Astelin is an antihistamine nose-spray available by prescription only. This is a second generation antihistamine that is not supposed to make you as sleepy as Benedryl, which makes me exceptionally drowsy.
I've been using this now for about 2 weeks and find it to be quite effective. For the first week or so, I sneezed every time I took it, and my nose ran. These effects are decreasing, but I also no longer have as much of a cold or allergy problem as I did before.
Many people complain about a bitter taste in their mouth after taking Astelin, however I haven't noticed this very much. I do notice that my mouth is a bit bitter in the mornings if I am drinking water, but don't seem to notice it with juice or anything else.
Many trees are starting to bloom in Seattle, so taking this should help as more pollen is in the air.
After trying Claritin non-drowsy (works better than a sleeping pill), Singulair (slows me down too many notches - think a 78 LP played at 45), Nasonex (doesn't do anything that I can tell), I am trying Astelin. At first it seemed okay, but after being on it a week, I could barely motivate myself from the recliner. I did force myself up and out for a 3 mile walk but felt like I was in a haze the entire time. I decided it must be the Astelin - and I've only been taking 1 squirt in each nostril 1x day!), as nothing else I had done the day before would warrant such a long-lasting haze. (who needs narcotics - antihistamines are legal and plentiful!) So Monday I took nothing and felt great, until the evening, when I became a vitual phlegm factory. I don't do the sneezing/runny eyes/nose thing, it's all hacking up goop from my throat. My bed is sealed with a membrane impermeable cover (nullifying the nice softness my pillowtop should provide). I never had allergies in California, but I live and work just about in a forest now, north of Seattle, and have never been the same. I guess in California nothing much grows.... or what did, I wasn't allergic to. I've seen the asthma and allergy specialist twice and am not sure what to do next. I'm on my fourth sample medication. Shots anyone? I'd rather die. I took my squirts last night and my sinuses are dry but here I am in a haze again.
Posted by: Rochelle | May 03, 2005 at 10:03 AM
after 5 months of stuffed up nose day and night and having tried every imaginable drug from zertec to allegra d and every nose spray available i was ready to give up.i went to my 2nd nose specialist and he had me try astelin.the first 3 days nothing happened but on the 4th day a miracle after 5 months of suffering my nose stayed clear except at night.i have no sleepy problems as one person mentioned but i do wake up with a strange taste in my mouthand the first couple of days i did sneeze a lot and my nose ran but that stopped after a few days.to me astelin is a life saver although i have only been taking it 2 and a half weeks
Posted by: albert kapustar | September 07, 2005 at 02:56 PM
It's a relief to know others suffer the same evening symptoms of accumulation of phleghm. I think Asterlin has helped somewhat, I am also taking Zyrtec,- obviously the combination is slowing me down, but I can tolerate that in return for not hacking and sneezing all day.
Posted by: Helen | May 22, 2006 at 06:34 AM