Re: Vitamin C as antihistamine, NAC, Zyrtec/Singulair

[Guest guest]

thank you for the great information. If I could ask, what is the name of the NAC supplement you are taking? I am definitely going to have to check out the " Reversing Asthma " book. I really have a hard time with all the steroids. I take allegra 180 but it gets expensive with it not being formulary with my insurance company on acount of Claritin being over the counter. I am willing to try everything and anything. Thanks Huffy

Deb, I've read that vitamin C in larger doses may have an antihistamineeffect in Firshein's Reversing Asthma book. I tried taking 2000mg a day, but didn't find it made a big difference for me. I also have

restless leg syndrome. It started during my 3rd pregnancy and continuedafter and I absolutely could not sleep! The doc said it often can befrom low amounts of calcium and magnesium and since then I've found

taking extra calcium 1000 mg and magnesium 500 mg with my vitamins makesit much better. I can sure tell the difference if I forget to takethem. I don't know that they would help for everyone, but it sure made

a difference for me.I have found Zyrtec to be the most effective thing for my severeallergies. I also take Singulair for my asthma and they can be takentogether. Zyrtec blocks histamine and Singulair blocks leukotrienes, so

they attack allegies by two different paths. I've tried all the otherantihistamines, but found Zyrtec best, although my allergist said itmakes about 10% of people drowsy, even though it's listed as being

non-drowsy. He said it's mostly noticed that they fall asleep whenthey're just sitting around but it isn't very noticeable if you're upand active. He said he never gives it to people like long haul

truckers, but that it's generally the most effective of the " non-drowsy " choices.Barb, I use a supplement with NAC that I add on to the Zyrtec during mypeak allergy season, as I'm still miserable on just the Zyrtec during

ragweed season. It has helped. It includes NAC, bromelain, quercitin,stinging nettles and vitamin C. I tried taking the NAC supplementalone, but had to add the Zyrtec back on, as it just wasn't enough tocontrol my symptoms by itself. I think it might work alone for someone

with milder allergies though. I got about the same effect as taking aclaritin (which I was on before switching to the Zyrtec) from it.

[Guest guest]

The NAC supplement I use is called Breathe Clear targeted sinus support

system with NAC and quercitin, but I get it from an internet company via

mail order. I think you could probably find something similar at a

health food store (our local one carries all kind of herbal and vitamin

stuff for things). They might have something similar in the drugstore

vitamin section also.

You might consider trying the Zyrtec- it has gone over the counter in

2008 but it's kind of expensive. You'd have to see which is cheaper-the

nonformulary Allegra or the Zyrtec. There's nothing like being caught

between a rock and the insurance company, is there? Steroids are no

fun!!! Although as my doctor puts it, breathing is not optional so you

do what you have to do.

The Reversing Asthma book is definitely worth a read. I found it at

Borders book store a few years ago. Like I said in an earlier post, I

don't agree with everything in it, but the section on supplements is

worth the price of the book. Like you, I'm willing to try most things

to see if it helps.

Good luck,

>

> >

> > Deb, I've read that vitamin C in larger doses may have an

antihistamine

> > effect in Firshein's Reversing Asthma book. I tried taking

2000

> > mg a day, but didn't find it made a big difference for me. I also

have

> > restless leg syndrome. It started during my 3rd pregnancy and

continued

> > after and I absolutely could not sleep! The doc said it often can be

> > from low amounts of calcium and magnesium and since then I've found

> > taking extra calcium 1000 mg and magnesium 500 mg with my vitamins

makes

> > it much better. I can sure tell the difference if I forget to take

> > them. I don't know that they would help for everyone, but it sure

made

> > a difference for me.

> >

> > I have found Zyrtec to be the most effective thing for my severe

> > allergies. I also take Singulair for my asthma and they can be taken

> > together. Zyrtec blocks histamine and Singulair blocks leukotrienes,

so

> > they attack allegies by two different paths. I've tried all the

other

> > antihistamines, but found Zyrtec best, although my allergist said it

> > makes about 10% of people drowsy, even though it's listed as being

> > non-drowsy. He said it's mostly noticed that they fall asleep when

> > they're just sitting around but it isn't very noticeable if you're

up

> > and active. He said he never gives it to people like long haul

> > truckers, but that it's generally the most effective of the

" non-drowsy "

> > choices.

> >

> > Barb, I use a supplement with NAC that I add on to the Zyrtec during

my

> > peak allergy season, as I'm still miserable on just the Zyrtec

during

> > ragweed season. It has helped. It includes NAC, bromelain,

quercitin,

> > stinging nettles and vitamin C. I tried taking the NAC supplement

> > alone, but had to add the Zyrtec back on, as it just wasn't enough

to

> > control my symptoms by itself. I think it might work alone for

someone

> > with milder allergies though. I got about the same effect as taking

a

> > claritin (which I was on before switching to the Zyrtec) from it.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, I remember it was a high dose of vitamin C. I think I was taking 2000 mg at the time. My doctor didn't agree with it and he told me most of it would wind up down the toilet. I guess that discouraged me from taking it after it. I used to take Claritin then they switched me to Zyrtec with Nasonex and a sinus med added on. Now i just take Nasonex. I did buy Sudafed PE for when I need it and it works very well!

I've been taking a daily vitamin (Centrum) but I think that I should take some extras, like C and especially iron since I have anemia (Thalassemia).

Deb

Deb, I've read that vitamin C in larger doses may have an antihistamineeffect in Firshein's Reversing Asthma book. I tried taking 2000mg a day, but didn't find it made a big difference for me. I also haverestless leg syndrome. It started during my 3rd pregnancy and continuedafter and I absolutely could not sleep! The doc said it often can befrom low amounts of calcium and magnesium and since then I've foundtaking extra calcium 1000 mg and magnesium 500 mg with my vitamins makesit much better. I can sure tell the difference if I forget to takethem. I don't know that they would help for everyone, but it sure madea difference for me.I have found Zyrtec to be the most effective thing for my severeallergies. I also take Singulair for my asthma and they can be takentogether. Zyrtec blocks histamine and Singulair blocks leukotrienes, sothey attack allegies by two different paths. I've tried all the otherantihistamines, but found Zyrtec best, although my allergist said itmakes about 10% of people drowsy, even though it's listed as beingnon-drowsy. He said it's mostly noticed that they fall asleep whenthey're just sitting around but it isn't very noticeable if you're upand active. He said he never gives it to people like long haultruckers, but that it's generally the most effective of the "non-drowsy"choices.Barb, I use a supplement with NAC that I add on to the Zyrtec during mypeak allergy season, as I'm still miserable on just the Zyrtec duringragweed season. It has helped. It includes NAC, bromelain, quercitin,stinging nettles and vitamin C. I tried taking the NAC supplementalone, but had to add the Zyrtec back on, as it just wasn't enough tocontrol my symptoms by itself. I think it might work alone for someonewith milder allergies though. I got about the same effect as taking aclaritin (which I was on before switching to the Zyrtec) from it.

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[Guest guest]

,

That sounds like a great formula!

I have never tried nettles,

had heard about it though.

Alana

>>>>>> It includes NAC, bromelain, quercitin,

> stinging nettles and vitamin C.

[Guest guest]

I was looking at an older magazine in the library yesterday,and there

was an article mentioning taking 1000mg of Vit C as an anithistamine.