Q. I am allergic to ragweed. Every fall I suffer miserably until the first big frost. My allergist has suggested shots, but I hate getting stuck every week and they are expensive. What else can I do besides stock up on steroid nasal spray and antihistamines?
A. It’s a bit late for this year, since the hay fever season has already gotten under way. There are now prescription desensitization tablets you may wish to investigate. Instead of getting a shot, you put a tab under your tongue daily starting three months before allergy season.
Since you are allergic to ragweed, ask your doctor about Ragwitek. Hopefully your insurance company will cover this expensive treatment, which could cost around $10 per pill.
Being able to avoid antihistamines would be helpful, since some can interfere with driving ability. It is difficult to assess whether your own driving is impaired, however.
