How do your DC react to anti-histamines?

[Nacster]

How do you deal with side effects?

DS1 has 10ml per day of Clarityn, which produces a little drowsiness but not too bad. Yesterday he had a bad reaction in the evening (he has a pollen allergy - not hayfever, but a severe allergy) so had 10ml of Piriton on top. Also has montelukast and various inhalers.

He woke up totally zombified and in horrible form, seemed hungover really. And STILL has puffy eyes, but I didn't want to give him more piriton.

He's performing badly at school and generally just zonked, poor little dude.

He's nearly 8.

Hi,
I strongly advise you to try a different antihistamines as each chemical works in a different way and sometimes will not work well for certain people. Clarityn(loratadine) doesn't work for us whereas cetirizine(various brand names) does. We get ours on prescription in pill form and my 10year old has been swollowing these since age six. They are tiny pills so it makes it easy. We just keep piriton for food allergies. All antihistamines build up to work at their optimum so its worth starting skightly before hayfever season and take them religiously at the same time of day.
I would also mention it to the teachers at school.
Its miserable isnt it!

For the puffy eyes I would use cold water on cotton wool and leave on his eyes for a few minutes. Is he good with drops, if so get some artificial tears and keep them in the fridge - I find these a great relief and can use them as frequently as I want.
Otherwise you need to minimise his exposure. Keep his bedroom windows closed, shower/wash hair frequently, wear sunglasses in pollen season. I find that this helps so I can take minimum doses of anti-histamine which helps with the groggy feeling.

my dd tried the benadryl (sp) medicine (under 6) and gave her an upest stomach and loose poos (but not diarrhoea iyswim) Shes on piriton now and seems to be much better

Sorry, he is on cetirizine now, it was Loratidine, but he was too dopey. Started them daily on 1st of March, as that's when the tree pollen starts.

They won't give the pills for some reason, he'd far rather have those!

I tumble dry everything now - nothing line dried. Windows and doors closed as soon as we hear a lawn mower! Eye drops are terribly distressing (he also has ASD, and very sensitive eyes.)

In good news, either he's grown out of his solar urticaria or the regular anti histamines are keeping it at bay, so our impetigo season hasn't started yet! (he picks at hives.)

our kids take the daily antihistamines at night all year round.

son has two daily types, and one emergency and can increase one of the daily ones for severe episodes.

has dust and pollen filter in bedroom, which really helps, hubby has one for when his asthma flares as well.

sun glasses and hats with peaks help as well.
vaseline up the nose,
and cover ezcema skin on arms as pollen can enter there as well.

7yr old was on daily loratadine, plus piriton, didn't seem to have any adverse effects but still suffering with hayfever.

now have daily fexofenadine (tablets) and piriton. still suffering but only bn on fexofenadine since Friday.