Is there an allergy pill that is similar to a celestone allergy injection?

Question

I have tried several allergy pills over the years, they are now all over the counter and don't work. When I get a celestone allergy injection it works right away, is there a pill similar to that injection?

Answer 1

Celestone injections work for you because this is a "corticosteroid".  (IT is not the same as illegal steroids that athletes use to bulk up.)  It is actually NOT an allergy med -- it stops the allergic response in a totally different way.   I imagine you are NOT getting these very frequently!   If you are getting them frequently, your doctor is mis-using them.

Is your doc using this medicine to stop an asthma attack?  There are good asthma pills that are taken daily, of different sorts, to help prevent asthma attacks.  People with asthma also use "rescue inhalers" (they breathe in the medicine) that have steroids in them to stop a wheezing attack.

There ARE oral (taken by mouth) corticosteroid pills, but these types of steroids are typically an emergency type measure, for after a very bad allergic reaction.  

If you are very allergic, you'd also want to consider carrying an epi-pen at all times.  This in a medicine that is injected by needle when you have a bad reaction to food or insect bites.

I have found the allergy pills that are supposed to be "non-sedating" (don't make you sleepy) to not be too effective, either!  The only one that works for me is tripolidine, which WILL make you sleepy. It's  in Actifed and the generic equivalent of Actifed.  You must ask for it at the pharmacist's counter, tho, because it has another ingredient in it that the pharmacists must register.  

Be sure to ALWAYS tell any doc or NP (Nurse Practitioner) or PA (physician's assistant ) about ALL the medicines, herbs, vitamins, supplements, etc. (including herbal drinks and teas) that you are taking, as some medicines or herbs might interfere with other ones.

Have you considered allergy shots?  For me, they have made a major difference in my life:  i can be outside, or go to a friend's house with a cat or dog, but before the shots i could not do this.  I carry an epipen and an inhaler at all times.  I also wear a necklace with an alert on it that i have asthma.

I hope you are seeing a CERTIFIED allergist for your allergy management!

i hope this helps!

kathy MSN, RN