Last summer, I was on year 4 or 5 of taking Zyrtec for my year-round allergies - from dust and mold to tree and grass pollen, I'm definitely a allergen sensitive type. Then, I started reading about how it suppresses your metabolism over time and can do a number on your liver. So, I stopped taking it.
About a week later, I broke out in hives and experienced the worst itching on my legs and feet that I have ever, EVER experienced! I took a few Claritins here and there to try and quell the reaction as I weaned my body off of the stuff and I vowed to never take that shit again.
Then, this spring happened - probably the worst allergy season I can remember. I had to take SOMETHING. So, I went to the Claritin because it was the only thing that worked for me that was affordable in a low (10mg) dose. I've been on the stuff since March - until yesterday.
I had long suspected that my thyroid was suppressed somehow - but, since a slightly underperforming thyroid is something that's pretty common in my family, especially on my mother's side - I wasn't all that alarmed. I just have to eat less and work out more than someone else my size in order to see results. Whatever. Everyone has their burden to bear.
Still, I have been eating so clean and working out so hard over these past few months - it all just made me uber suspicious that there was more to this than just a mere genetic abnormality. So, I did a bit more digging on the subject - beyond the literature that comes with my Claritin/Loratadine...
Shock. Awe. Not so much. Guess what long-term use of this OTC med does to you? (Long-term use that's strongly encouraged, I might add...) It has the potential to suppress and slowly deplete your friggin thyroid. Well, that's the supposition in the blogosphere, anyway...and, considering that some of the literature actually cautions you not to use it if you have thyroid disorders (mine is too low to be diagnosed as yet - at least it WAS)...it's not exactly surprising that so many are reporting thyroid issues after long-term use.
Now, there's no proof to this - not from the makers of Claritin or the patent-holders at Schering-Plough...at least none that's been released...but I'm not taking any more chances. My thyroid is already at a disadvantage -- so, I don't need to tempt fate any further. Plus, with all of the undeclared chemicals and additives they put in this crap, who knows what else it's doing to my body.
So, now I switch to an as-needed approach to drug-taking. Going to try and supplement with the Neti-pot for a while and see how that goes...it's all a bit scary, since I can have severe hay fever...but, I'm going to try it.
I can't even put into words the frustration I feel...and the cynicism that's steadily creeping in with each and every new revelation I'm having about just how unhealthy it is to live the life of an average American.Like I said at the top, I'm a big fan of chemistry. It can and does save lives each and every day. On the other hand, is it too much to ask to be allowed to make an informed decision about the chemicals I willingly put into my body? With the exception of potentially life-saving meds for cancer, AIDS, etc, could the long-term use drugs for relatively benign disorders (ie: allergies) undergo longer clinical trials and can those results be easier to find and understand?
Not to stick my political neck out too far here, but where's the damn government keeping an eye on the capitalists? I can't fault a pharma company on wanting to get their drugs approved and on the market, but if it's too easy and there's no accountability once a drug is FDA approved, aren't we allowing the industry and government to play Russian roulette with our health?
Ugh. I could go on...but I'm exhausted by the anger. Getting down off of the soap-box now. I have to go waterboard myself with a Neti Pot anyway...
