Allegra vs. Zyrtec (Read 1422 times)

Any insight? I have been on Allegra for almost 3 years...plus Flonase for a couple of years...and Advair 250/50 for asthma for the past year. Unfortunately, it seems that the seasonal allergies beast is hitting me extra hard all of a sudden this past week. The nasal steroids work reasonably well, but I still need the help from an additional oral med. I think if I can better control my allergies that the asthma will also not be such an issue, at least this is what my PCP has alluded to. A couple of years ago I was on Singulair, which did little, unfortunately. I've heard good things about Zyrtec, but wonder if it will be much more effective than the Allegra. I'm assuming that since this is also available OTC that there would be a generic prescription version, too...correct? Gah, I am just so danged sick and tired of being sick and tired EVERY FRIGGIN' SPRING!!! My mom has even commented that she remembers how miserably sick I would get ever since about junior high. There were no nasal steroid sprays or non-drowsy allergy treatments then, either (Benadryl still probably works best for me, but knocks me flat on my ass and makes me feel dehydrated all the time).

Zyrtec makes me so tired that I can barely function...even when I took it at night...but I have heard that is does not affect everyone like this. Good luck - I hope you find the combo that works for ya...it's all trial and error...

Oh, I'll just jump in my car and bring over my bottle of Zyrtec for you to try. I have almost a full bottle because it did nothing for me. But my snot problems might have been more of a cold and less allergy related. 'Think you could make me a sandwich when I get there? I might be a little hungry from the cross country drive.

Oh, I'll just jump in my car and bring over my bottle of Zyrtec for you to try. I have almost a full bottle because it did nothing for me. But my snot problems might have been more of a cold and less allergy related. 'Think you could make me a sandwich when I get there? I might be a little hungry from the cross country drive.

Ha, if you don't drive too fast I can even run out and get all the ingredients you'd like.

Allegra is not generic. Zyrtec is probably more expensive since you have to pay the full price. I'd suspect that a generic would be ~$10-15 per month.

Ok, maybe "Allegra" is not generic, but Fexofenadine is...are you playing a semantics game, Dr. Trent? If Fexofenadine were not generic I'd be paying a lot more than $5/month (our standard generic prescription drug co-pay) for it.

Zoomy, FWIW, I also spent my junior high and high school years in a fog every spring because Benedryl was the only thing that worked, but it made me soo tired I could barely function. I tried Allegra and it did absolutely nothing for me. Zyrtec has worked great for me for the past 3 years. It does not make me tired at all like the Benedryl did. I actually can make it through the month of May now without either sleeping through it or having sneezing fits.

Oh, this sounds so promising! Your reactions to things appear to be similar to mine. Oh, and what made junior high allergy issues even worse was that our Science teacher liked to pop Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" tapes in during class and shut the lights off. He would get pissed when I would completely zonk-out in class, but I physically could. not. stay. awake. Benadryl + soothing Sagan + dark room = not-so-zoomy zoomy.

Oh, this sounds so promising! Your reactions to things appear to be similar to mine. Oh, and what made junior high allergy issues even worse was that our Science teacher liked to pop Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" tapes in during class and shut the lights off. He would get pissed when I would completely zonk-out in class, but I physically could. not. stay. awake. Benadryl + soothing Sagan + dark room = not-so-zoomy zoomy.

I had a biology class that the teacher left the lights off for also. I had trouble staying awake so I would try to not take any Benadryl too close to her class. Which meant it had totally worn off by the time her class was over. I spent one class period sneezing the entire time, even though I went ahead and took another Benedryl. It didn't take effect in time. At the end of that school year she gave out awards to some of the students. Mine was "Miss Allergy" Look for a small starter pack of Zyrtec, I know they carried them last year, so I'm assuming they are still out there. Was like a 5 pack for right around $5.99. Gives you enough to try them for a few days to see if they will work. (Seems to take a few days for me if I'm in full blown "mess mode") and you're not out too much money if they don't.

Look for a small starter pack of Zyrtec, I know they carried them last year, so I'm assuming they are still out there. Was like a 5 pack for right around $5.99. Gives you enough to try them for a few days to see if they will work. (Seems to take a few days for me if I'm in full blown "mess mode") and you're not out too much money if they don't.

Even better! Apparently the OTC version is generic (does this mean the script would be, too?). Meijer had their store version on sale...it's usually $18/45, but it was $3 off. So I can try it for 6 weeks, which will get me through the worst of Spring allergy season if it works...and if it does I will know to ask my PCP about a full script or just keep buying the OTC generic when it's on sale.