Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 14:31     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
Anonymous wrote:No idea why people are suggesting evening dosing. That is wrong. Take one Claritin or Zyrtec per day in the morning- they do not cause drowsiness. Add Flonase in if still bad. Do not take two unless your kid is being followed closely by an allergist that has prescribed this. Do give Benadryl in addition or give any other oral allergy meds


Do NOT
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 14:30     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
No idea why people are suggesting evening dosing. That is wrong. Take one Claritin or Zyrtec per day in the morning- they do not cause drowsiness. Add Flonase in if still bad. Do not take two unless your kid is being followed closely by an allergist that has prescribed this. Do give Benadryl in addition or give any other oral allergy meds
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 14:27     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
Anonymous wrote:DC suffers from pollen allergy, and it is worse this year. Normally she takes one dose OTC liquid medicine on school days, amd it works. She normally does not take medicine in summer day or sleepaway outdoor camps. We camped this weekend, and I forgot that we are completely outdoors. It is still pollen season. We camped last year in the fall, no allergy medicine was needed because it was not pollen season. This past weekend camping, it was terrible. I gave her a dose as usual early in the morning, and it could not last for full day. Around late afternoon, she was done done and felt terrible. It seemed too late when i gave her an evening dose to relieve symptoms.

How often & what time do kid need allergy medicine at outdoor camping? She is going to another weekend camping next week. I want to prepare better this time.


During pollen season, I would give one 24 dose, activities not considered.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 14:26     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. How often should a kid take the medicine in a day? She is leaving for outdoor camp from home around noon next Saturday, should I wait till 11am (instead of 8am being at home) to give her a dose? If I do not see symptoms at early evening while still outdoor at campsite, should I still give her in advance to prevent symptoms developed or wait till symptoms to show?

I am confused the most if allergy medicine is to cure symptoms or prevent symptoms showing, take it before or after when I see symptoms?


Give her one Zyrtec per day in the morning, everyday. It should last 24 hrs, and you shouldn’t take more than one per day. I work at a sleepaway camp and a fair amount of campers take it every day. If she tends to have bad seasonal allergies give her to her daily during allergy season and daily at camp


My kid's pediatrician told him to take Claritin twice a day (Claritin works better for him then Zyrtec) and Flonase once a day. He takes it February through November. It never occurred to us not to take for camp -- the allergens are still there!


I would not give Claritin twice per day unless an allergist has prescribed this.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 13:44     Subject: Re:When to take allergy medicine
Insanely cruel to force your under medicated kid with pollen allergies to go camping right now. WTF is wrong with you?
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 13:26     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
You should really take it daily, in the evening. If not adequate, see if dr will prescribe azelastine and Flonase combo to use in acute situations.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 13:23     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
I have had severe allergic reactions, so I carry allergy medication with me everywhere. Also for this reason I am very careful not to overtake allergy medications as people can develop a tolerance over time. Frequent (daily) usage has other longterm risks too, and I would gently advise anyone in this position (or thinks they're in this position) to consult an allergist. Outdoor camping is not for everyone.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 12:33     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
I think it depends on the medicine. There are certain brands that are 24 hours. I have always had my kids take them at night, just in case it makes them sleepy, We take them pretty much year-round, but mainly Feb - Oct. My kids are allergic to grass pollen half the year and mold spurs, ragweed, and weed pollen the other parts of the year.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 12:30     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
Anonymous wrote:Op here. How often should a kid take the medicine in a day? She is leaving for outdoor camp from home around noon next Saturday, should I wait till 11am (instead of 8am being at home) to give her a dose? If I do not see symptoms at early evening while still outdoor at campsite, should I still give her in advance to prevent symptoms developed or wait till symptoms to show?

I am confused the most if allergy medicine is to cure symptoms or prevent symptoms showing, take it before or after when I see symptoms?


When taken regularly, antihistamines can prevent symptoms. Which is ideal -- why wait for her to suffer? Also the meds have a cumulative effect and will work better if taken daily during allergy season.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 12:28     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Op here. How often should a kid take the medicine in a day? She is leaving for outdoor camp from home around noon next Saturday, should I wait till 11am (instead of 8am being at home) to give her a dose? If I do not see symptoms at early evening while still outdoor at campsite, should I still give her in advance to prevent symptoms developed or wait till symptoms to show?

I am confused the most if allergy medicine is to cure symptoms or prevent symptoms showing, take it before or after when I see symptoms?


Give her one Zyrtec per day in the morning, everyday. It should last 24 hrs, and you shouldn’t take more than one per day. I work at a sleepaway camp and a fair amount of campers take it every day. If she tends to have bad seasonal allergies give her to her daily during allergy season and daily at camp


My kid's pediatrician told him to take Claritin twice a day (Claritin works better for him then Zyrtec) and Flonase once a day. He takes it February through November. It never occurred to us not to take for camp -- the allergens are still there!
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 12:24     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
Anonymous wrote:Op here. How often should a kid take the medicine in a day? She is leaving for outdoor camp from home around noon next Saturday, should I wait till 11am (instead of 8am being at home) to give her a dose? If I do not see symptoms at early evening while still outdoor at campsite, should I still give her in advance to prevent symptoms developed or wait till symptoms to show?

I am confused the most if allergy medicine is to cure symptoms or prevent symptoms showing, take it before or after when I see symptoms?


Give her one Zyrtec per day in the morning, everyday. It should last 24 hrs, and you shouldn’t take more than one per day. I work at a sleepaway camp and a fair amount of campers take it every day. If she tends to have bad seasonal allergies give her to her daily during allergy season and daily at camp
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 11:17     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
Op here. How often should a kid take the medicine in a day? She is leaving for outdoor camp from home around noon next Saturday, should I wait till 11am (instead of 8am being at home) to give her a dose? If I do not see symptoms at early evening while still outdoor at campsite, should I still give her in advance to prevent symptoms developed or wait till symptoms to show?

I am confused the most if allergy medicine is to cure symptoms or prevent symptoms showing, take it before or after when I see symptoms?
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 11:11     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
Feb-sept take in the evenings
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 10:59     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
In this area, we take them 365.
Anonymous
Post 04/19/2026 10:58     Subject: When to take allergy medicine
DC suffers from pollen allergy, and it is worse this year. Normally she takes one dose OTC liquid medicine on school days, amd it works. She normally does not take medicine in summer day or sleepaway outdoor camps. We camped this weekend, and I forgot that we are completely outdoors. It is still pollen season. We camped last year in the fall, no allergy medicine was needed because it was not pollen season. This past weekend camping, it was terrible. I gave her a dose as usual early in the morning, and it could not last for full day. Around late afternoon, she was done done and felt terrible. It seemed too late when i gave her an evening dose to relieve symptoms.

How often & what time do kid need allergy medicine at outdoor camping? She is going to another weekend camping next week. I want to prepare better this time.