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Post by crimsoncat05 on Apr 13, 2021 21:03:42 GMT
I've had allergies since we moved to AZ ~15 years ago... I am used to being stuffed up, and having sinus headaches when the weather changes, etc. But the last couple years, they've gotten worse (itchy eyes, etc.) so I've taken various OTC meds to try and minimize the symptoms. At my last yearly physical, my primary care doctor suggested Flonase (generic) nasal spray. So I take that, too. I've really never *not* had a stuffed-up head for any length of time, and am a mouth breather- I'm just *used to* not being able to breathe freely thru my nose.
I just had my eye appointment yesterday, and my eye doctor now has an allergist working out of his practice. He said it's because he had friends and family members tell him how this doctor helped them tremendously, then tried the regimen himself, and it worked, with marked improvements in just a few weeks. It was a sales spiel, of course... but he got me thinking about the side effects of the OTC meds I'm using, and the fact that the generic Flonase is a steroid...
Do I really want to take these meds for years?? I'm not sure, now. I started looking the drugs up, and found a research article that discussed a study (it followed the people for at least 7 years) on long-term chlorpheniramine use (>3 years)-- this use may lead to an increased incidence of dementia. And more internet research shows that all the OTC meds I take have tiredness, headaches, etc. as possible side effects. Am I doing myself more harm than good by taking them continuously?? I never really gave the long-term use implications of these drugs much thought, before, embarrassingly. I just take them, take ibuprofen regularly for headaches, and drink loads of caffeinated diet soda for the tiredness. (I guess I was using the 'it's over-the-counter, what harm could it do' excuse... and never really thought about it.)
So, this particular treatment:
Instead of allergy SHOTS that you have to get from the doctor, this particular allergist uses a LIQUID solution based on your specific allergies. And you dose YOURSELF, by putting the drops under your tongue, instead of having to go to the office multiple times per month for shots. Apparently this method is an 'off-label' use here in the US (so not covered by insurance, of course...), but this sub-lingual allergy treatment method has been approved and in use in Europe 'for well over 30 years' -- or at least that's what the pamphlet he gave me says.
Have any European Peas used allergy drops like this for *curing* your allergies?? Or any US Peas? Or allergy shots? Do you feel this type of 'cure' treatment is worth the time and expense, for the long-term??
thanks!!
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craftykitten
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,304
Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
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Post by craftykitten on Apr 13, 2021 21:29:56 GMT
I haven't heard of this, it sounds like homeopathy to me? I don't actually know many people who have had desensitizing treatment, apart from a few people on beekeeping forums who have it because they have life threatening allergies to bee stings. I definitely haven't heard of it for hayfever.
I'm sorry you feel so rubbish all the time, that's miserable.
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Post by bianca42 on Apr 13, 2021 22:11:38 GMT
I do allergy shots. Here's my story how I got there. I developed a tree nut allergy several years ago, so I went to the allergist for testing. The testing showed a anaphylaxis response to tree nuts but also showed off the charts immediate reactions to pollen and grasses. He tried to convince me then that allergy shots would help my quality of life, but I was fine...just a little sniffles. 3 years ago, they got so bad that I had an uncontrollable dry cough all spring in addition to the watery eyes, stuffy head and brain fog. I started going once a week, then progressed to every 2 weeks, then every 3 weeks and now I'm at every 4 weeks. I didn't realize how congested and miserable I was all the time until I wasn't anymore. After about 6 months I was able to stop my daily zyrtec. I currently only take it on shot day. The doctor said that if I started as a child, I might have been able to cure my allergies. As an adult, it's not as likely. The only way to know if I'm cured is to stop the shots to see. During the beginning of covid the office closed completely for 2 months, so I went 2.5 months between shots and definitely started to see some symptoms start up again. For me, I am totally fine getting a shot once a month forever for the gains in quality of life I've gotten. As for pricing, I have a high deductible plan. I've paid $320.29 at the allergist in the past 12 months. When I was on a copay plan, I had one office visit copay a year and the injection visits were only $11 a piece, which was less than my copay would have been. DH has taken zyrtec every day for the last year, at a cost of about $240 and he's still miserable about half of the year. Sorry for writing a book.  I hope that you can get some relief! |
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lesmcf
Full Member
Posts: 221
Jul 10, 2014 0:50:47 GMT
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Post by lesmcf on Apr 13, 2021 23:12:04 GMT
I’ve heard of the allergy drops but don’t know of anyone who has used them. I have off the chart year round allergies. They got so bad I’d be sick for a month in the winter. Started shots about 8 years ago and it has made my life so much better. I’ll always have to take them but it is so worth it!
I see no harm in trying the drops and if your life isn’t markedly better, I’d suggest looking into shots.
Good luck
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,292 
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
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Post by lesley on Apr 13, 2021 23:41:21 GMT
I know sublingual immunotherapy is available under the NHS, but I don’t know much about its efficacy. It is only available to patients who have tried nasal steroids, antihistamines and eye drops and get no relief from them.
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Post by ntsf on Apr 14, 2021 0:25:08 GMT
I have severe allergies to pollen--trees, plants, grass... and had shots for several years in high school. it significantly helped.so I take advair maintenance meds now. and live pretty comfortably. I also avoid lawns, outside (except in the woods).. no flowers. etc.
no yard work.
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kate
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,582
Location: The city that doesn't sleep
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
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Post by kate on Apr 14, 2021 0:55:33 GMT
I had horrible seasonal allergies as a kid and young adolescent. Horrible. I did the shots starting in high school (ish?) through the beginning of college. What a life-changer! I now have "normal" seasonal allergies - a week or two of itchy eyes in the spring and fall - nowhere near the debilitating symptoms I had in my youth.
As an adult, I took daily Zyrtec for a few years - I was performing a lot, and my mild allergies were still enough to impact my singing sometimes. I don't take it anymore.
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Post by nlwilkins on Apr 14, 2021 2:01:22 GMT
I had allergy shots for several years. For the first year, I went to the allergist for them and stayed for 15 to 20 minutes afterwards to make sure I did not have a severe reaction. After that, I learned how to give myself the shots. The little bottles for the serum was made just for me and arrived by mail about every two months. I loved it.
They did help, I am no longer allergic to cedar or grass which is great. Not sure about the other things though.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Apr 14, 2021 15:17:09 GMT
I didn't realize how congested and miserable I was all the time until I wasn't anymore. After about 6 months I was able to stop my daily zyrtec. I currently only take it on shot day. this is kind of what I'm wondering... how good would I feel if I *wasn't* congested and tired all the time? As for pricing, I have a high deductible plan. I've paid $320.29 at the allergist in the past 12 months. When I was on a copay plan, I had one office visit copay a year and the injection visits were only $11 a piece, which was less than my copay would have been. DH has taken zyrtec every day for the last year, at a cost of about $240 and he's still miserable about half of the year. I buy the cheap store-brand ones, but still, over time, it all adds up... totally aside from the potential side effects issue. I’ve heard of the allergy drops but don’t know of anyone who has used them. I have off the chart year round allergies. They got so bad I’d be sick for a month in the winter. Started shots about 8 years ago and it has made my life so much better. I’ll always have to take them but it is so worth it! I see no harm in trying the drops and if your life isn’t markedly better, I’d suggest looking into shots. Good luck thanks! and thank you to everyone who posted... I don't even know what exactly I'm allergic to, so it might be worth it just to find that out. (although if it's dogs or cats, I'm in trouble, lol.) Living in AZ, dust and SOME sort of pollen / plants are always around, year round- which is part of the problem. There's no 'off' season when I'd feel better. It's odd that more people wouldn't at least try shots to 'cure' their allergies, instead of continuously taking meds for them. Yeah, shots will suck (if that's the route I end up going), but to feel better at the end of it all?? I think it might be worth it. |
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Post by miominmio on Apr 14, 2021 16:15:53 GMT
DS took allergy vaccine (Grazax) for three years, and was sooo much better.....for a couple of years after. Now he needs to start over. DD started last year, so I hope she’ll have some relief this year,
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Apr 14, 2021 16:22:12 GMT
the plant manager where I work had really bad allergies... I mean, REALLY bad. He was sneezing, etc. ALL the time (we'd say gesundheit all the way down the hall, lol). He got allergy shots and is in year 3; he said it switches to 'maintenance' visits, which is just one or two shots per year to keep his immunity / desensitization stable. He also use to suffer from very bad cluster headaches (which are very painful, and they can last for days-weeks) and since he's done the allergy shots, he hasn't gotten one.
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charlatan
Full Member
Posts: 319
Feb 7, 2015 3:53:07 GMT
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Post by charlatan on Apr 14, 2021 17:40:21 GMT
I have always had pretty bad reactions to a lot of environmental allergens and a few years ago finally decided to do something about it, since they'd become even worse after I moved to a new state. I had all of the testing done to see what exactly I was allergic to and then got a shot in each arm, every two weeks, for five years. First it was in the allergist's office, but eventually I was allowed to inject myself at home.
My initial level of allergic responses suggested that I'd probably need to continue with them for the rest of my life, but I stopped last year at the height of the pandemic issues. I'd been considering stopping them to see how it would go and it was a good time to do it. Almost a year out, I can tell that they helped a lot. I still have reactions, but if I was at a level 90 before the shots, I'm now at 20-30. It's been well worth it to me. If I eventually get worse, I wouldn't hesitate to resume the treatment, either with the shots or sublingually, if that was approved by my insurance. The treatment is expensive enough with insurance - I wouldn't want to have to pay completely out of pocket for it.
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I hope that you can get some relief!
