OTC allergy drugs?

[superbadgirl]

I might be off my rocker, but my head is fine in the morning when I get up. It is only when I get to work that it starts to hurt like bloody hell. Going on two weeks of this, it has finally dawned on me either something in the flora outside is different here, there is something in this house my sinuses do not like, or the shower gel and lotion I use is problematic (it's floral, and I used neither this weekend and was fine). Today I'm skipping my lunchtime walk in lieu of exercise bike, as the headache typically worsens after lunch every day. If that doesn't work, tomorrow I'm not going to use the gel and lotion to see if that alleviates the symptoms.

Once the head starts to hurt, that's all she wrote. Ibuprofen doesn't work. Acetametaphin doesn't work. Asprin doesn't work. The pain progresses to the point I cannot even think. It's already started today. :(

If none of my preemptive strikes work, I'd like to try over the counter allergy meds before I go to the doctor. The problem is this isn't exactly a cheap venture in and of itself. If I buy several brands, it'll run me a fairly good chunk of change with a potentially useless outcome. All I know at this point is to avoid Benadryl (past experience).

Anyone have any recommendations? Any Canadians want to send me some Claritin? ;)

I know it's is a stupid thing to ask - what works for you might not work for me - but it would be nice to have some kind of guideline so I don't toss more money down the drain than I have to.

Anyone? Anyone?

Comments

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Funny you should ask. The only drug that ever worked for me was Actifed because the two ingredients have a synergistic effect for me. Alas, when the government made them hid all drugs containing pseudoephedrine behind the counter, Actifed's makers chose to reformulate it.

I had to buy CANADIAN Actifed recently to get relief. The ingredients that work for me and that no other product has are:

pseudoephedrine HCl & triprolidine HCl

Maybe that will help you?

[superbadgirl]

Ooh, noted!

I'm going to need something, because I really enjoy an hour outside at lunch. I need to stretch my legs and get away. Going up to the attic to ride stationary bike is not a substitute. ;)

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

I hope that you find some relief. I'm not certain if I was clear but the Actifed they sell in the U.S. is NOT the real thing and, at least for me, doesn't work. Sugar pills would be better because at least I wouldn't have expected relief from them. Canadian Actifed is the good stuff. Vancouver is a lot closer for you than it is for me. :) I had to mail order it but I got the best night's sleep I'd had in that last month once it arrived. It was worth every overcharged cent.

I agree with wanting to go OTC before prescription; no need to use a sledgehammer if a hammer will work. The ironic thing for people who have insurance is that it's normally cheaper to use a prescription medicine instead of an OTC.

[superbadgirl]

Oh, I understood. I really should get up there, or over to Victoria one of these weekends. Now that I'm carless, it's more problematic. :)

The headache remained manageable by staying inside most of yesterday, but I really don't want to do that from now until June.

[meg-tdj.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiosity, do you wear sunglasses while you're out walking? These headaches of yours sound a lot like my "light" headaches. Even on cloudy days I have to wear sunglasses outside. Even if it does turn out to be some kind of allergy, wearing them might help.

(Unless you already do, in which case I'll shut up now. ;))

[superbadgirl]

I'm pretty light sensitive and don't like air blowing in my eyes, so I usually do wear sunglasses. Not always, though. ;)

I can handle the headache if I can just keep it at bay - when it's there, but in the background enough I can still function.

Blech.

[betacandy.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it'll help, but I take Claritin for my hives and it's made them almost go away. I have to take something non-drowsy, so my choices are limited.

Zirtec is supposed to be really good (it is, it just makes me sleepy after a couple of days) - Rite Aid's version is much cheaper than the brand name.

[superbadgirl]

A coworker dragged me to Walgreen's yesterday, pretending he was going there anyway but really just sick of seeing me droopy-eyed with pain. I got Wal-itin, fake Claritin. I took it yesterday. My nose is now dripping, and the headache remains. He said maybe try it for a few days, but I don't know.

I'll try Actifed and Zyrtec next if the Wal-itin doesn't work. ;)