Is there something better for cat allergy than over the counter antihistamines?

[chocolatespiders]

Ds is allergic to cats and when we visit my mum's his symptoms are hightened despite using antihistamines, petal cleanse on cats and an allergy barrier nasal spray.

Can a GP prescribe a stronger antihistamine? Or will be wasting their time.

Thanks

There are alternatives like phenergan, but they are rarely given as they are so sedating. There is a stronger nasal spray you can be prescribed short term though I can’t remember what it as called. Not sure if any age restriction to it though

Have you thought about an air purifier that removes allergens ( cat dand is the culprit )do a google search, it will bring up lots of info & they have some fab reviews. I'm currently considering getting one as everyone who visits is allergic to my cat!

Very interested in this thread as me and my DP seem to have an intermittent allergy to a very much loved adopted cat ( he moved in and we love the bones of him despite the sneezes and runny noses)

I wish there were. I developed an allergy to cats in my early twenties and find myself unable to breathe properly and eyes itching to high heaven if someone is near me at work, in a café or on a train with cat hair on their coat or clothes. I never go to the house of anyone who owns a cat. I have been to the doctor's and taken blood tests that show I have a moderate allergy to cats - stronger than mild but not life-threatening. They prescribed me ceterizine (which I can buy over the counter) and said to stay away from cats. The ceterizine only works at all if taken before I come into contact with the cat, and the alleviating effect is quite weak even on the occasions when I've double-dosed.

They did offer me an allergy injection, to be fair. Not my cup of tea; I'd rather avoid cats. So I don't know if the injection would've worked better. Kids at the school where I teach get the injections for hayfever and are still coughing and sneezing and red-eyes so that hasn't convinced me personally, I'm afraid...

Depends a lot on what the symptoms are you're trying to alleviate. I had terrible cat allergies as a child, and though antihistamines made things better (in the sense that I didn't have the same hives or swollen eyes I would otherwise have had) I was still miserable as I couldn't breathe.

A fast acting inhaler made a world of difference, and made what was misery merely seriously unpleasant. Ventolin was (and is) my favourite.

But I would add: if you don't have environmental allergies yourself, I know it's hard to imagine the awfulness of them. But thirty years on, I can still remember being taken to houses with cats and suffering terribly. Animal allergies can be miserable. Even with antihistamines.

Even as an adult I have found myself in situations where I've felt helpless to do anything other than leave - an option a child obviously does not have.

I know you're bearing that in mind, and are obviously concerned as you've been worried enough to post. Just highlighting it because I wish someone had been able to do so for me when I was small.

My ds has cat allergy. We never visit someone who has a cat, meet outside. When necessary, we always get hotels nearby and don't go into their house. Simple and less stressful for ds. Why do you need to expose your ds to known allergen ? If it was food allergy, you wouldn't give them something they are allergic to and give them stronger medication to counteract that?

What irvine said. I wouldn't put myself or my child in a situation where you have to rely on Ventolin!

There's something called Petal cleanse which you wipe over the cats fur and it is supposed to reduce the allergens. No idea if it works but maybe worth a try?

Oops sorry just read your OP again and petal cleanse not working
(New Year's Resolution- read OP properly)

DD1 has been taking fexifenidine (sp) and that seems to be working okay. Its not OTC though

Honestly, just see your mum out of her home. It's a horrible thing to do to a child. If the usual antihistamines aren't working then his allergy is obviously fairly bad and you are risking making it worse through repeated exposures. And the feeling of being drugged up and still fighting allergy is horible and exhausting.