I have bad allergies, and I end up getting really bad sinus headaches from time to time . . . so bad that I can't keep food down and I turn into a whimpering wreck of a human being. So when I feel one coming on, I have to break out the allergy medicine.
Now, the loratadine that I have is suppose to be non drowsy, and it doesn't make me go to sleep, but I get really . . . weird. I stare off into space, I don't answer people when they talk to me. And even when I get close to going to bed, I have this strange urge to stay up and keep staring off into space, even though I finally am tired and can't accomplish a single constructive thing.
So I was just wondering if anyone else has this kind of weird reaction to "non drowsy" medicine. Oh, and if I take it before I go to bed, its like the effects are time delayed, because the next morning I start to zone out and act all disassociated as well.
I have bad allergies, and I end up getting really bad sinus headaches from time to time . . . so bad that I can't keep food down and I turn into a whimpering wreck of a human being. So when I feel one coming on, I have to break out the allergy medicine.
Now, the loratadine that I have is suppose to be non drowsy, and it doesn't make me go to sleep, but I get really . . . weird. I stare off into space, I don't answer people when they talk to me. And even when I get close to going to bed, I have this strange urge to stay up and keep staring off into space, even though I finally am tired and can't accomplish a single constructive thing.
So I was just wondering if anyone else has this kind of weird reaction to "non drowsy" medicine. Oh, and if I take it before I go to bed, its like the effects are time delayed, because the next morning I start to zone out and act all disassociated as well.
Well, it's good to know I'm not alone. :)
Before I had mono when in college, I got no side effects from medicine at all. Now I get them all and a few extra, typically. I get what you describe and my heart races such that I can get beyond a light, ultimately non-restful sleep. Sadly, I also have allergies much as you describe. :(
I feel for you. I hate going through life as a zombie from time to time.
Allergy medications give me fits, but allergies are worse! I have gotten 2 of my three latest concussions when mountainbiking while on pseudophed. It is just the way it is... I have to take claritin D of zirtec if I can get it or I get hellacious sinus infections. I would rather be on the drugs than truly sick for a month and a half.
My son, Alienspawn, has really bad allergies. We tried just about everything but he kept spacing out at school, (luckily, his teacher is awesome and just kept me posted when we switched medications) We finally got him on Singulair and it seems to be doing just fine, no spaciness or zoning out.
My wife has plenty of allergies and some quite bad. So far the best she uses (for food allergies) is "Aerius". For pollen and breath related allergies it seems that "Lorano" is a good way to go.
Both are non drowsy, no bad side-effects so far.
These are brands sold in Europe, though.
Yeah, I would much rather be spaced out than to have the horrible headache, especially to the point of not being able to eat or deal with light or sound or the like. I also get sinus infections if I don't pounce on these moments quickly enough.
Thanks for the comments all. I just wanted to know if I was a complete freak or not.
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I don't have much problems with loratadine making me drowsy. I take it daily from early April to mid-October, since I have the allergy season from hell. Without medicine, I get fits of sneezing that can last 30 minutes or more during which I can't do a single other thing.
I can't do the sprays, since they give me nosebleeds. Zyrtec made me drowsy, and I turned out to be allergic to Allegra (the irony was not lost on me...).
The loratadine isn't 100% effective... I can still get itchy eyes and a runny nose from time to time, but it's the best thing I've used so far.
Edit: your experience may differ if you're using claritin-D. Decongestants have a stimulant effect which can make people jittery or "spacy". They make my heart race and palpitate, so I avoid them.
I have a different issue with allergies. In my case, I grow resistant to medications and fast. I can't use Benadryl, Sudafed, or most normal meds for my allergies at all. Claritin-D is ineffective too. I'm surprised I haven't become resistant to aspirin, caffeine, and ibuprofen yet. The problem is that my allergies are pretty rough too. In the end, I have learned to just suffer. All things considered, though, I'm glad I don't have some of those zombie-like responses. I'd get killed crossing the street one morning and not know it.
AHAHAHAHA!!! My sinuses are perfect! PERFECT!! Can you hear me breathing (beyond those late night phone calls that we both agreed would stop)?
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That's right, you don't! Because I don't have allergies, suckers! And I will never get my come-uppance! You hear me?! NO COME-UPPANCE!!!
Reason #256 I avoid medication at all costs. Then again, the symptoms you describe might be enough to get me to take something. I rarely have severe allergies, and the meds that give me side effects are rare (though those are usually worse than the allergies themselves when they happen).
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AHAHAHAHA!!! My sinuses are perfect! PERFECT!! Can you hear me breathing (beyond those late night phone calls that we both agreed would stop)?
...
That's right, you don't! Because I don't have allergies, suckers! And I will never get my come-uppance! You hear me?! NO COME-UPPANCE!!!
Now I have somebody to mail all the cat poop to.
Loratadine is generic Claritin, right? That one just stopped working for me after a while. Allegra (whatever the generic version is called) works for me. On the other hand, anything with the active ingredient in Chlortrimeton makes me jittery - I can't sleep, I can't concentrate, and my memory goes to hell.
If loratadine isn't working for you, there are several others you can try. In addition to Allegra etc., there are also the nose sprays. I've had really good luck with Beconase. I tried Astelin but I really don't like that one (they mention the bad taste it can leave in your mouth, and to me it seemed overwhelming). I've used another one that started with an N, and it was fairly effective, but I can't remember the name. Some of these are old enough they probably have generic versions.
A couple of my doctors have made comments that for chronic allergies, these nose-spray maintenance medications are often the best way to prevent flare-ups, so if you haven't tried any of them, you might want to see if your doctor can prescribe one (or maybe even give you a trial sample of one or two to see if they work for you).
Loratadine is generic Claritin, right? That one just stopped working for me after a while. Allegra (whatever the generic version is called) works for me. On the other hand, anything with the active ingredient in Chlortrimeton makes me jittery - I can't sleep, I can't concentrate, and my memory goes to hell.
If loratadine isn't working for you, there are several others you can try. In addition to Allegra etc., there are also the nose sprays. I've had really good luck with Beconase. I tried Astelin but I really don't like that one (they mention the bad taste it can leave in your mouth, and to me it seemed overwhelming). I've used another one that started with an N, and it was fairly effective, but I can't remember the name. Some of these are old enough they probably have generic versions.
A couple of my doctors have made comments that for chronic allergies, these nose-spray maintenance medications are often the best way to prevent flare-ups, so if you haven't tried any of them, you might want to see if your doctor can prescribe one (or maybe even give you a trial sample of one or two to see if they work for you).
For a long time loratidine, or Claritin, was the only thing that would do anything for me. I used Allegra for a while, but it never seemed to help as much as loratadine.
As far as Nasonex goes, it helps a little if I use it, but it also dries me out so bad that my throat hurts really bad, and my nasal passages burn for a while after I use it. So I'm hesitant to use it as well.
AHAHAHAHA!!! My sinuses are perfect! PERFECT!! Can you hear me breathing (beyond those late night phone calls that we both agreed would stop)?
Talking with people with extensive allergies, I have always considered something is missing from my life as I have none (at least yet found). There have been couple of springs though when the pollen has been so heavy that also I have started to notice it...
The good stuff I can't get anymore, because they're prescription-only, and I think it's a load of crap I have to go to a doctor, pay a co-pay, just to get $10 worth of meds. It's bullshit - the anti-meth crusade has gotten out of freakin' control.
Anyway, rant over. Zyrtec is a no-no for me anymore - not only does it make me sleepy, it turns me into a raving b%*##. "May cause changes in mood" my ass. A raving, cranky, sleepy Lilith is not a pretty sight.
Claritin D 24 hour twice a day baby! I got asked if the stuff affected my sleep. well... If you are exhausted from having sinus infections and watery eyes and a nose that is running marathons at world class speeds then no. I sleep like a freakin baby. Yeah I gotta sign for it but being able to work, read, not beat myself unconscious with a brick it is a smaller price to pay.
And some $#%*&! crackheads need a serious beating for gettting this crap put behind the counter.
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And some $#%*&! crackheads need a serious beating for gettting this crap put behind the counter.
Yeah, I get treated like a criminal every time I buy my allergy medicine (I use Claritin D). "Sir, I need to see your dirver's license, birth cirtificate, proof of residency, and you need to fill this cup."
And it's not crackheads, it's the methheads. Don't hurt the crackheads, there just minding their own business.
I just buy Crystal Meth for my sinuses now. It's less invasive than trying to purchase pseudoephedrine.
Seriously though, medicines affect everyone differently; your best bet it to find a comfortable equilibrium between relief and side effects. It's only 4 hour, but you might try chlorpheniramine maleate as an antihistamine, I've had pretty good luck with it (which doesn't mean anything for you really). I really miss Seldane D, man that stuff rocked, except it made the muscles in my arse twitch for hours (not kidding). Sadly they removed it from the market because it was giving people Long QT. The pseudoephedrine replacement, phenylephrine, is useless in any form except nasal spray (studies show it to be roughly equivalent to a placebo in pill form).
Working at night, I tend to use benadryl myself, specifically as a sleep aid + sinus (if you look at most pharmacy sleep-aids, all they are is generic benadryl anyway) to knock me out through the day. Being a mild seratonin reuptake inhibitor (they based fluoxitine off the side effects of benadryl), I tend to wake up in a decent mood, especially seeing as I slept better not being stuffed up. Unfortunately every so often you get the hyperactivity reaction, and are in for a "bad" day, so start with smaller doses. Benadryl also has the nice side benefit of very low instances of anaphylaxis (in fact, that's what you usually get when you HAVE a reaction), especially in the dye free version (most people who have reactions actually get it from the pink dye).
Something you might try instead that people have been doing since greek times, is to use a saline rinse. It is suprisingly effective, and aside from a little bad taste, is low in the negative side effect department. Been using this for my newborn's sinus issues with excellent results this summer.
