Gransnet forums

Health

How early in the year do you start taking anti-histamines?

(42 Posts)
merlotgran Sat 18-Feb-17 17:05:56

If you need to that is.

I've been taking them for two weeks already. It seems to get earlier every year. I start with swollen glands, sore lips and a shaky feeling that comes on after I've been up for about an hour.

As a passionate gardener it's a nuisance but it's the early pollen allergies that affect me more than summer hay fever.

Diddy1 Mon 20-Feb-17 14:44:42

Mistake:there is no harm, it should read!

Diddy1 Mon 20-Feb-17 14:47:58

Things have gone wrong, my message didnt get sent, so ignore that remark.
I had written I take Loratadine antihistamine, "non drowsy" tablet for my dust allergy, and when the grass starts and the pollen arrives, I take regularly, my Doctor assures me, there is no harm in taking these regularly.

Lazigirl Mon 20-Feb-17 16:40:47

My DHs hay fever season is getting longer, just starting now and will continue until Oct when he stops antihistamines. He has headaches and feels woozy (grumpy too!)

Nanna58 Mon 20-Feb-17 19:30:20

If you can find honey from a really , really local source it is said a tsp each day will help.

cassandra264 Mon 20-Feb-17 23:15:05

I take an anti histamine on prescription every day all year round now - never had problems with allergies until the age of 55. I now seem to react to everything in the atmosphere!
I think it is in part due to age and the body working less efficiently - but also the poorer air quality we all suffer from in most of the UK these days.
And it's always worse, or so it seems (for me and others I know who suffer from the same thing and live in the same county) at cleaning out time at the oil refinery (which is less than 10 miles away from us)...

Hopehope Mon 20-Feb-17 23:56:58

Hello,
I am new to gransnet, although I have been having a read of the posts for some time. I felt I would like to add my two penneth to this one. Blackthorn, and May( Hawthorn) get me started. I cannot take any antihistamines thoug, even the so called non drowsy ones seem to knowck me for six. I take honey every day throughout the year, just a teaspoon, and if you are able to get one specific to the things that bother you then so much the better. I also get Pollena tablets from the health shop. You don't have to take these all of the time, just suck one or two if you feel your hayfever coming on. They work for me, although I did recommend them to a friend, and she had an allergic reaction to the tablets! So take care as I guess they don't work for everyone. I hope this helps . I would send flowers but maybe for this thread it isn't a good idea smile

Hopehope Mon 20-Feb-17 23:57:47

Oh gosh sorry about the typos above, that will teach me to preview before posting!

Jaycee5 Tue 21-Feb-17 14:29:39

Bamm Loratadine caused a big problem for me. My hair was falling out in handfuls and it took ages before I connected it to the tablets. It stopped immediately I stopped the tablets and grew back a bit but left me with a thinned patch behind my fringe. I'm keep meaning to give Regaine a try or I'm going to end up channelling Trump's hairstyle.

Linsco56 Tue 21-Feb-17 15:53:56

I take 10mg Cetirizine Hydrochloride regularly but not daily. I'm allergic to dust, pet dander and pollen.

I too have noticed my hair thinning slightly but I just put it down to getting older, never connected it to antihistamines. shock

grannypiper Tue 21-Feb-17 17:00:20

I am so lucky, i only have to take them from January to Decembersad

Bamm Tue 21-Feb-17 18:06:49

Jaycee 5 I have found that my hair thinned with Loratadine. Do you know of another anti histamine that doesn't do this? I don't think I can get through the summer without any !

Jaycee5 Wed 22-Feb-17 20:26:24

Bamm I found that cetirizine didn't but it made me very groggy. I use acravistine now. My hair is still thinning but not coming out at the rate it was with loratadine. I don't know if it is the medicine or just age.

Bamm Thu 23-Feb-17 19:49:38

Thank you Jaycee5, I will try these. Hair loss is mentioned on the patient leaflet of loratadine and search on Google says especially for woman over 60 !

cc Tue 28-Feb-17 20:08:14

I actually take them all the time. I'm affected mainly by tree pollen, but also by fungus and mould in the Autumn, and I get a nasty reaction if bitten.
Bamm interesting that you talk about thinning hair, mine is thinning, but I think that it is probably age!

annodomini Fri 03-Mar-17 13:29:06

It hadn't occurred to me that my antihistamine might be thinning my hair - I take Fexofenadine. It's thinner on the side I invariably sleep on!

Anya Fri 03-Mar-17 14:18:16

I've bought some nasal spray called Poliinosan and it seems to be helping. Not saying it's definitely that, as it could just be easing anyway because of the rainy weather, but my gut feeling is good about this.

Having said that I'm the 'placebo effect' queen!