Mar 28 2009
Wal-Zyr vs. Zyrtec
My allergies have been raging, right along with the weather here in the Midwest. (This week has seen spring temps, par-worthy weather and, today, snow. This is not unusual, sadly.)
Turns out that not only is the Midwest the breadbasket of the nation, it is also the allergen-basket of the nation.
My first spring & summer back in the Midwest wasn’t bad (similar to my first winter in Florida where I didn’t wear socks the whole time, because it was so darn warm). Last spring & summer involved heavy drug use. ALLERGY DRUGS, people.
Here’s allergy medication’s dirty little secret: there’s no way to just figure out the right one for you. If you don’t get lucky right out of the gate, you just have to keep buying and trying them.
Here’s my embarrassing little secret: I spent half of last summer forgetting that Claritin didn’t work for me and stocked up on it every time it was on sale. Then I’d get home and say bad words.
Finally, I discovered Zyrtec and life was worth living again. (and I removed all Claritin from the house.)(it DOES work for my brother-in-law, and I think he’s stocked for months)
But, Zyrtec is $20 and change for 30 pills. So, when Walgreens had an Easy Saver Rebate for something like $2.99 off a $4.99 pack of 5 Wal-Zyr (really? who thinks of these names?) I happily poinied up the cash.
Want to know what? It was awful.
It worked for a few hours, then left me with only side effects (muddled thinking, dry mouth) and no actual alleviation of symptoms.
How is this possible? My stupid insurance company believes so strongly in generics that they refuse to pay for brand-name prescription drugs, even when medically necessary. Not that my insurance company is the standard I hold all others to when it comes to my health care, but seriously.
And, what to do with 4 extra Wal-Zyr pills??
