The Dr switched me to Clarinex-D for my allergies since Zyrtec-D went OTC, and at dose I was taking could no longer affford it w/o help from Insurance co.

Well HALELUJAH!! It actually works SO much better!! I told Dr I was sorry I didn't switch sooner. Don't have to take near as much extra pills syrups etc for allergies, coughing etc, etc.

Also Pulmo has me on 7% Saline Solution via Nebulizer several times a week to break up EXTRA HEAVY Congestion & Mucus I get. No side effects, low cost, and again cuts down on the amount of extra "Syrups" & Such I must take. Which equates out to - THANK GOD - Less Diarheaa!! YAY ^db^

I actually almost have a chance for a "Semi-Normal" life now!!! Saw my Endo this week & she was - for a change - THRILLED with my results. Even offered Scrips for 5 mg HC - which she has never done before. I used to have to get my 5 mg Scrips from my pulmo.

So anyone out there with severe allergies I'd highly suggest switching if Zyrtec wasn't QUITE doing it for you. Gal at work's little girl (4 years old) - her Baby's Pulmo just switched her to same med - Clarinex-D & it's working much better for her also.

I also told her about the Saline Solution, but unfortunately, anything beyond a PILL this girl (the Mother) doesn't continue compliance with for her kids. She's a tad on the LAZY side, and doesn't do near as many Nebulizer treatments for the length of time the Dr tells her to.

Glad the Clarinex-D is working...I have noticed that folks are having a hard time with it going OTC...no insurance coverage I can understand. I just bought a bottle of Nasonex Sat. and it was $ 87.00 with my drug discount even...my meds are getting very expensive.

I get so confused about these steroid nasal sprays! When I first started to have symptoms of adrenal problems my ding-bat doctor couldn't find anything "wrong"
with me so she thought I might have allergies. She had me using a spray at bedtime, 2 sprays on each side for months. Of course I didn't have allergies and it did more damage than good. Originally my first endo thought the steroid spray caused the adrenal insufficiency, and if that was correct it would correct itself after 12-18 months. (Is that right?) When it didn't the endo told me that the pituitary had stopped the production of ACTH because of the overuse of the steroids. I don't remember my ACTH Number but I know it was very low. He then pronounced me secondary Addison's. So, I guess I don't understand why the spray messed me up really good, but some Addisonians can use it. I am very tired so maybe that's why I am so corn-fused. :blink:
Maureen

It seems that some people are more suseptible to having their HPA axis affected by steroid than others. I've known several people who've been on steroids for crohn's disease for very long periods of time and their HPA axis comes back on line after a long taper. But then there are others whose HPA axis just goes capute after limited dosages of steroids. So it is highly possible that your AI was caused by steroid nasal sprays. I've even heard of it happening to someone with excema that used steroid cream alot and got AI. I wish they knew why some do OK and some don't...

(grh)

I agree...there are those who take large doses of steroids and their HPA does come back after a careful taper. I knew one lady who had taken steroids many times for her allergies and lung problems and this doctor took her down 10 mg. of prednisone at once and she was able to deal with it. I told her that's too much and too fast and she later told me it was really hard on her! Of course it was...she must have been miserable. So, everyone is different and some are in more danger than others I think...it would be interesting to know why.

Saline in the nebulizer sounds very interesting!! :rolleyes: I must ask my doc about that, since the antihistamine nasal spray was causing restless legs. Amazing the things we find here. (grh)

You will have to google "7% Saline Solution" & get the "RECIPE" from the CF Fdtn.

My Doc Prescribed 10% Saline (which I get in HUGE PLastiv vials) CUT w/ 0.09% vials (BOTH SINGLE USE)

You squirt 10% in nebulizer cup - 4 ml. (Waste extra) then add one single use vial of 0.09% & mix. Then draw off 4 ml. & dump balance. Resulting 4 ml. in Syringe squeeze back into neb cup & use.

The Pharmaceutical co's don't yet make a struct 7%. You can order it from the CF fdtn Pharmacy by getting your doc to send scrip to them & they process & mail to you, but I have heard it's more expenisve that way. Doing it they way I do, is the cheapest way - even tho' you do have to waste some of it.

I'll try to find link & post it

http://www.uwhealth.org/servlet/Satellite?...FFY&c=FlexGroup

Try that one it's the one I used.

PS: I use a "Facemask" with the nuebulizer & that way it treats both my Sinuses (for that God Awful post nasal drip & stuffiness) & my Chronic Coughing, Clearing my throat etc, from the Excessive Mucus production.

This has been used very Successfully for a lot of CF patients.

First time you do it it may Sting" nostrils a little, but it really clears you up nicely.

Thanks for the link Kathy - I'm not sure about using it because it mentions possible lung problems, and I'm asthmatic. :( (grh)

So am I Marti, SEVERELY. It just LEGALLY Has to mention it as a Disclaimer. Might cause coughing first time.

http://www.chestjournal.org/cgi/content/full/120/6/1815

Heres a good article regarding using it especially for Asthmatics. However, most research using it has been done so far with CF patients.

Keep in mind too you can use different "Concentrations" - anywhere between If it makes you cough at 7%, you can DILUTE it further. I actually first began inhaling the 0.09% strength and then worked my way up.

Keep in mind also with Addisons our Saline/Salt Bodily ratio is always a little "OFF". So it makes sense that it might help when BOTH illnesses/diseases
coexist.

The nice thing is - it's totally Safe. Even tho' you need a scrip for it, it's really NOT a DRUG or Medicine. It's something that already exists in our bodies. You;re just increasing it's presence at the "Cellular Level".

Maureen,

According to everything I've read (which is EXTENSIVE, BUT COULD be wrong they learn new stuff every day) and from what my Pulmo & past GP's who were VERY experienced in Allergy Patient's treatment & SOME of them even experienced treating Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency, You CANNOT get Permanent Secondary Addisons (AI) from "Short Term INHALED Steroids". The key words here being PERMANENT (that won't snap back after mo's to maybe a year) and SHORT TERM. Inhaled only steroids (I'm told) would take YEARS & YEARS of TOO MUCH or too high a dose to cause PERMANENT reduction in ACTH and then resulting is PERMANENT UNREVERSIBLE AI. At least that's what the Medical Experts "CLAIM".

But as most of us with Allergies/Asthma know it's not just the Inhaled Steroids. It's the ORAL & INjected that do the most damage.

Keep in mind too Mo, Dr's are always looking for Something or someone to blame (OTHER THAN THEMSELVES) when we come down w/ this disease, ESPECIALLY when it's SECONDARY & there is a past history of Steroids even mentioned.

I know Steroids can actually be, by some, thought of as "The Devils" Meds, but I think in general they just get AUTOMATICALLY blamed by LAZY Dr's that don't want to search for a "Deeper" hidden cause. Heck it would mean more WORK on their part, and actually some THINKING!! HEAVEN FORBID we actually make them THINK or WORK for their (Fabulous) salaries!! :lol:

Will be interesting to see w/ my Doc what happens. Now that my Vitamin D has tested out EXTREMELY LOW (19.9 when it should be - MIN. 32.0 or above) now she's thinking POSSIBLY - a Parathyroid problem - which I and Jennifer (Rumpled) have been thinking is possible all along. This COULD have caused my AI/Addison's - goes along w/ all my test results from back then, symptoms etc. All along She kept INSISTING it was TEMP. AI caused by A (Few) Lg doses of Steroids!!

However, (right now with the Vitamin D level) she's firstly blaming (again) the Steroids. YET in the next breath she (& all other Doc's) will say that at a SIMPLE REplacement Dose of steroids (which I am on & I use HC) that "Steroid Related Complications should NOT happen"!! :wacko: DUH!! HELLO!! Can we make up our minds here??!! (Course we all know about THAT statement too huh??!)

PS: I have been taking Vitamin D ever since 2006 when I was also diagnosed w/ Osteopenia. Regularly, 800 mg daily and at times as much as 2,000 mg. daily. So obviously there's a REASON my body ISN'T Absorbing the Vitamin D.

So if my AI WAS caused by Steroids, which is VERY likely, It did not just happen OVernight & it's NOT temporary since I've been being given EXTREMELY Lg doses of Steroids REGULARLY since the age of 13!! My Adrenal Gland was "Destroyed" from YEARS of Steroid Usage cause the Dr's didn;t know what else to do w/ me so they CONSTANTLY PUMPED Steroids into me - Orally, Nasally, Pulmonary AND IV.

Also, I have exhibited signs for a long time of Parathyroid dysfunction, but she didn't want to hear it cause that would mean she'd been "Missing" it all this time.
She has me on 50,000 IU of Vitamin D twice a week for a mo. & then I'll be retested. According to medical sources, if my Vitamin D level does not raise up after supplementing w/ these LARGE doses, then (FINALLY) she will test for (POSSIBLE) Parathyroid problem(s). :blink: :wacko: :lol: Isn't this what I've been asking all along?!?!

Anyway back to the original post reply, SUPPOSEDLY short term usage of low dose (which that is relatively low dose compared to most of us ALLERGY folks out there) INHALED steroids results in the LOWEST possible concentration of the Steroids in our Bloodstream. IE: Inhaled Steroids, whether Nasally or by Mouth, INHALED are the SAFEST Form of Steroids, and RARELY of & by themselves cause AI or HPA Axis Suppression. Certainly, not especially once the Inhaled Steroids are discontinued. Again, I think your Doc is simply looking for a scapegoat.

For some reason Doc's HATE to admit that our AI/Addison's COULD Be "The Real McCoy" PRimary Addison's, or even Secondary due to Pituitary or Thyroid or Parathyroid, but they have absolutely NO problems blaming Secondary AI due to Steroid Usage. I think because they know it's the "EASIEST" - GENERALLY, to treat.

Kathy,
My daughter's dr. just switched her from Zyrtec to Allegra and her reaction was the same as your's. She feels better than ever! Zyrtec was making her soooo sleepy and she has been taking it every spring - fall since she was 6 years old! (She's almost 21 now.)
I'm glad the Claritin-D made such a big difference. Good to hear good news!
Rebecca

Just a note....clarintin-D otc, and clarinex-d is a script......2 different drugs....

Zyrtec is doing nothing for my son this yr......I am calling the dr for something else tomorrow.....
Diane

Kathy K, Thanks for your in-depth reply to my post. Everything you say really makes me sit back and say "HMMMMMMMMMMM". We all know that doctors are clueless sometimes and don't want to admit they could possibly be wrong. Your info has made me think...thanks.
Maureen

Kathy.....a new line of business for you......be a medical 'consultant' or 'advocate'.....get people info etc...and share you info on all this stuff.......I think it could be a business!

Help folks keep track of all their medical stuff.....I swear there is a business here!!
Diane

NO Prob! You're welcome. Hope it helps

PS: To Rebecca,

Yes, like Dianne said Clarinex-D & Claritin-D are two seperate drugs. Used the Claritin in the past & it didn't do any better than the Zyrtec.

Glad your daughter's switch helped her too. Sometimes I think the body just gets "Immune" after a while to the same meds day after day.