For the first time my 12 year old DD has awful red, itchy eyes and is sneezing like crazy. I assume it's the pollen that has sprung up. Any advice on what to give her?

By Vicki on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 05:54 pm:

My dd has been taking Claritin the past couple of springs and it seems to work well for her. She started being bothered in the spring at age 11. Never before then. Strange!!

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 06:24 pm:

Claritin

By Colette on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 06:30 pm:

another vote for claritin.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 06:51 pm:

DH currently likes Claritin.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 07:11 pm:

Claritin

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 07:11 pm:

I started in with them at about age 27, isn't that the weirdest thing? Another vote for Claritin here, although it doesn't do a thing for me now!

By Kate on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 07:26 pm:

Okay, I bought the Target generic version of Claritin....think it'll work the same? It was $12 for 60 tablets vs. $20 for 30 tablets...so the generic won out.

How soon before she feels relief? Her eyes are also swollen. Does this need to build up in her system in order to gain relief, or will she feel it in a few hours?

How many days in a row can she take it?

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 08:17 pm:

Check with your doctor, but my kids take allergy meds daily for months at a time. DD only needs hers during pollen season.

By Tarable on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 09:50 pm:

If it doesn't you might try Zyrtec. My youngest was on it for a long time and now that it is over the counter I take it and love it. If you get it at costco once you figure out if it works you can get it almost 1/2 price. I got 75 pills for $27 when 30 at Walgreens was 25 or so.

Good luck.

Also I find that it takes about 4 days taking something to see much relief, unless it is something like Benadryl. If she is having that much problems you might try Benadryl at night, if nothing else she will sleep well.

Allergies are really bad around here this year.

By Pamt on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 09:58 pm:

According to my dad who is a pharmacist, the hands-down best OTC antihistimine is Benedryl. However, the problem with it is that it makes you sleepy. However, you might ask your ped or pharmacist about giving your DD a Benedryl at night and then Claritin by day. And you can take Claritin daily.

By Jewlz on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 10:36 pm:

ZYRTEC !!! I LOVE THE STUFFFFF hope u find something that works

By Kate on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 11:17 pm:

Yes, I'll be calling my ped tomorrow, I was just so shocked today by her eyes. She's been sneezing for a week now, but today the eyes were swollen and red and watery and were itching her. I wanted to dose her ASAP.

I didn't think you could take Benadryl AND Claritin.... The Claritin is only once a day so it's supposed to work the whole 24 hours. I imagine I can't add Benadryl at night to that. But I shall ask all about it! Thanks everyone!

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 11:46 pm:

Claritin needs to be in your system for a few days before you feel it working.

By Hol on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 01:46 am:

Another vote for Claritin.

By Debbie on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 10:09 am:

I would try the Claritin, and it will take a few days for her to notice a difference. However, in a week if it isn't better, I would take her to the doctor. My ds has horrible allergies, and we have a prescription eye drop that does wonders. There is nothing worse then having itchy, red, irritated eyes.

By Imamommyx4 on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 01:40 pm:

For immediate relief--Benadryl. But it makes you drowsy.

If it is bad enough the ped may opt to add a medrol doespak or a steroid shot to get it under control.

Claritin and Zyrtec. And I think Allegra may be over the counter now. Try one. If it doesn't relieve symptoms well enough, try the other. Everybody has their favorite and it's just which works best for her.

May need allergy testing.

I feel for your and dd.

By Colette on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 02:09 pm:

allegra is not over the counter. I just picked up a Rx for dd. If she is that bad, I would give her benadryl - which will either hype her up or knock her out - and call the doctor. I have been on claritin all week and it's not helping me a bit, it always used to work for me.

By Cheerio on Thursday, April 24, 2008 - 02:17 pm:

My ped also recommends Zatador eye drops in addition to the Claritin. They are over the counter and last 12 hours. I think my kids are bothered more by the itchy eyes than the sneezing/nose thing.

By Annie2 on Friday, April 25, 2008 - 11:16 am:

ENT put ds on Zyrtec. He would wake up and sneeze almost 14 times. He was going for a record! LOL He takes .5mg before bed. I could only find 10mg pills but bought a pill cutter. He's been on it for almost 2 weeks now and I can already see him sleeping better, feeling better in the am and not as tired in the day.