Don't sit and suffer through allergy season

Guess what? The birds are chirping, the trees are flourishing, the flowers are blooming. And if you’re susceptible to allergies, the pollen is, well, ugh.

I write this every year at this time, so it’s another update. It’s around this time that tree pollen — from oak, maple and birch, for example — becomes the big driver for allergies.

When I was a kid, I never had allergies. Then one day, as a college student, I went to visit a good friend in Richland Center and, bang, my allergies began.

Back in the day, we only had Benadryl and Coricidin to help with our allergies. They worked, but if you took them, they’d pretty much put you to sleep. You stopped sneezing, but you had trouble staying awake.

Finally, in the 1980s, non-sedating antihistamines came on the market. That, along with nasal sprays, have made things so much better.

So on to my treatment suggestions for all who deal with allergies every spring.

Finally, in the 1980s, non-sedating antihistamines came on the market. That, along with nasal sprays, have made things so much better.

So on to my treatment suggestions for all who deal with allergies every spring.

Step 1, an over-the-counter steroid nasal spray such as Flonase generic. Start with a high dose, two squirts twice a day. After two days, if you feel better, then go down to one squirt twice a day. After two days, if you feel OK, see if one squirt daily will work for you.

Step 1, an over-the-counter steroid nasal spray such as Flonase generic. Start with a high dose, two squirts twice a day. After two days, if you feel better, then go down to one squirt twice a day. After two days, if you feel OK, see if one squirt daily will work for you.

I think using a higher dose to start is the best way to go. And here’s a tip most people don’t know: Aim the spray slightly out toward your ear, not straight up your nose. That reduces irritation and makes it work better.

I used to say start out with an antihistamine, but for many folks, it’s better to start out with a steroid nasal spray such as Flonase generic. This used to be available only by prescription but is now found over-the-counter.

There also is an antihistamine nasal spray, Astepro, that can be quite effective, too. You can try that but, again, go for a high dose to start — two squirts twice a day — then taper down. And you can, by the way, use both of these together if your nasal stuffiness is really bad.

Step 2, on to the pills. Zyrtec, Allegra and Claritin are all good. If taking one pill at a time doesn’t work, you can take two or three pills. They are incredibly safe drugs, so doubling or tripling the dose is OK. These are good basic drugs if the sprays are not enough.

When my allergies strike, I often take the pills and start the spray both at the same time. And if you’re still congested, add some Sudafed, 30-60 milligrams, as booster.

At nighttime, you can take Benadryl or Tylenol PM, one or two tablets. That will make you sleepy, but at night, especially if it’s a bad night for your allergies, that would be OK.

If you need eyedrops for itching, start out with Pataday. Like the Flonase spray, it used to be prescription-only but is now available over-the-counter. Pataday usually works really well. If not, try Naphcon A, an old standby.

If you have questions about eyedrops, talk to your pharmacist. There are lots of drops on the market, so ask your pharmacist if one is not working for you.

Step 3, don’t forget about your house. Keep the windows closed, make sure you have a clean filter on your furnace/air-conditioner unit and run it as needed for comfort. This can cut down on pollen inside your home.

What if all this fails? What if you’re swallowing the pills, spraying the sprays and dropping the drops in your eyes and you’re still suffering? Then it’s time for a trip to the allergist.

Many people want to know what’s causing their allergies. An allergist can help with this, but keeping a diary every year on your own also will tell you roughly when you’re going to need help.

But note that what’s causing your allergies doesn’t determine what you should take to treat them, unless you need to resort to allergy shots. Otherwise, the treatment methods remain the same.

And one more thing, if you find yourself wheezing or short of breath or coughing all night, this might be asthma triggered by allergies. That’s when you really need medical advice.

My spin: Don’t just sit and suffer through your allergies. There’s plenty you can do. Stay well.