Satsuma @Satsuma@cat.family

@viscountexx rn i am taking cetirizine (you can get over the counter in 10 mg dose but its generally considered safe to prescribe up to 3x that). usually i just take 10 mg but i double up when i’m getting allergy shots (more on that later) or want to hang out with cats (cats are worth taking extra meds for).

there are a couple other otc allergy brands on market but my understanding is cetirizine is notable for having extremely few side effects or drug interactions so its considered extremely safe and widely prescribed as a result, (bc its so safe, during the early pandemic there were some studies where hospitals handed out cetirizine to covid patients just to see and it did seem to marginally reduce severity, transmission, and risk of long covid!)

when i was younger i took levoceterizine instead which is uhh, basically the same except it was a prescription generic so my insurance covered it and that was cheaper—if otc medications are a difficult budget item ask yr doctor if getting a prescription for ceterizine or levoceterizine is an option!

i also currently take montelukast (og brand name singulaar i think but mines generic) which is specifically for reducing lung inflammation. its most common side effect is remembering your dreams / dreaming with uncommon clarity. but it *can* also cause mental health issues (depression, suicidal ideation) in some patients, particularly ones already prone to that. previously it was prescribed widely but these days best i believe practice is to not prescribe unless you have allergy induced asthma (which i do tho i was prescribed before some of the bigger mental health issues were so well known) and to advise patients to stop if immediately if their brain starts going dark places. personally I (neurodivergent, bonus anxiety) have never had issues, while my older sibling (neurodivergent & bipolar) gets the dreams but nothing else but obv ymmv

more recently (by which i mean uh, six years ago?) i have started getting allergy shots. this is probably the priciest allergy treatment option (you need to get tests to determine what you’re allergic to and then the vials are hand mixed to your specific allergen profile) and needs to be administered by a trained nurse but it does work *really* well. i saw a dramatic improvement in both my allergies and asthma after only a couple months in, and could basically stop using inhalers by the end of the first year (masking has also helped w/this bc i my mask cuts down on the amount of perfume etc setting me off)

@viscountexx if you want info about the options for allergy treatments i have tried many options and am happy to share my experiences!

@TheBookewyrme welcome! there’s a nice group of people who read MXTX’s novels here so i am sure you’ll fit right in!

@Lady wait are u complaining