more than most qualified specialists.
Instead of a Naturopath, see a Nutrionist or Accredited Dietitian if your doctor finds you have dietary/lifestyle issues.
@[Deactivated]: @kajke I have a friend who used to say hayfever only affected the weak. Now after 5 years in Melbourne, they have it too and it's bad. Consider yourself lucky that you don't have allergies but that doesn't make this a big pharma conspiracy.
@[Deactivated]: You said
I'm crying/laughing at the fact that big farma have normalised 'hay fever season'.
Basically your position is that this is a made up thing which big pharma is profiting from
@soan papdi: The repeated assumption making on this forum is bizarre. I'm always happy to answer any queries but your assumption is wrong.
I was merely pointing out that 'hay fever season' is not a thing that should be accepted just because some people's allergies are triggered during spring. Spring is a season & referring to it as 'hay fever season' is just diminishing the importance of getting it resolved rather than just trying to manage it with drugs.
I actually don't know much about it as I've not had to research due to no family members being sufferers.
I'll take your responses as merely being misinformed and not malicious.
Spring is a season & referring to it as 'hay fever season' is just diminishing the importance of getting it resolved rather than just trying to manage it with drugs.
Given that you don't get affected by hayfever, let me explain. Hayfever significantly lowers quality of life for 3-4 months a year. Each morning I dread if it's going to get worse, affecting my ability to work and play sport. I am extra irritable with my family. On some nights, my photosensitivity makes driving impossible due to idiots with their high beam headlights.
You know the best part? Allergies cannot be fixed, only managed and minimized. Here and there maybe someone gets lucky and their body magically stops overreacting.
I was merely pointing out that 'hay fever season' is not a thing that should be accepted just because some people's allergies are triggered during spring
I've been suffering this for more than 3 decades and for me, Spring is definitely hay fever season. Same goes for 1000s of people across the country. I am envious that you don't suffer from it, hope you stay lucky.
@soan papdi: You know what? I get it - you're so angry from the pain & frustration of suffering from allergies that you've mis-read and assumed my comments.
In no way, shape or form, was I making light of allergy sufferers. FFS, I even shared a comment about a close friend that suffered & quite possibly, passed away due to other conditions correlated with allergies.
I trust that none of the good doctors/specialists/professors that you've seen, ever referred to 'hay fever season' nor the millions of other allergy sufferers, to make you more readily accept the condition as only being managed and minimised, at best? Yet even then, it still significantly impacts your quality of life & that of your family, for at least a quarter of each year.
Your anger is misplaced.
@[Deactivated]: It's called hay fever season because it basically is.And it coincides with spring.Maybe it is a marketing gimmick, but they surely came after the term?
It's when the highest pollen loads exist. Native plants and European /introduced species, especially grasses, in ag and now weeds (an a giant fkn tinder box every summer)
I agree if allergies persist seek proper advice. A correct diagnosis should always precede a hippy guess, though. Naturoptahs are for the other side of diagnosis, if that's what someone wants.
@Protractor: Referring to spring as 'hay fever season' simply normalises it & the knock-on effect is that it makes ppl more accepting of allergies as just one of those things you have to live with. People don't even question it any more because allergies are so prevalent - how sad is that!
Alternative health professionals are also able to refer patients for tests for correct diagnosis, especially where they've been undiagnosed or mis-diagnosed by the medical profession.
@[Deactivated]: I see your point. You can lead a horse to water…
But once upon a time (before the influencer shitload) there were a few reliable reputable alt health practitioners. These days I'd say avoid the risk and start with conventional UNLESS you know of and have good reason to trust the ability of the alt you choose.
Personally I reckon the new gen of social media has made the whole alt medicine scene a mine field.
It's as bad as big pharma.Maybe worse
And saying 'do your own research' might work for some, but not for most.(these days)Natural selection, I guess.
@[Deactivated]: It's the audience that's the problem…
Superficial intelligence will be subsumed by influencing and social media, long before artificial intelligence becomes a threat..
@Cheaplikethebird: I too suffer from late onset allergies. After talking to both my GP (at a scheduled check up) and pharmacist, they recommended taking one each evening.
I like to sleep with windows open and used to wake with blocked sinuses. Changing to this routine works for me as I get a good sleep and coverage through most of the day.
YMMV, so have a discussion with your pharmacist at a minimum, especially if take any other medications or supplements, as sometimes they can interact
If it doeesnt bother you, why are you asking a bunch of unqualified individuals who dont know your medical history
Why would anyone down vote such an important and logical comment?
Youve got my full support Shoocat.
OP should consult thier GP.
No.
You need to have histamines to anti
I'd imagine just like any pharmaceutical your body will progressively build up a tolerance and you'll need more to get the same result.
You'd be better off doing a round of allergy desensitisation jabs
Yeah I considered that. I only really get it for about a month or two each year so I wonder if that's enough time to build up a significant tolerance.
I didn't know there was a general jab for allergies.
Is it once only?
Do I need to suffer greatly before being allowed to get jabbed?
Will it interfere with the 5G cells in my body from all the COVID shots I've had?
I am having it at the moment. Had to do a skin prick test to check what allergies and then they gave me vials to take to the GP. Currently getting one on each arm every month. 5G reception has increased to Ultra.
It's regular jabs over the period of a year. These days you can also get oral medicine instead of jabs but it's not cheap. The jabs/meds need to to custom made for your allergens.
$10k (per year?)
(Daily?) Tablets or monthly injection. Recommended to be done for 3 years years (according to the immunologist I saw) to reduce chance of allergy remaining (seen allergy reoccurrence on patients only doing 1-2 years).
I didn't go ahead - feel I'd rather put up with it than spend the $10/30k.
@Chandler: When was this? Is this for jabs or pills?
I was told $800 per year for the pills plus maybe a couple of doc appointments here or there.
@witsa: This year.
Was definitely $10k (although this was just a ballpark cost given, not a proper quote or anything). Might have been $10k over the three years (can't remember, sorry). Maybe I went to an expensive one…
@Chandler: I paid $1800 for the year. That was $1300 for the two different vials to last me the whole year and $500 for the appointment and skin prick test.
Yep this was the case for me - worked when I was younger only using during hay fever season then one year antihistamine tablets and sprays just didn't seem to do anything any more even after rotating through a few different brands and types.
What has continued to work wonders for me is Nasonex, a steroid based spray - that stuff is incredible.
There is no definitive answer, but the majority of info seems to point to 'no, they will work when you take them' and don't get any more effective.
However, if you take them for a long period of time (think months and months) you may/will build up a tolerance for them and they might become less effective.
For some people there is the risk of the rebound effect, that is you stop taking them and your symptoms come back worse. This is not common with most antihistamines but can happen.
I'm not a doctor, but I have chronic sinus and airway issues. I've spent years on all kinds of drugs related to sinus reactions and inflammation.For me, my dependence on antihistamines became a memory when I started on a biologic treatment. 3 years with no asthma or chronic allergy related sinus issues.
What does biologic treatment involves in?
Biologics are a type of medicine that affect the immune system to treat disease. They are not without side effects or risk, as they suppress the immune system.
I'm on three biologics, they target different parts of the immune system to treat specific things. I'll deal with the side effects in return for no asthma attacks or seasonal allergies.
Saying that, you can't just go ask for a biologic. You usually have to be managed through a few other treatments first, and when they fail you can progress to biologics.
Yes antihistamine tablets work better if you take them daily during allergy season
However consider taking a nasal spray… They are generally more effective but need to be used earlier and takes a while to take effect
As the first person to ever have allergies, and without some kind of professional who could provide accurate guidance and even a prescription, I guess it's just trial and error!
Yeah nobody else has ever experienced allergies that might have some small amount of knowledge on how antihistamines interact with the body.
These sorts of smug shitposts are the best, didn't even read OPs messages. Is it a quota system where you're pressed for time?
Try lots of antihistamines (check the active ingredient) and find the one best for you.
I have found azelastine hydrochloride (nasal route) works best for me.
. Currently I just take antihistamine tablets when the symptoms get bad and they seem to mostly get rid of them but I'll still have a bit of an itchy nose and eyes. I wonder if I took them twice a day at set times would that be more effective at getting rid of all my symptoms?
Anti-histamines work by blocking the body's response to histamine in different parts of the body. When you encounter an allergen (say, you touch something or a piece of pollen goes into your airways) , cells in the immune system release histamines, these float around your system and they try bind to specific receptors located on cells found throughout the body. These histamines that are bound to cells tells your body to start preparing an allergic reaction (widening of blood vessels, contracting of smooth muscle). Any histamines that makes its way to the top layers of your skin will bind to nerve cells, and that will give you an itching sensation (itchy eyes & nose).
Anti histamines mostly work by plugging up the receptor which prevents histamine from binding.
It's important to note that any histamines that have already bound to your cells cannot be unbound by taking anti-histamines, meaning even after taking your meds, you will continue to experience some of the symptoms for a little while (but you'll feel better anyway and the symptoms will clear way faster). Some people may take them proactively to completely eliminate the chances they'll develop symptoms in the first place, but you should note that there are side effects to taking too much (e.g urinary retention issues, blurred vision, dry mouth, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, weak motor function and so on)
Thanks mate, this was the answer I was after.
I find what works best for me is to take an antihistamine at night before bed so that I get full coverage through the day. I also make sure I rinse/wash my hair in the shower in the evening to get rid of any buildup of allergens in my hair so I'm not accumulating allergens onto my pillow. I also clean my bedsheets weekly and have an air purifier in the bedroom.
Some trolls may scoff that what I'm doing as 'overkill' or 'semi-delusional' - but I get hayfever bad :(
Bear in mind that I only take antihistamines nightly during 'hayfever season' (in reality that season is spring to summer for me).
Beware of steroid sprays like Nasonex. They work well but have a rebound effect after a few continuous days of use. Switch between different antihistamine tablets every few years.
Recently it's also been discovered that there's a correlation (not sure if causation) between low vitamin D levels and stronger allergic reactions. So get your blood checked and take VitD supplements. It will take time to build up but it has helped reduce hayfever severity for me. Some foods also make allergies worse (like cow's milk for me), so think along those lines too. YMMV
Steroid sprays don't have a rebound effect, that's nasal decongestants. Steroid sprays are safe for every day use as long as you avoid spraying it at the septum (the bit that separates the two halves of the nose) which can be thinned by the steroids.
Good to know!
yea I found if I spray one nostril every 2 days will keep it at bay
I often forget though and now just spray as soon as I can feel a tingle in my nose
If im too late, I will need to pop a codral day/night and im OK within an hour
Quite the opposite for me - been using Nasonex for years and it's the only product that works for me and I have not experienced any sort of rebound effect. Anti histamines just suddenly stopped working for me at some point.
It all depends.
Some folks will be happy with an antihistamine when required to keep symptoms down.
However, speaking as someone who used to get hives for years, I had to take antihistamines prophylactically daily to keep symptoms managable for when things did get bad. Otherwise taking when required, did nothing to help what so ever.
At the of the day, find what works for you.
Short answer, yes
Antihistamines are a preventative. You need to have them in your system before you get exposed to the pollen or whatever is going to set off your allergies, otherwise it's like putting a helmet on after you've been hit in the head.
I started taking them 2 years ago, and it's very hard to know if they're doing anything personally. You kind of just need to trial different forms and see how you react.
When it comes to antihistamines, they are divided into generations. You have the first generation, Diphenhydramine, most commonly known by its brand Benedryl. This is super powerful, but it makes you sleepy. This is what they took in the 80s/90s. You generally can't find it easily in Australia, in part because it raises your risk of dementia, but in USA you can get 300 tablets for less than $10. I keep some on hand for when nothing else works.
Then there's the second gen. These are newer. Thats your Clarityne, Zyrtec. All are slightly different but work in similar fashions. Unlike gen 1 they don't cross the brain barrior as much, so they're quite a bit safer.
Then there's the newest, the third gens, which most of the time are just metabolites of the gen2. Most common one is Telfast
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Generations-of-antihista…
fantastic insight, thanks for sharing.
No problemo :)
Just doing what I can to try and clear the waters. I remember it being so confusing when I started down this road. I went through like 20 pages of chemist warehouse in an attempt to clarify what the options were. On the adverts its so simple.. you take a tablet and breath in grass and you're happy.
Now, for the time being I take a loratadine at night and momentasone in the morning that I get from the chemist deals that get posted here. It's not optimal but it's working for the time being
have found fexofenadine to be pretty good (sold as hayfexo, was in one of the pharmacy deals posted here)
Thanks, appreciate it.
Ditto. Fexo/Telfast personally works for me well. YEMV
Then there's the newest, the third gens, which most of the time are just metabolites of the gen2. Most common one is Telfast
the newest is actually Allertine (Bilastine)
During bad seasons, I take my loratadine and nasonex every morning (on top of my asthma meds).
It's important to make it a routine as the prevention is way easier than the cure.
I very, very rarely have an attack (usually its term 3 combined with a virus that take me out).
what term3
School term 3. Exhaustion, season change and people dont keep their kids home when sick.
rotate different active ingredientds
I find that I can recognise the very early signs of hayfever (for me a slight feeling behind the bridge of my nose), and if I take a hayfever tablet at that point that feeling goes away and I don't get any more severe symptoms such as a running nose, sneezing, or scratchy eyes.
try eating manuka honey cured me from allegies
Which Allergies did it cure?
Hayfever oddly ate a handspoon everyday for just under 2 months. I did it as a joke as antihistamines were working on and off and I was so over the drowsyness. Saw on a news station how clinical trials of small doses of honey were preventing bad hayfevers.
Towards the back end of Spring and into Summer somehow i never had a bad case of hayfever again. I do get the odd here and there but not as bad as I use to.
Not a doctor but yeh when you get to the point of being so annoyed with a drippy nose you will do anything.
That's interesting, maybe it's like the desensitisation injections, you ingest pollen etc in the honey? What's a handspoon? Manuka honey is pretty expensive.
The science behind this is exposure therapy - the honey is made by bees who use the pollen.
I've been told if your allergies are region specific, to buy honey from local apiarists/beekeepers as their bees will be sourcing pollen from the local areas.
Nasal Spray work better and are more effective if used all year round.
Antihistamines tablets work on immediate allergic response.
For me, a chronic hay fever sufferer, otc nasal sprays dont work.
Only spray that has worked for me is Dymista which is not available otc from this year.
Tablets dont do shit for me.
Allergies usually kick in into the third or fourth year into the country if you are from overseas.
Kids usually get seasonal allergies into their 3rd to 4th year since birth.
Anything more you wish to know, hit me up. I can tell you anything and everything there is to allergies and how to best manage them.
Nasal Spray work better and are more effective if used all year round.
Antihistamines tablets work on immediate allergic response.
+1
Allergic Rhinitis Treatment Pathway
Only spray that has worked for me is Dymista which is not available otc from this year.
you mean is available otc from this year/now (instead of via prescription) :)
Kids usually get seasonal allergies into their 3rd to 4th year since birth.
Yes. Sorry I meant it is available otc from this year.
My son gets bad allergies too. His IgE levels were over 1100.
We use montelukast for reducing ige levels and Avamys nasal spray.
Dymista 125/50 nasal spray has been a life changer for me. I’ve suffered most of my life, really bad on some days where it’s interfered completely. I do the full dose in spring/summer (one spray each nostril twice a day), and just one dose through winter etc
It used to be a private prescription but has just gone over the counter.
For reference all the Zyrtec’s and other tablets did nothing besides make me drowsy.
Dymista is great but, that back-taste will always haunt me :(
Haha, my wife is the same.
For me it doesn’t bother me anymore, I’ve gotten used to it.
Allergic rhinitis has a similar pathology to other atopic diseases such as asthma. Much more effective to treat the parhology with steroid sprays such as Nasonex and save the antihistamines for symptomatic relief when required.
Long suffering allergy person with asthma here.
The short answer is yes. Histamine triggers a cascade of reactions in the body that gets harder to manage the longer it is left to snowball.
So take antihistamines early and take it as long as symptoms are present during hay fever season.
And because this is Ozbargain, here's a super bargain way to manage the itchy eyes, which antihistamines does not work very well on.
For a low low price of $5, get a large bottle of STERILE contact len cleaning saline solution and a $1 eye rinse cup from Chemist warehouse. Rinse eyes as often as possible after going outside.
No amount of medication will work as long as the pollens are still lodged in the eyes, so rinse rinse rinse!
Resist urge to rub eyes as hands and area around eyes will likely be covered in pollen.
My eye was just going crazy and I thought of your comment and rinsed it under the shower, instant relief. Gonna go pick up the rinse cup and saline solution today, thanks for the tip!
Welcome to the club - come spring just take a antihistamine tablet in the morning, put antihistamine drops in your eyes and snort antihistamine nasal spray up your nose - highly recommended and pharmacist approved - its the only way I get through spring.
Anti histamines are preventative. You should take them either before or at the very earliest just when you start having symptoms.
I personally found using a sinus rinse to be the most effective. Make sure you use boiled tap water that has cooled, add a bit of salt and baking soda. You'll get instant relief. Dont use them if you have an ear infection as it can make it worse.
I use the FESS, Flo or nelimed. You can use the pots, but they're more finicky.
You can even make your own sinus rinse container.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwZOmcunkNU&ab_channel=DrHaz…
zyrtec works but makes me drowsy so i take it before sleep then i take a rhinocort nasal spray in the morning.
zaditen eye drops or asthma pump only when i need it (swollen eyes or wheezing).
it works every year for me, mostly use it for late autumn to late spring. i don't get much hayfever by summer.
i don't seem to build much resistance from stopping summer to mid autumn
I had progressively worse allergies for about 10 years, after about 7yrs, I started on various antihistamines. The major difference between them was potency, which the pharmacist can explain. There are many different brands but really only 3 or 4 different active ingredients in them, I typically just go with a generic.
I used to have trouble mowing the lawn in spring, barely could breathe, then in warm weather the combination of rain/dry day, followed by wind, blows the pollens and rye grass all around. You may find you are allergic to different things (eg. wool, pet dander, flowers) in your environment, if you can't track it down, get a professional allergy test done to figure it out.
After a few years of taking antihistamines daily for about a month each year, the (sneezing fits/runny eyes/nose/itchy skin/etc) onset dropped from every day during high pollen season to about once a week, to almost no effect at all. In my case I seem to eventually have built a tolerance to certain allergens, with the help of those meds, but it takes a lot of persistence.
A good deal just cropped up for trying a few different types
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/803723
Tips from a Long Time user & Patient of Sydney’s No1 Immunologist:
Sometimes there is No Rhyme Nor Reason explaining why you’re suddenly suffering Hay Fever!
You might want to try Dymista. It’s a prescription only nasal spray, but it’s by far the most effective thing I’ve tried.
It also leaves a terrible taste in the back of the throat. It's very expensive too.
I only use it as a last resort.
It might be best to talk to your GP?