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Which OTC allergy medications are best for runny and stuffy nose?

fuzzybabybunny

fuzzybabybunny

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I feel like I haven't been able to get a good clean breath of fresh air through both nostrils for days. There's something about the place we currently live in that just makes my nose stuffed up and runny all the time. And we got a HEPA air filter already too. I'm hoping to just get something over the counter. Don't want to go through the whole process of going to the doctor.
 
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Zyrtec and Flonase together leaves me with no problems. In my allergy off-season, I just use Zyrtec and I'm fine.
 
Zyrtec is OTC. Flonase is super easy, for me at least...get it by mail, have them send you 3 for the price of 2 co-pays, and profit for the next year. Rinse and repeat.
 
rcpratt said:
Zyrtec is OTC. Flonase is super easy, for me at least...get it by mail, have them send you 3 for the price of 2 co-pays, and profit for the next year. Rinse and repeat.
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It still requires a prescription though. OP wants to avoid the MD office.

Affrin nasal spray is a good OTC alternative.
 
Drako said:
I buy generic Fexofenadine and Pseudoephedrine separately. It's a lot cheaper than buying Allegra-D.
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Good call. Never thought to do that. I stand by neti pot though. When I do that on a regular basis, every 2-3 days, I don't need flonase and need less Allegra-D.
 
I'm not so sure that a saline solution would work for me. It would work great as a temporary solution, but not prolonged. I scuba dive and swim a lot, so sea water gets in my nose all the time and I love getting out of the water, blowing out my nose, and having it totally clear. But it clogs up again in about 15 minutes.

And yes, I'd love to avoid the MD. Takes too much time to wait for the appointment time, too much effort, too much money, and in the end whatever they prescribe might not even work. For something like this I bet they can do 100% of what they would normally need to do at an office visit by just questioning me through the phone or email.

Basically I'm looking for some kind of medication to just STOP this awful mucus production. Irrigating it out just means it'll just produce more and get clogged again. It's a complete over-reaction and it only means I have to breathe through my mouth which bypasses any natural protection from whatever mucus is supposed to filter out.
 
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Zyrtec or Claritin.

Try the non-drug methods first (like the neti-pot) but if you have to use some kind of antihistamine don't over do it, it can mess with your prostate.

One of my best friends swears by the neti pot. He uses a mild iodine solution every now and then, and that combined with a zinc supplement every morning is what he claims has kept him germ and cold free for like, going on 8 years now.

You could try working some locally produced honey into your diet, I hear it helps with allergies if they are the result of local flora.
 
Original formula Actifed, which contains pseudophedrine (decongestant) and tripolidine (antihistamine). This is available at Walgreen's in generic form as "Wal-Act", and you have to get it from the pharmacy counter due to the fact that it contains pseudophedrine.
 
bignateyk said:
Zyrtec works the best but it will make you drowsy.
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Weird, I've never felt tired at all after taking a Zyrtec. That is definitely what happens if I take a Benedryl though.


Zyrtec does however seem to affect my temper and overall mood. My wife, sister and mother have all requested that I only take it when it's really needed. It works and allows me to ignore the pollen, etc of spring and summer, but it also makes me allergic to bullshit and whining.

Anyone else have that happen with OTC allergy meds?
 
bignateyk said:
Zyrtec works the best but it will make you drowsy.
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Doesn't make me drowsy.

OP, try the Zyrtec (generic works fine) first, see how it works by itself. If you're still stuffed up after a week, then add the generic Sudafed, and see if that helps. You may not need both, so try one and add the other only if you need it.
 
It's not an immediately obvious feeling of drowsiness from zyrtec. It will build up in your system over a period of months and won't really be noticeable as it happens gradually. Then at some point you will be wondering why you feel so run down all the time, and the answer is more than likely the zyrtec.

Benadryl on the other hand produces a very noticeable sensation of drowsiness after you take it.

My allergist told me to switch to something else as zyrtec is known for that. At the moment I'm just taking singulair which is great but really expensive.
 
bignateyk said:
It's not an immediately obvious feeling of drowsiness from zyrtec. It will build up in your system over a period of months and won't really be noticeable as it happens gradually. Then at some point you will be wondering why you feel so run down all the time, and the answer is more than likely the zyrtec.

Benadryl on the other hand produces a very noticeable sensation of drowsiness after you take it.

My allergist told me to switch to something else as zyrtec is known for that. At the moment I'm just taking singulair which is great but really expensive.
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It's a side-effect but does not affect everyone. Zyrtec is stronger than Benadryl or Claritin. If Zyrtec makes you drowsy, look at Allegra-D.

And for cost, always find the generic versions of the above.
 
Drako said:
Yes ...

You apparently don't suffer from allergies?

An antihistamine and decongestant are usually included in most allergy meds.
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I also don't suffer from oversimplification.

The OP has swollen sinus passages and overactive mucous membranes brought on by an allergic reaction to some irritant.

All nasal decongestants have a rebound effect which is worse than the normal symptoms. The only advice to give here is stop inhaling the irritant. If that is not possible, the advice changes to quit whining and stfu. There is no treatment which leaves the sufferer better off.
 
rcpratt said:
Zyrtec and Flonase together leaves me with no problems. In my allergy off-season, I just use Zyrtec and I'm fine.
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Yeah, those two are the only ones that work for me. Zyrtec went generic, so check the dollar stores for the best prices 🙂
 
i just saw my allergist today. she said that the pills will not treat nasal congestion. i have tried nasocort and flonase in the past. all caused nosebleeds. she rx'ed a newer drug Qnasl, hopefully it works.
 
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