Alternatives to pseudephrine?

[sunfalcon]

I took Allegra-D for about six months once a day. My metabolism sped up and so did my BP. I started having issues and so I'm off of it. I think it jacked up my system a bit.

[Dennis S]

My doctor recommends generic Claritin® (loratadine) from the Dollar Store and Pseudoephedrine from behind the druggists counter. He said taking them together is the same as Claritin-D®.

[BigGuynRusty]

Dennis S wrote:
My doctor recommends generic Claritin® (loratadine) from the Dollar Store and Pseudoephedrine from behind the druggists counter. He said taking them together is the same as Claritin-D®.

Why not just get the Claritin-D??

BGnR

[Racer X]

Markintosh wrote:
You can get it without a scrip. You just need to give your ID and sign it out to prove you're not likely to make large quantities of meth.

depends on the state. WA it is still non prescription, but behind the counter now.

[sekker]

Have been wrestling with allergies for some time. Here's what I understand:

- Phenylephrine has been tested to be nothing but a placebo effect (if it used to work for you, I hope you did not read this...). There is a proposal to ban it outright, as there are some real side-effects from long-term use.

- claritin can take up to 2 hours to work, but is quite safe (literally as safe as a sugar pill) and can last 24 hours for most people. If it works for you, I would stiick with it. I use it regularly (as a generic).

- Sudafed is restricted in many states and is quite hard to get. But most pharmacists will tell you there is nothing better for sinuses and some allergies. I cannot use the regular sudafed - makes me jittery. I have been using the 12 hour (slow release) variety when I need to - with claritin. I cannot do the 24 hour variety, keeps me up at night.

- most of the other meds seem to work less well for me (Allegra did nothing for me, Zirtec just came off prescription and only made me sleepy the first 3 days I took it; supposed to take 30 days for full effect; I am not willing to be sleepy for 4 weeks to try it out).

Hopefully someone will come out with a sudafed-like allergy med that cannot be readily converted to meth so we can 'only' get it as a prescription. Here in Minnesota, it's MUCH harder to get sudafed than a regular prescription drug.

[freeradical]

sekker wrote:
Here in Minnesota, it's MUCH harder to get sudafed than a regular prescription drug.

As mentioned earlier, you can always buy online.

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=11511&catid=382

[haikuman]

I have used Alavert with some success for Sinuses issues/Allergies and also Sinutabs...Benedryl does work but will make you drowsy..Benedryl liquid and caps should be in all Firstaid Kits me thinks.

I have a friend an ER Doc that writes scripts for "Hot&Sour Soup" for Sinus issues... it actually works for some folks
Rudie *(:>*