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http://mastcelldisorders.wallack.us/yabb/YaBB.pl General Mast Cell Disorders Discussion >> General Mast Cell Disorder Discussion >> Allegra OTC reaction? http://mastcelldisorders.wallack.us/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1304907817 Message started by gnbailey on 05/08/11 at 15:23:37

Title: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by gnbailey on 05/08/11 at 15:23:37

Well, my Hematologist said that I could add Allergra OTC 180 to my mix of meds. So, I tried it today and must have reacted to some of the the inactive ingredients. I had to use my epi - pen and you all know the rest of the drill.
What is so frustrating is that today was the first day in 2 weeks that I was feeling better!

Have any of you had problems with Allegra OTC? I looked and I guess it was the pregelatinized starch that they contain that I reacted to.

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by mikev on 05/09/11 at 02:24:19

Gaynell:
I've had a problem with allegra OTC as well. After my aborted attempt with ketotifn & the inactive ingrediant of cornstarch maybe being the problem. I looked at the rest of what I was taking and to my amazment the generic zyrtec has cornstarch. So looked to switch to allegra. 2 efforts have failed with resulting nausia & diarrhea. So looked more closely at the regular zyrtec & it has no cornstarch, so been trying it for a couple days. Will see how it goes.
Mike V

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by gnbailey on 05/09/11 at 02:29:59

Mike,

Hi there, I also have problems with corn and the name brand Zyrtec does not bother me at all. And let me tell you, I have tested it! I am now taking 40 mg a day and have not had any problems.
Good luck to you!!

Gaynell

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by DeborahW, Founder on 05/09/11 at 02:51:34

Does the OTC allegra contain any different ingredients from the prescription allegra?

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by gnbailey on 05/09/11 at 03:16:11

Actually, not that I can see. The OTC allegra contains pregelantized starch, which is what probably caused my shock. The oral suspension does not have this but it does contain Xanthum gum, which does have a msg element that I react to. And the suspension is only 30 mg/ 5 ml and I was going to have to take so much to get to the 180 mg that I tried the pill.
In hindsight, not a wise decision!

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by Riverwn on 05/09/11 at 08:24:02

Hi Gaynell :)
I wont use Allegra--because I have an allergy to Seldane (which was taken off the market). They are made by the same company and the ingredients are similar, so I refuse to take it.. Have you ever reacted to Seldane?? I hope its going better for you now :)
Hugs
Ramona

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by jbean on 05/10/11 at 12:58:35

Can't do Allegra at all! Makes me sick as a dog. Can't explain why.

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by DeborahW, Founder on 05/10/11 at 13:39:29

Oh, I love allegra....prescription version, that is.

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by gnbailey on 05/10/11 at 14:50:19

Is anyone taking more than 10 mg Singulair. I feel that I am undermedicated if I keep reacting. And I am pretty much self medicating until I see the specialist June 16.

They do have me tapering my Prednisone and today was the first day I was only on 10mg. Kinda worried that this was helping me not shock as much....although I have used epi pen 5 times in the last 2 weeks!

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by Starflower on 05/10/11 at 15:09:13

I've been taking 30mg/day of Singulair since last August... for me it does wonders! 10mg is the standard dose though. My insurance company put up a serious stink about the 30mg, but my hematologist was willing to fight for it. He said we could go as high as 60mg/day. In some people it can cause depression and suicidal thoughts (yikes), but I haven't noticed any negative side effects. I actually have ENERGY again :)

Heather

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by jbean on 05/14/11 at 03:54:10

Singulair makes me feel awful too.

Basically MOST medications make me feel awful... worse than the masto sometimes!!!!

It makes me difficult to treat.... hence the reason that I usually wind up drinking Sweet Leaf Mint and Honey tea by default.... that makes me feel GOOD! (no, I don't own stock in that company!)

Oh my, what's to be done? :-/

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by gnbailey on 05/14/11 at 06:57:29

Jbean, you are lucky that you can drink tea! I can only drink water and it is getting REALLY old! :(

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by jbean on 05/14/11 at 07:19:17

Sorry to hear that Gaynell! I know how you feel about the prednisone taper and shocking. I just got out of the hospital from all of this three weeks ago, and am just coming down to my last prednisone today. Wondering what will happen? Kind of scarey at times isn't it!

Are you on Gastrocrom? That seems to have helped me the best. Most of my reactions seem to start in the gi, and bumping up my gastrcrom seemed to help the most in "shutting it down."

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by gnbailey on 05/14/11 at 09:08:34

jbean,
I am not on Gastocom - but I have not seen the mast doc yet either. But, I have very mild gastro symptoms right now.
My meds are:
Zyrtec 20 mg twice a day
Zantac 300 twice a day
Singulair 10 once a day (although I think I am going to increase to twice/day)

I am on the last day of Prednisone 10 mg and then going down to 5 mg for 5 days. And I agree, my allergist doesn't really know that I don't have Prednisone dependent Idiopathic Anaphylaxis - so we are testing it to see. And I agree, it is scary! I hate going into shock!

I hope you do well off the Prednisone! I will be keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Gaynell

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by Sandi on 05/21/11 at 18:44:02

Gaynell I cannot have brand allegra either, I believe it's the pregelatinized startch, I totally tolerate Tevas allegra. It's just become a nightmare because of the over the counter conversion, so it's going from RX to OTC, the generics also, You can get the 180 mg Teva brand at Sams Club or possibly Wal-Mart called or should I say branded "members mark" brand. So far they only have 180 mg, I tolerate their 60 and take it throughout the day I like to be able to add more, more often depending upon how I feel, I'm about to run out and am going to have to try the 180 of members mark. I cannot tell you how incredible it changed my life! I'll let you know when I hear from the manufacturer on the 60 mg. So far Perrigo and Members Mark fexofenadine are the only teva I can find. Luckily they color with iron oxides and I seem to do ok with those.

Title: Re: Allegra OTC reaction?
Post by Sandi on 05/21/11 at 18:45:47

Dr Readdy's Lab is another pregelatinized startch company, I got horribly sick on theirs. Multiple times with different meds before I figured it out!