Is there any allergy relief that work besides claritin or zyrtec?

[lismom]

I think I've read posts from others that the typical allergy med makes pandas/lyme motor tics worse. I found this to be true years ago but haven't tried since because of all the other meds son is on. Anyone found some solid relief for this? I am able to control his bedroom but the dust at school and pollen are bothering his eyes. Also, does lyme make allergies worse? Thanks, Kathy

 

I'd like to do shots like when he was much younger but I know his immune system is too burdened fighting everything else right now.

[Suzan]

We now use benadryl every night to try to lower the overall load. dd8 uses allegra during the day, dd10 does OK on zyrtec. I like the nasal sprays like flonase but my kids won't do them. We also use OTC allergy eye drops (Naphcon-A) and those are really great. My kids don't tic though as a general rule so I can't say how we did in that regard.

 

I think lyme can increase allergies. dd10 and I are doing allergy shots to see if they will help. 1 1/2 years into it, no changes yet. I'm ready to stop but trying to keep going and hopefully get something out of it.

 

Susan

[LNN]

I hate the way OTC allergy meds affect my kids. We use Quercetin now - no side effects at all. You can buy it at any health food store - a natural antihistamine. It works as well or better than the OTC stuff. We also use OTC allergy eye drops when things get bad.

 

My DD (now 6) started allergy shots 15 months ago when she was 5. She was incapacitated by allergies - housebound in the spring, eyes swollen shut. This spring, she only had minor issues that quercetin took care of. The shots have really helped. I don't feel they've over-burdened her immune system, but who knows. She's being treated for bartonella and possible parasites. For us, it was a quality of life issue. But if your son is allergic to molds, that could be different. Have you discussed with your LLMD?

[cobbiemommy]

We started sublingual immunotherapy in August. The LLMD recommended to us a very capable ENT/allergist. I think son is already displaying fewer allergy symptoms and at the worst time of year. Our LLMD does not think that the SLIT therapy is activating to the immune system. We use Benadryl each night just to keep everything in check.

 

The allergist recommends the generic zyrtec over the claritin, saying that you would actually need twice the amount of claritin to get the same effect as one zyrtec.

[cobbiemommy]

We started sublingual immunotherapy in August. The LLMD recommended to us a very capable ENT/allergist. I think son is already displaying fewer allergy symptoms and at the worst time of year. Our LLMD does not think that the SLIT therapy is activating to the immune system. We use Benadryl each night just to keep everything in check.

 

The allergist recommends the generic zyrtec over the claritin, saying that you would actually need twice the amount of claritin to get the same effect as one zyrtec.

[lismom]

Thanks for the input. I think I will give quercitin a try and the eye drops. I did discuss shots with the LLMD and the recommendation is to wait further into bart/lyme treatment. The thought is because bart is an immune suppressor, the antigens would go either unrecognized and get lost. Using benadryl at night sounds ok. The SLIT would be great to try but funds are tight right now. Thanks again, Kathy

[NancyD]

I second the quercetin! We have been using Querciplex (Douglas Laboratories), which consists of quercetin and bromelain, for many years and that's one supplement we can't be without! Bromelain acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps with colds, asthma, and excessive mucus. I used to get bronchitis every time I got a cold or allergies. Haven't had bronchitis in several years since taking Querciplex. In fact, haven't had a cold in a few years. Both DD and I take 3 capsules bid, which is 1998 mg quercetin and 600 mg bromelain.

[Suzan]

I second the quercetin! We have been using Querciplex (Douglas Laboratories), which consists of quercetin and bromelain, for many years and that's one supplement we can't be without! Bromelain acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps with colds, asthma, and excessive mucus. I used to get bronchitis every time I got a cold or allergies. Haven't had bronchitis in several years since taking Querciplex. In fact, haven't had a cold in a few years. Both DD and I take 3 capsules bid, which is 1998 mg quercetin and 600 mg bromelain.

 

I have not had any luck with the quercetin but I only have been taking 500 mg. Maybe that is why. I can't bare to give dd10 3 more big pills a day. What brand do you use and how big are the pills? The one I have, the pills are pretty big.

 

Susan

[NancyD]

Susan,

 

We use Douglas Laboratories' Querciplex. You can find them online. The pills are just average size. I find the combination of quercetin and bromelain to be key. 500 mg of quercetin is very low.

 

Nancy

 

I second the quercetin! We have been using Querciplex (Douglas Laboratories), which consists of quercetin and bromelain, for many years and that's one supplement we can't be without! Bromelain acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps with colds, asthma, and excessive mucus. I used to get bronchitis every time I got a cold or allergies. Haven't had bronchitis in several years since taking Querciplex. In fact, haven't had a cold in a few years. Both DD and I take 3 capsules bid, which is 1998 mg quercetin and 600 mg bromelain.

 

I have not had any luck with the quercetin but I only have been taking 500 mg. Maybe that is why. I can't bare to give dd10 3 more big pills a day. What brand do you use and how big are the pills? The one I have, the pills are pretty big.

 

Susan