Hi guys, random question...

I suffer from very itchy eyes (inner corners of my eyes), throat and roof of my mouth, mostly at home. I went to see a doctor for my leg, and while I was there I mentioned these symtoms and she just prescribed me with some allergy medications.

But come to think of it...aren't I supposed to find out what I'm allergic to first? The doctor never further questioned me and she just said "it's allergies, go take these." Is this common in the states? When you have allergic symtoms during "allergy season" do you just get medication without knowing what you're allergic to..?

I have allergies and I've never been tested to discover exactly what. I generally just deal with it as my symptoms usually aren't too bad and I hate how most allergy meds make me feel. Last year I got a nasty spell that made me miserable so I finally did some over the counter stuff for 2 days and that was it, really.

Sure, you can find out what your allergic too but in most cases your triggers cant be avoided... There also isnt specialized allery medicine... They dont have special kinds for people with a smoke allergy, or a pollen allergy..

Pretty much allergy pills cover the whole gamit... So really, whats the point of finding out if your symptoms are classic allergy symptoms...


They are histamine blockers


cant type edit...

[Edited 5/14/14 6:38am]

I know exactly what I'm allergic to - mold, ragweed, dogs and cats. (I was tested years ago.) I took an antihistamine daily for years - and believe I was actually addicted to them. It took me three tries to get off Zyrtec (after Hismanal and Claritin stopped working for me). Every time I did, I developed a "junkie itch" that lasted about a week. The first two times, I gave up and started taking it again. The third time, I was more determined and kicked it.

Now, I rarely take antihistamines - probably because as I've gotten older, my immune system is no longer in hyperdrive. (One of the benefits of old age. ) I can get by with a steroid nasal spray (which I only use if my symptoms are very bad) and antihistamine eyedrops.

Mostly, I try to avoid allergens. I've always lived in newer construction (less risk of mold) and I don't have pets. Ragweed is ubiquitous here in the late summer, though. Not a darn thing I can do about that except to keep my windows closed and run the AC. And if I spend a day outside, I shower and wash my hair, so I don't carry the pollen into bed.

[Edited 5/14/14 11:03am]

i've developed allergies later in life. pollen and gluten sensitivity. i don't like medications, so i don't take any. yet

I appreciate your replies, I think I'd definitely like to get tested and find out what I'm allergic to.

I wish I could learn to tolerate it without the meds also. But mine are to the point where I am stressed and can't do other daily tasks because of it. One time I even tried poking my throat with a fork...-_- this was before the medications haha

My first 7 years I was fine, then we moved to Australia to a country town and suddenly I had asthma and hayfever - I had 3 different inhalers school sports was always a nightmare - the whites of my eyes would swell and crease at the corners when I looked in different directions UGH

Some kind of native Australian plants are to blame

Fast forward 35 years and I don't take anything for it now really. I live in the suburbs of a big city where most gardens have european plants. Also I've found the allergy symptoms are very much decreased after ditching the wheat (which I am intolerant to).

The same goes for me and pets.. I am allergic to all animals, but Ive always had pets.. I just build up a tolerance to my own.. I know not to pet someone elses pet, unless its a dog with hair and not fur, because I will break out in hives and have sneezing fits..They cant lick me at all! I do have a part chihuahua which are supposed to be good with people and allergies, but sometimes I still will get hives if his fur touches me in sensitive areas like under my arm or chest...

I had childhood asthma pretty bad, but have outgrown that.. havent had an attack in probably 15 years or so?? :knockonwood:

I didnt have any problems until we moved to California when I was in 4th grade.. We had to move back here because my allergies and things got so bad... have no idea what was there because when I go to visit I dont have a problem...

[Edited 5/15/14 6:58am]

yellow industrial shit, because it's acid

aspirine or anything with acids...

I get terrible sinus pain & congestion around allergy time.
Much worse than the itchy eyes or sneezing.



Used to just pop Tylenol Allergy Sinus pills all the time & I was good.

Now that Tylenol is MIA, I am suffering.

PurpleJedi said:

I get terrible sinus pain & congestion around allergy time.
Much worse than the itchy eyes or sneezing.



Used to just pop Tylenol Allergy Sinus pills all the time & I was good.

Now that Tylenol is MIA, I am suffering.

Huh? You can get Tylenol everywhere.

Tylenol will kill your liver!! Or kidneys? No, I think its liver... It will kill one of your much needed organs...

It's been so bad lately that I've been considering Claratin again, even though I hate taking those things.

I was tested, and I'm allergic to cats & bermuda grass, but I am clearly allergic to something that just floats around in the air at certain times of the year, and I am not sure I can avoid that!

PurpleJedi said:

I get terrible sinus pain & congestion around allergy time.
Much worse than the itchy eyes or sneezing.



Used to just pop Tylenol Allergy Sinus pills all the time & I was good.

Now that Tylenol is MIA, I am suffering.

I get those kind of sinus headaches. It took a while to figure out that's what it was. They just felt like headaches, but they wouldn't go away. Someone suggested taking an antihistimine along with ibuprofin, and eventually I ended up using a nasal spray. That works pretty well, but I have to do it sparingly or I could get addicted

NDRU said:

It's been so bad lately that I've been considering Claratin again, even though I hate taking those things.

I was tested, and I'm allergic to cats & bermuda grass, but I am clearly allergic to something that just floats around in the air at certain times of the year, and I am not sure I can avoid that!

pollen. springtime and i'm starting to sneeze and congest

tinaz said:

Tylenol will kill your liver!! Or kidneys? No, I think its liver... It will kill one of your much needed organs...

Liver - but only if you exceed (by a lot) the recommended dosage.

I get seasonal allergies and I am allergic to asprin.

Genesia said:

tinaz said:

Tylenol will kill your liver!! Or kidneys? No, I think its liver... It will kill one of your much needed organs...

Liver - but only if you exceed (by a lot) the recommended dosage.

or combine it with alcohol.

tinaz said:

Tylenol will kill your liver!! Or kidneys? No, I think its liver... It will kill one of your much needed organs...

Acetaminophen can cause liver toxicity.

And only toxic if you ingest more than 4 g/day.

Genesia said:

tinaz said:

Tylenol will kill your liver!! Or kidneys? No, I think its liver... It will kill one of your much needed organs...

Liver - but only if you exceed (by a lot) the recommended dosage.

It is the number one OTC killer of people. It kills (according to the CDC) 300 people a year, more than those intentionally overdosing to commit suicide and more than all the other OTC pain relievers deaths combined. The main reason is combine drug taking, thus exceeding the daily doses.

I have allergies, but I have more "in tolerances." Which is funny, because I have the same symptoms as if I were allergic-drippy nose!!!. Just a steroid spray daily, when tree pollen are abundant I take generic Zyrtec too.

Genesia said:

PurpleJedi said:

I get terrible sinus pain & congestion around allergy time.
Much worse than the itchy eyes or sneezing.



Used to just pop Tylenol Allergy Sinus pills all the time & I was good.

Now that Tylenol is MIA, I am suffering.

Huh? You can get Tylenol everywhere.

Not around here.

I used to be able to walk into any drugstore and find a whole row of Tylenol products of every type.

I used to LIVE by this;

Nowadays the only thing that I can find is the regular Tylenol.

Aren't they being sued or something???

PurpleJedi said:

Genesia said:

Huh? You can get Tylenol everywhere.

Not around here.

I used to be able to walk into any drugstore and find a whole row of Tylenol products of every type.

I used to LIVE by this;

Nowadays the only thing that I can find is the regular Tylenol.

Aren't they being sued or something???