D or Aleve Cold & Sinus?
P.S. I would, in your situation, focus on my symptoms and take remedies to soothe them rather than worrying about whether something is labeled “cold” or “allergy” or “sinus”. If I had a productive cough and a sore throat, I would be taking Mucinex with lots and lots of fluids and a mild painkiller like Tylenol or Ibuprofen. If I was congested as well I would also get some pseudoephedrine. If you know your allergies have been bothering you, I would also not stop taking Claritin, but I would not bother with Claritin-D. It’s often easier to just buy the actual medications you need instead of combos – that way you’re not stuck with leftovers that treat more symptoms than you have. IANAD but I have allergies and have had some nasty colds.
Also, an easy way to tell is to notice if anyone else around you is sick. The cold is really contagious, and also, not very common in the summer months. If other people have a cold, then it might be a cold, and if they don’t, then it’s probably allergies. My symptoms are exactly the same for both, because by the time my allergies have gotten to the point where they jack up my immune system so much that I get a respiratory infection and my post-nasal drip from allergies is giving me a sore throat at night, it doesn’t really matter. Allergy medicine, in my mind, is more about the prevention than the cure, but even taking it, sometimes you can get overwhelmed. I would be taking Aleve Cold & Sinus and the allergy medication. I don’t know how it is in Chicago, but down in Austin, it is like, the seasonal allergy Capital of the World, and I think 90% of the time, what people think is “cold” is really “allergy”.
Sounds like a cold to me. I’ve been cursed with a rainbow of allergies my whole life – after while, you’ll develop a sophisticated awareness of your mucous and grossness. Using what you leave in kleenex, you’ll be capable of nuanced self-diagnosis. Welcome to allergies, you lucky dog. Most often, itchy = allergies. Oh, and as a side note – I don’t think you get the most out of your Claritin bottle by taking it daily. I tend to save those little beauties for outbreaks, and work on building my tolerances up the rest of the time. Thing is, neither of the possible culprits here is really curable. Whether it be allergies or virus, you’ve got a miserable, leaking face. Take a hot, steamy shower and drink lots of hot fluids (tea or water w/ lemon – cocoa or coffee is just gonna make things worse for you) And finally, get you some local honey. It’s not a total cure – nothing is – but adding local honey to your diet does help you combat seasonal allergies. Best of luck! Be well!
I would have to say that your “bucket” has filled and you are suffering from seasonal allergies. If you suffer from allergies you have a thershold that, once reached, you begin to feel ill. Once those symptoms take hold- runny nose, itchy throat- it begins to cascade and you can end up with an infection that will need to be treated with anti-botics. In some instances the allergy medicine you are taking does not cover the allergies that you are suffering from. This sounds as if it is the case here. You can go to www.aaaai.org put in your zip code see what pollens are out there that might be causing your problems. Stay on top of the counts and you can head off a problem before it becomes something that sends you to the doctor’s office. The site updates the count for your area everyday except weekends.
