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Free Medical Advice sponsored by
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Got an ache or pain? Have a question about a prescription or over-the-counter drug? Looking for some FREE medical advice?
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Question:
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| Hi! I have allergies and take areus (an antihistomine) and use nazanex. However, I still get a runny nose, and a spacey head feeling. These two symptoms are very difficult to simply ignore. I've made my home as allergy free as possible. Is there any other kind of medicine (antihistimine) you know of that may help these symptoms? Is areus available in Moscow? If it is, can you tell me where? Thanks!
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Answer:
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| Thank you for your inquiry. If you have taken all the measures that are feasible to reduce the allergen exposure in your house, the possibilities are that you are receiving unwanted exposure that you either can control (i.e. from food) but have not yet identified, or cannot control (i.e. from pollution). It may be worth considering immunotherapy where your allergies are seasonal, not well controlled with drugs, and not responding to environmental adjustment. (Immunotherapy is where specific allergen extracts are injected subcutaneously in increasing doses to patient tolerance as defined by local skin reaction, to encourage 'immunity'). However, as you are writing in the middle of a Russian winter, we assume your allergies are not seasonal. In this case, rather than use OTC (Over the counter) antihistamines - which tend to be cheaper but have more sedating side-effects - we suggest you discuss with your doctor the use of nonsedating antihistamines, plus trying more 'local' therapy i.e. decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, phenylephedrine, the use of topical eye solution to decrease annoying itching, and the use of nasal sprays. (Local treatments like these latter two do not have systemic side effects, but decongestants can have a rebound effect when you stop them). These singly or in combination may be more effective, rather than trying to find a 'better' OTC solution. These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician. Hope this helps
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