I've had allergies all my life, and for the past few years, I've sought relief with Claratin. It works great to supress my allergies, but I'm starting to think that it also subdues my fitness a little. I've noticed repeatedly, I'll feel flat, kinda tired and sluggish on the bike, and get abused by my training buddies if I've been taking Claratin for a few days. When I haven't been taking Claratin, I feel a little more peppy and turn the screws those same riders.

What gives? I might just be searching for excuses after a mediocre ride yesterday, but I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has noticed this.

I've had allergies all my life, and for the past few years, I've sought relief with Claratin. It works great to supress my allergies, but I'm starting to think that it also subdues my fitness a little. I've noticed repeatedly, I'll feel flat, kinda tired and sluggish on the bike, and get abused by my training buddies if I've been taking Claratin for a few days. When I haven't been taking Claratin, I feel a little more peppy and turn the screws those same riders.

What gives? I might just be searching for excuses after a mediocre ride yesterday, but I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has noticed this.

Claratin did make me tired when I took it. So did Seldane.

I personally like Allegra. Works well without the side effects.

But then again, everyone responds differently to different meds, so your experience may be different.

Russ

I've had allergies since birth, and have been taking allergy meds since around age two. I've found that the majority tend to bring some fatigue, mainly making you more drowsey than usual. Claratin stoped working for me a few years ago, and so did Allegra. I'm currently taking Zyrtec (sp?) as needed and it seems to do the job. I don't get too tired while taking it, but it does make me somewhat drowsey.

Anyway, hope this helps.


I've had allergies all my life, and for the past few years, I've sought relief with Claratin. It works great to supress my allergies, but I'm starting to think that it also subdues my fitness a little. I've noticed repeatedly, I'll feel flat, kinda tired and sluggish on the bike, and get abused by my training buddies if I've been taking Claratin for a few days. When I haven't been taking Claratin, I feel a little more peppy and turn the screws those same riders.

What gives? I might just be searching for excuses after a mediocre ride yesterday, but I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has noticed this.

I've never had any side effects with claritin. Only Benedryl (diphenhydramine.) Conversely, claritin also doesn't work as well (for me) as benedryl. Better as a preventative in the very first stages of allergy symptoms. Once I'm having a full-blown allergy attack, claritin does me little good.

I started taking Claritin last Friday night as I finally succumbed to itchy eyes/nose and sneezing. Rode Saturday, felt OK. Sunday's ride was good too. I couldn't ride Mon or Tue due to my son's baseball games but kept taking Claritin 2x a day. Rode today and suffered like hell, especially on climbs and just didn't feel 'right'.

I think I'm going to try to go cold turkey for the next few days (pollen counts are now going down in NC, at least right now). I definitely don't want to feel like this on Saturday, when we are doing a mountain century with 9k of climbing. Plus, my allergies seldom bother me on the bike - the natural adrenaline/endorphins from riding clear 'em up pretty good. But after the ride's a different story.

This is my first year really suffering from allergys. I thought I had a cold but after about a week I figure out it was allergy's. My wife gave me two benedryls before we drove an hour to take my son to see Day out with Thomas the Tank engine: Talk about sleepy at 10am. I could barely drive. My sister who is a Doctor laughed and told me the sleepy side affects of that medicine as if I hadn't figured that out already. Ok, so I have been taking claratin. I take it at night before I go to sleep, so since it is 24 hours, I figure by the time I ride hopefully it's not too much into my system. It appears to elevate my HR a little. I was told to try the tylenol (sp) allergy medicine: which I'm about to do right now. But like others, Im new to allergy's and anyone posting with any type of help would be appreciated.

Have you tried Flonase? It's a nasal spray that has really seemed to do me a lot of good in this springtime pollen-fest. I've never noticed the draggy effects of Claritin, but that might have to do with the fact I can hardly ever remember to take meds everyday. But the great thing about Flonase is that you can take it when you need it and it seems to work fast. Just another option for you to try out maybe.

I use both Flonase and Claratin and I can't really notice the side effects. It might have something to do with a speedy metabolism. If given the choice I'd prefer Flonase for its immediate relief.

Claritin stopped working for me a couple years ago. Currently I take allegra & didn't suffer any fatigue from it. Actually, I found that when I was riding all my allergy symptoms were lessened somehow, far in excess what I could attribute to the meds.
The season is over for me now, but last month there were days i felt I couldn't ride because of my allergies, but when I forced myself out on the bike I felt way better than if I'd sat at home.

Claritin stopped working for me a couple years ago. Currently I take allegra & didn't suffer any fatigue from it. Actually, I found that when I was riding all my allergy symptoms were lessened somehow, far in excess what I could attribute to the meds.
The season is over for me now, but last month there were days i felt I couldn't ride because of my allergies, but when I forced myself out on the bike I felt way better than if I'd sat at home.


Allegra has been a miracle drug for me... it can give a bit of vertigo when you start taking it, which is a bit freaky when you are out on a ride.

that is one of the steroid nasal sprays, or whether it has other active ingredients?

Have you tried Flonase? It's a nasal spray that has really seemed to do me a lot of good in this springtime pollen-fest. I've never noticed the draggy effects of Claritin, but that might have to do with the fact I can hardly ever remember to take meds everyday. But the great thing about Flonase is that you can take it when you need it and it seems to work fast. Just another option for you to try out maybe.

I'm writing this at 0200 because I'm not only not sleepy, but after only 12 hours of the alleged 24 hour effectiveness, it not only isn't helping, it's playing games with my breathing. One nostril's blocked completely and the other is a snot factory, bad enough when I'm sitting or standing, but when I lie down, I feel like I'm strangling. #&$%in' allergies!

I'll be damned!! That explains it.

Background: I've had pollen allergies since age 3. Did the allergist thing, shots, everything over the counter known to man. Some helped a little, especially Dimetapp, but all made me drowsy and spaced-out as hell. Gave them up cold-turkey in college and felt that my allergies actually improved without the immune-defeating effects of repeated drug use.

However, when Claritin came out, my Mom convinced me to try one. It's a miracle! It stops the incessant sneezing like NOTHING EVER DID. I still only take it once in a while, when I'm going to do a lot of gardening, mow grass, etc.

But last Tuesday, I took one around noon because I was headed to the club ride that night and the pollen counts have been horrendous. There was a terrible headwind. I didn't feel all that crappy during the ride, but on the way home I felt like I'd been beaten. I lost my appetite (unheard of ), went to bed at 9:15. I felt EXACTLY like when I took Dimetapp as a little kid. I felt lethargic and draggy and stupid and generally bad until apprx late evening of the following day.

Maybe there's something about intense physical activity that makes Claritin have side effects that it doesn't normally have. Hmmm. Well, I won't be taking it tomorrow.

Try Nasonex, it's a nasal steroid spray for allergies that has none of the side effects of Claritin and other pills.

I love Claritan. It has done wonders for me. I am not a fan of meds so I only take every once in a while.

I've switched to Alavert with decongestant. Rode a metric a week ago with no ill effects.

Had a crummy ride today, but I think it was more the nap I took (and that I worked until 1:20 last night) than anything else.

Used Claritin in past seasons but it stopped working for me. Alavert fails on the really bad days unfortunately, still looking for the perfect solution.

I've noticed in the past that allergy medicines have effected me mentally (feeling dopey, tired, slow), but never noticed any physical effect. Interesting point.