My allergist has given me an action plan that works very well. There are no quick fixes, but if it is viral it takes it course. Avoid antibiotics if viral. I use flonase or afrin (only 3-4 days at a time, then off), nasal rinses 3x day. My allergist said NOT to take antihistamines (or my zyrtec that I am on regularly). Use a decongestant only. I use Mucinex D, but watch the BP. Sometimes I use plain Sudafed(no antihistimine in it) and plain Mucinex together when I am out of Mucinex D. Every time it takes 2-2 1/2 weeks to recover, but I am able to recover with no dr. visits. I have done this for a year now with good results. Now that I am well again, I am back on my zyrtec and regular medicine regiment.
First of all...let me ream you out. lol
You should NEVER stop taking antibiotics without finishing the whole dosage...unless otherwise stated by a healthcare professional.
That being said...allergies can wreak havoc on your sinuses.
I've been eliminating nasty stuff from my lungs and nose alike for the past 3 months...all due to allergies.
The allergy pills help a bit with very few of my symptoms...but not at all for the lungs and sinuses.
If the allergy pills were working for you, you shouldn't have stopped taking them. Now you'll have to start all over again. UGH right?
Sometimes medications can take several weeks before they start to really help...up to 6 weeks for some.
I can't tell you what order to do things in, as everyone is different...but I CAN tell you what works best for me.
I take an allergy pill every night ( as even non-drowzy ones make me tired). I use a sinus rinse several times a day...once a day is fine too.
The faster you rinse the allergen out of your body, the better right?
Decongestants can be very helpful, but your body can become immune to them, or dependent on them. Short term use is best.
If the allegra doesn't seem to help, try another brand. You can ask your pharmacist instead of your doctor for help with that.
You could also try posting on the Alternative Therapies forum.