My daughter has been on Zyrtec and Nasonex for over a year. I just recently took her off of it to see if she still needed it. She hasn't shown signs of allergies but now she isn't sleeping very well. She is normally a very heavy sleeper. Now she seems to wake up a lot and has trouble going back to sleep. Has anyone else had trouble with this? I really don't want to put her back on medicine.
I don't know about the effects of the medicine, but both my kids went through these kind of sleep disruptions, especially during growth spurts and transitions. Perhaps the allergy medicine has simply made them drowsy enough to mask the normal sleep changes?
Zytec can cause a bit of sleepiness. I would bet that in her it did and now that she doesn't have it, it might be causing some of her restlessness. I would just wait it out. Her body will learn how to cope without it and she'll be back to normal pretty soon I would think.
In the meantime talk with her about things she can do if she wakes up in the middle of the night. Have some water next to her bed so she can have a drink and tell her if she's up to take a drink and sing a song to herself and that willl help her get back to sleep. It might take a few weeks, but I do think she'll work through it.
If she is doing well other than sleep then DON'T put her back on meds! As to the sleeping issue, her body is now used to the meds & it's going to be awhile before her body doesn't 'tell' her to take the meds so it can relax & sleep. Just let her get back to her normal sleep clock on her own time, maybe a nice herbal tea before bed, relaxing bath, a 'sound machine' might help (the sound of a gentle ocean ALWAYZ puts me into relaxation). Good luck & Happy Monday!
Zyrtec causes drowsiness, even in me and I am an adult. Zyrtec also makes me moody. For that reason I do not like Zyrtec and use Claritin. Or there is also Allegra.
Nasonex, is a type of steroid.
Do a Google search on it and read about it.
I also have Nasonex, but I do not use it, unless I have to or if/when my allergies are bothering me. I do NOT use it for prolonged periods.
When stopping any type of med... a withdrawal can occur.
For example: my Husband uses Sudafed for his sinus problems. He uses it everyday. But once he ran out and so didn't have it for about a week. He had "withdrawals" from it... and he had trouble sleeping.
ASK your Pediatrician, for alternative meds for her.
There are MANY kinds of allergy meds, to be used if/when she needs it.
And also, sometimes a person just does not need it. So you have to be able to discern that.
Allergies, can vary in intensity. Some days, allergy meds are not even needed. So know that. And for some, allergies are not disruptive. For me, I am allergic to things in the air/pollen/dust etc. But I ONLY use my allergy meds/Claritin, IF and when I need it. Some days it does not even bother me. You need to teach your child, to TELL you when it is bothering her, for example. And you as the parent, need to learn to discern... if/when she needs it. Allergy meds are not always, needed every single day.
I am speaking from first hand experience. I have had, allergies since I was a child. I, as a child, KNEW myself and my body, and when/if I needed my allergy medicine. It was not everyday.
So, teach your child how to tell you and know her body/symptoms. And you also need to gauge it and her.
Hi D..
I don't have experience with these meds, but from my general knowledge and intuition I would suggest considering the following:
1. Probably the meds helped induce and maintain sleep.
2. Thus, her little body is relearning perhaps how to maintain sleep effectively.
3. So....I would try to cleanse the system with lots of water...lower sugar intake in late afternoon/close to bedtime. Milk/proteins close to bedtime....Lots of sunlight in the day and activity to have her body be naturally tired.
i hope this helps from experience with other meds.
jilly
