Zyrtec Allergy Medicine
Powerful medicine What's the best thing to take for allergies?
For nasal symptoms, allergist Richard Weber, M.D., of the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, Colo., recommends OTC antihistamines such as Claritin, Allegra, or Zyrtec. For chronic sneezing and runny nose, prescription nasal medicines such as Nasacort AQ or Rhinocort are the better choices, he says.
Need to stay alert? Avoid sedating antihistamines such as Benadryl. (Two measly tablets can have the same effect on your body as downing three to four alcoholic drinks within an hour.)
If nothing else helps, ask about Xolair. The drug works like an allergy shot, preventing allergic reactions from occurring. The major drawback? Xolair prescriptions are very expensive--about $2,000 a month --making it hard for doctors to justify the drug to insurance companies for all but the most severe of allergy sufferers.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
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