anti-histamines for 9 yr old

[N0tfinished]

My 9 yr old boy has ASD & is non-verbal for the most part. The ASD is only relevant in that he can't communicate how he's feeling...

The problem is that he has rotten hayfever just now. He seems really under the weather these hot dry days - nose streaming, coughing and rubbing eyes.

I haven't found an anti-histamine that works well, they all make him sleepy & withdrawn. Trying zirtek right now, it does work to stop nose running etc, but he spends all day lying about or asking to go to bed! I kept him home from school today because he was so miserable this morning...

My choice right now is to send him to school either miserable with hayfever or give him a spoon of medicine and send him in feeling very tired & not himself at all! He's generally a sweet cheerful boy.

Can anyone help from your experiences? Has anyone found something that works without making their LO really withdrawn (or hyper !)

[SoupDragon]

Both Citirizine and Loratidine (in generic tablet form and thus cheap!) worked for my DS with no discernible side effects . As did liquid Benadryl.

[SoupDragon]

It might be worth visiting your GP as they may have other options.

[GreenMarkerPen]

my 9yo takes cetirizine as and when. the tablets with a spoon if jam to help swallowing. they don't make dc drowsy.

[SallyGardens]

My DS (11yo) gets really bad hayfever too, he's been sent home from school on several occasions because of it. He takes Pirotin tablets, which don't make him drowsy, but don't always suppress all the symptoms. Zirtc, Clarytin and their generics just didn't work at all for him.

His GP prescribed a nasal steroid spray to be taken every morning, would that be a possibility for your DS? Mine has DCD/SPD so can't stand the sensation of some of the sprays and eyedrops but if he's bad enough, he can be talked into them.

[SallyGardens]

Zirtec is Cetirizine fwiw, it's just the brand name for it.

[N0tfinished]

Thanks. I'll start with the pharmacist to discuss alternatives & make a GP appointment too. I'm restricted to liquids, couldn't get him to take a tablet I'd say.

I'd never heard of a nasal spray, that sounds promising.

[lordsteatime]

start taking at bed time. try nasal sprays.

is he comfortable with sunglasses?

next year start taking anthistamine a 2 weeks to a month before his allergy season starts, this will have a build up effect and lesson side effects.