are there ANY allergy pills that dont dry you out like crazy?? Singulair??

[valene2009]

springtime approaching i am concerned about my horrible ocular allergies i get from flowers and trees blooming..i would love to know if any of you fellow sjogren's friends are able to take any type of otc or rx allergy pill that helps with the ocular allergies but doesnt dry you out too terribly..??  I know that allergy pills are supposed to dry you out but i was curious about maybe singulair or something like that?  has anyone has any luck with a pill that helps enough with the allergies and doesnt make your eyes BONE DRY??? thanks guys!!! i so appreciate any insight!!!

[DragonflyC]

I don't have a suggestion, but I wanted to get on the thread so I'll see the answer if someone else does.

I take the generic CVS version of Claritin.  It's OK, but not amazing. I like it better than the name brand. 

[Linda196]

My dermo gives me a class of drug called mast cell stabilizer...the one I take is ketotifen. It acts at a cellular level to prevent the release of histamine, and therefore pre-empt the need for standard antihistamines.

It doen's tappear to cause any increased dryness, but unfortunately it does act as an appetite stimulant (at least for me) and in addition to the prednisone I take, it has caused some weight gain if I stay on it for a long period.

[TanyaFromTexas]

I asked my dr this the other day, as well as what to take when you have a cold that doesnt dry you out. He said sometimes what the lesser of the two evils is. He said if your allergies are that bad you probably would stay at home anyway. Personally I always feel like crap so if the meds dried me out (which im already dry) but helped my allergies Id take it.

He said for when you sick musinex and stuff like that is good bc it doesnt effect your nose.

Sorry Im not a plethora of information.

I look forward to hearing other responses.

[valene2009]

even if i stay home the allegens seep inside (even with an air purifier and i live in a brand new townhome).. i keep all
my windows closed and doors shut-its just when it is so bad outside it comes indoors -makes my eyes itch and red and my nose ext stuffy...
i wish i only felt it when going outside..
thanks for the replies....

[LizPetillo]

Singular in children can cause severe emotional mood problems.
Dunno' if it does anything to adults.    Just FYI. 

[Redetha1]

I don't know but I do know that my ENT doctor told me to take nothing that drys me out.  He is great and works with me.  Maybe your doctor can have a suggestion or talk to the Pharmacist.  It is so hard for us and I wish I had a magic wand to make it better for us all.  Good luck and post if you get suggestions.  Hugs, Redetha

[valene2009]

my docs always told me to not take anything to dry me out either..ughhh. o well. i have been taking local
honey for about 6 months-usually 2 tsp a day..i am hoping that will at least help with the severity of allergies-some
people say it helps tremendously.who knows right

[DragonflyC]

I wish I could avoid allergy meds, but that is just not possible.  

I tried to go off them a month ago because it's winter and I thought it was worth a try, and I ended up feeling terrible--always stuffy and headachy and miserable.  Sometimes our doctors' advice is well-meaning but not practical.  

[gurs]

Oh, wish I could find something too!!!! no one seems to understand how dry sjogrens is, then add an antihistimine..yeah right!!!!

I never tried, but heard singulair works good.

Also, natural herb called Butterbur is supposed to work very well, but not sure about the drying effect either.

Gursie

[Nancy60]

I have tried the local honey for about a year now and do think my allergies aren't as bad.  One other tip my doctor had for me was to use a saline nasal spray frequently, especially after being outside to try to wash out some of the pollen.  I have tried to do this more, especially when I first start feeling itchie nose etc...starting and keep using it 3-4 times a day (basically I use it at the same time I use the eye drops).  It seems to help, not sure if it is just my imagination. If I am really bad, I will use Zyrtec, but only for a day or 2 to get under control and then up the nasal saline again.  I have wondered if a Neti Pot would be even better for this, but am kind of grossed out by that, so haven't tried it yet.

Nancy

[valene2009]

nancy
i too use saline spray--i am glad the honey has helped somewhat.. i may just have to try 1 zyrtec or something and if the dryness is worse than the allergies at least it will be out of my system in a day... thanks everybody

[DragonflyC]

Nancy, I've also wondered about the Neti Pot but am too nervous to try it.

Can anyone describe what it feels like?  I hate the feeling of getting water up my nose when I swim and I felt the same sensation when I tried nasal sprays.  Is the Neti pot the same, or does it feel different?

[Billydude]

Dragonfly,  I use a netti pot and like it.   I tend to get what feels like a pearl stuck up there and can't blow it out and the netti pot helps.   I use a product called Alkalhol and mix it with warm water.  You just tilt your head to one side and use the pot in one nostril and it drains up and through the other.    I also use saline spray as well.   My biggest problem these days is the dryness in the nostrils and throat that result in constant throat clearing.   The saline spray helps a lot.

[valene2009]

my biggest allegy complaint is the itchy watery red eyes.. o boy do they hurt in the spring/summer off and on.. i use non preserved prednisol drops but at times that doesnt even help... yikes.. i may have to buckle down and try a dang allergy pilll............................... i dont think the neti pot would help with the eyes would it?