the behind-the-counter Sudafed

aka the good shit.

Zenkitty, one thing you could try is what my allergist recommended, which is to take two doses of an antihistamine just before bed. Then it won't matter if it makes you sleepy and his theory was that there was something of an allergen buildup overnight.

Dust mites are one of the most common allergies, so you can try washing your bedding in hot water frequently and getting anti-allergen covers for pillows and mattresses. I have a heavy-duty filter on my HVAC system and never open windows.

There are also OTC drops for itchy, watery eyes.

I'll look for those. Thanks! I probably can't use them with contact lenses, right?

I think you can; I think you just put the drops in your eyes and then maybe wait a minute or two before putting in your lenses. You only use the drops every 8 hours.

Zenkitty, one thing you could try is what my allergist recommended, which is to take two doses of an antihistamine just before bed. Then it won't matter if it makes you sleepy and his theory was that there was something of an allergen buildup overnight.

When I had that freaky allergic reaction a few weeks ago (which I'm pretty sure wasn't an allergic reaction but actually a vitamin D overdose), I took Zyrtec twice a day and an additional 2 Benadryl at bedtime. (Well, and when it was at its worst, I also took 1 Benadryl every 6 hours while awake, but I am at the point where 1 Benadryl doesn't make me sleepy AT ALL.)

So yeah, you can hammer hard on the allergies more than the drug labels say you can.

And finally, your doctor can prescribe Flonase or Nasonex or something, and it stops a lot of the nasal/eye stuff before it even starts.

Flonase does help my allergies. Nothing makes me sleepy.

I've had decent results with Bausch & Lomb Opcon-A Eye Allergy Relief.

Hello, my name is Steph and I am allergic to the WORLD.

Me too! Well, allergic to the world. My name is not Steph.

I've had decent results with Bausch & Lomb Opcon-A Eye Allergy Relief.

Is that one of the ketotifens? When I googled it initially, there seemed to be a bunch of brand-name ketotifens, including the one I wanted to buy just for its name: ZADITOR.

"Hello, Earthling. I am Zaditor. Take me to your histamines and I WILL VANQUISH THEM."

And finally, your doctor can prescribe Flonase or Nasonex or something, and it stops a lot of the nasal/eye stuff before it even starts.

Nasonex kicks ass on my nasal allergies (which are the worst for me) but leaves me with itchy eyes still occasionally. Thus adding Benedryl or the Opcon-A drops when I need them.

Generic Flonase does smell funky, and I think it's giving me headaches. Bah. Perhaps my histamines need to smoke some damn weed and chill out and stop overreacting to every damn thing. That way I don't have to keep trying (and failing) a gazillion meds.

No, it's naphazoline. Which really sounds like a Nazgul, not a legit medication.

actually a vitamin D overdose

Yikes, how much did you take? I take 1000 mgs a day. Because I don't go outside much.

Tried Flonase years ago. It made my nose bleed. heavy sigh

Okay, so, wash bedding more frequently, take anti-H at night, get eye drops, try Allegra.

I had an allergist tell me that I had the worst skin reaction to mold she'd ever seen. I don't think there's mold lurking anywhere in my house, though. Maybe the shower curtains. But I open the windows to feel better - when I'm outside I don't have any problems.