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Violent, uncontrollable sneezing

I have had allergies and asthma all my life.  When I have a sneezing/hay fever reaction, it's accompanied by the usual itching of palate and eyes, and my medications take care of it.  But once or twice a month, I sneeze uncontrollably, hundreds of times, all day long, and nothing, not Allegra-D, not Claritin, not Benadryl, will stop it.  And the weird thing is, this sneezing is NOT accompanied by the usual itching.  When I have a "sneezing day," I am nonfunctional.  All events are canceled. It is absolutely exhausting.  I sometimes  wonder if it has anything to do with weather or barometric changes; it seems like it rains or there's a temp. change the following day, and my symptoms are COMPLETELY gone.  Any guesses or similarities out there?
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Avatar universal
Sulfites in red wine were causing my violent sneezing, i started to avoid and also started taking Flonase before going to bed, seems to help me. Good luck!!
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Avatar universal
Been almost a year since anyone posted, have we found the cure already?
Read almost everyone's answer and yes, I have the same symptoms / sneezing fits just like everyone else. Starts with tickle in the nostrils, followed by the usual sneezing fits and the entire day is gone, though I learned to cope with it and try to function. Among my friends, I soon became the weather forecast for rain within the hour during a sunny day.
I noticed quite a few people mentioning about smoking (yes I smoke, and will gladly quit it  cigarettes are the main cause), and also removing dairy / gluten products in the diet.

Just want to check on everyone! :)
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Avatar universal
I had the same symptoms described here for YEARS.  Since I was a child, I was routinely stuffy and had sinus issues.  However, when I had an attack, I would suffer from hundreds of sneezes a day until I slept (dropped from sheer exhaustion).   Similar triggers: chemical smells, perfumes, cleaning dust, yard work, smoke, pet dander, etc.   NO medications helped when I was having an attack.  A nurse friend suggested I add a daily tablet of Benadryl to my diet (By that time I was on Flonase, pseudofed, the Neti pot, nasal spray, albuterol, and NSAIDS).  Slowly, over a period of several months, I weaned myself off of all medications (with the help of the Benadryl).   It has been two years and I have only had one attack (following a long illness which included the use of nasal sprays and pseudofed).   In addition,  I have far fewer sinus issues today than I had in the 40 years leading up to the cure.  I hope this solution helps some of you.
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Avatar universal
RecordBreaker,

Violent Sneezes can be deadly.  I know, I've looked it up, due to suffering from it myself.  If I knew what caused it, I'd control it, I'm guessing I'm allergic to most everything & am glad I do not live in a bubble, though I imagine I'd be better off with a purified environment, with special foods: L.O.L.
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Avatar universal
I HAVE GOOD NEWS!!!   After years of sneezing and seeing many doctors with zero results, I found a winner.  I had been tested several times for allergies and they all came back negative.  No medicine helped, etc.   A friend suggested I see a neurologist since I had not seen that type of specialist.  I did, and I am  being treated for atypical migraines!   Instead of getting a migraine, I sneeze.   Sounds weird, but it appears to be true!   I have been on 75 mg. of Topamax at bedtime for nine months now, and have been almost sneeze free!   In that time, I have had two "almost"  sneeze attacks, but they were nothing like they used to be.   On those two days, I was able to function, etc., I just had some sneezing, but nothing that kept me from functioning.

The 75 mg of the medicine is a very low dose and has no side effects, so this has been a godsend!   I would encourage anyone to see a neurologist to try this treatment.   The medicine takes about 3-4 weeks to "kick in" but after that ---- WOO HOO!!!   Good luck!!
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3 Comments
I too have these 24 hour sneezing attacks.

I too have numerous allergies which were diagnosed with a little known genetic disorder called "Mast Cell Activation Disorder."  For no reason whatsoever, the mast cells that produce histamine and thereby the runny, sneezy nose fire off at random times.

My answer and immediate cure has been (Over The Counter) Flonase Nasal spray at the sign of the first few sneezes.

I think we all have different triggers.  Flonase solved mine.  

I am an O.R. nurse and really have a hard time working when I sneeze every 2-3 minutes.  I HAD to find an answer.
I am in the midst of having a sneezing event. It started last night after dinner, I started sneezing 8-9 times in a row and so hard that I had a blood vessel in my eye burst. The sneezing bouts were hitting me with maybe three minutes between the 8-9 sneezes in a row. My nose is completely stuffed up and I've taken benedryl, loratidine, Actifed, and a tab of  Chlorpheniramine Maleate in the past seventeen hours. I lost my sense of smell and taste about ten days ago, it's not completely gone but diminished by 80%. After seventeen hours of sneezing my jaws ache, my nose is raw, my eyes hurt and I need sleep. The idea that this can be related to migraines caught my attention because I have been having bizarre migraines that give me auras, scintillating scotomas, light and sound issues but either no headache or a bizarre headache in the mid section of my head - not like my "normal" migraine. I've had migraines off and on for forty years but had not had them for about ten years when the non-headache migraines started. I have not tried Topamax but I have an appointment with a Neurologist in a couple of weeks and I'm going to ask to try it.

Alfreelife are you still sneeze free with Topamax?
Yes!  It has continued to work for me and I consider it a Godsend.  I actually just saw my neurologist for my annual check up last week.  I had taken every kind of OTC medicine, nasal spray, you name it and nothing worked.  I was so glad when a friend suggested that.  I hope you get relief.  Let me know how your visit went.  Good luck!
Avatar universal
I don't have an answer, just what I've tried....I have had violent sneezing attacks (and Asthma for the first time in my life) since October 2010. It's mostly when the weather changes, which happens a lot in L.A. And perfume and cologne is an instant irritant, but people get so offended when you say your allergic to perfume. I've seen almost 20 different doctors, had 2 sinus surgeries, and probably 50 different medications, including nasal sprays, and nothing works.  I have non allergic vasomotor rhinitis; and have been told by doctors that went to Harvard, their's nothing they can really do for me.  The only thing that stops my sneezing attacks (100-300 sneezes) is prednisone, which has horrible long term side effects.  One treatment I did have that may help some of you if your symptoms are accompanied by asthma and aspirin allergy is an Aspirin challange, it's called samters triad.  It did not work for me, but as you know anything is worth a shot.  I feel like I've lost a part of my life and who I am.  The sneezing makes you so tired, foggy headed, headaches, no smell or taste and just generally miserable.  I always feel like no one understands.  I'm still searching for answers, I don't want to be like this the rest of my life.  I've tried homeopathic doctors, acupuncture, constitutional medicine, going vegan (removing dairy helps alot).  I'd love the name of the Facebook group dedicated to this, at least I'm not alone.
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1 Comments
I can't seem to edit my post, but most of these attacks happen early in the morning around 3-5am, I think that's when barometer changes.  Yes, being around smoke, heavy chemicals or too much dust makes it worse.  No I'm not allergic to anything, I've been checked 3x  The attacks make you worthless for the rest of the day.  If anyone's found a doctor that treats this, please let me know.
Avatar universal
Im so with you on this. Been sneezing and itchy eyes for a week now. I suffered from sneezing like this all my life. Im allergic to everything. Especially pollen and dust. Im a smoker too so the smoke makes it even worst. You are not alone my friend.
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Avatar universal
Im the same way since i was i was a little girl. Im allergic go everything including dust and pollen. Sneezing for a week now. Are you a smoker buy any chance?
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Avatar universal
Do you guys smoke cogarette by any chance?
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Avatar universal
I have been around smokers since i was a little girl and I do smoke myself today. I always had sinuses problems sneezing over&over again. Now today Im allergic to everything. , Pollen,Dust, strong household products,and other things. Now im 32 and still getting worse as i grow older. Ive been sneezing all day for almost a week now. My pallet and eyes are itchy and i cant sleep. Been a rough week.Anyone here who could relate?
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Avatar universal
I have been around smokers since i was a little girl and I do smoke myself today. I always had sinuses problems sneezing over&over again. Now today Im allergic to everything. , Pollen,Dust, strong household products,and other things. Now im 32 and still getting worse as i grow older. Ive been sneezing all day for almost a week now. My pallet and eyes are itchy and i cant sleep. Been a rough week.Anyone here who could relate?
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Avatar universal
I read a few pages of comments, and it seems like no one has figured out a definitive reason for this other than "maybe allergies," so I'm sorry if anyone has posted anything useful, but here's my theory from having lived with this for about half my life.

Weak sinus membrane/wall

I suffer the same as you guys, but I've tracked everything from food to allergens to weather changes, and none of it has yielded any answers except for one thing, and that's my sleep pattern. When my eyes are irritated, from too little sleep or an outside influence (I've gotten dust or something to irritate my eye and set off a day of sneezing on more than one occasion), my sinus always becomes irritated as well, and the sneeze-fest begins.
The sneezing lasts for a day, and I'll bet that if any of you take a nap during the day, it helps relieve the sneezing and other symptoms somewhat, but nothing helps more than a full night of rest.
I'm sure some of you will disagree, and it's probably not the same for everyone, but think about how you slept the night before you have a day of sneeze-fits. Did you have an alcoholic drink before bed? Did you wake up to pee in the night? Did you sleep less than your usual and wake up with sore, tired eyes? If you didn't get to REM sleep and didn't actually rest that night, chances are you'll be tired and sneezy the next day, and no normal amount of medicine will do anything about it once it begins. It's a self-repeating cycle. The more you sneeze the more irritated your sinus and eyes get, which irritates your sinus more, and starts another sneeze.
I read one person saying they took exctasy to relieve the symptoms, and I'm sure it works, but in the same way taking an overdose of antihistamines works. It dulls the feeling in your sinus, or just floods your brain with something to prevent histamine release.

This may not be the answer for everyone, but try it. Check your sleep patterns, and try to get a good night's sleep without interruptions. Suffering side effects from regular doses or overdoses of medication is a terrible solution, and even worse are those Neti Pots, which just flood bacteria and viruses straight to the most vulnerable sinus membrane to the blood in your brain because most people dont know to use distilled water.

Anyways, tl;dr: you might have a weak sinus, and when your eyes are irritated, it makes you sneeze.
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1 Comments
I have noticed the eye irritation connection for decades now, and swear that the scratchy sensation of sleep-deprivation and heavy eyes seem to trigger my violent sneezing fits. My allergist (and family) just laugh and think it's a crazy theory, but I swear I've noticed this. I'm grateful to see someone else has made this connection.
Avatar universal
I have these fits as well - very violent and sudden, though admittedly for shorter durations than some of you.  I believe my problem is nerve- related, hypersensitivity in the right side sinus.  For this reason oral medications (cold/sinus) have no affect.  I'm not "sick" so meds have no affect.  The attacks can consist of a few violent sneezes or can last 30 min - approx 2-3 per minute.  

Luckily I have a fool proof cure for these attacks.  I'm sorry to say, but it is CIGARETTE SMOKE.   Stops sneezing dead after blowing a few hits through the guilty nostril.  I'm not encouraging regular smoking but some of you sound like it may be worth a shot.  Keep a pack of full flavored smokes around for medicinal purposes.  

I think the properties of the smoke calm my sinus nerve endings when they get all twisted up.  Kind of like how smoke calms bees - exactly like that.  Once again, this is not appropriate for infections or real illnesses - just a proven way to trick an overly sensitive sinus.  

Note: smoke must be inhaled and blown out through the nose for this to work.  You cannot puff cigar-style since in that case the smoke does not contact all of the required areas.  

It works!
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Avatar universal
I've had 2 of these attacks in the last 2 weeks and both times took sudafed, my Rinatec nasal spray and ibuprofen - the attacks stopped within the hour. I don't know if it's the ibuprofen or the combination but it's a blooming miracle.  To keep it in context, the sneezing stopped, but I still felt off colour, and a bit like a hangover,  but after having these attacks for over 10 years, it feels like real progress,
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Avatar universal
I also have had these sneezing fits for 15+ years now. Nothing helps except going back to sleep. Today: I took 1 claritin= No change. Later I took a Sudafed 12 hour type = No change. At about 12:30 I took 1000 mg of Ibuprofen = 1 hour later I can see and I have completely stopped sneezing and now am productive at work (aside from writing this!).

Next sneezing attack I will try the Ibuprofen right away and note my findings.

Good luck everyone!
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Avatar universal
Every time I step outside, or even when a strong sun comes out from behind a cloud, I suddenly start having sneezing fits. They are so strong, I've brushed my chest, and even fallen over on the odd occasion, as I'm completely paralysed to do anything other than sneeze violently. Strong sunlight clearly is a trigger, but lately, it's becoming a joke, as yesterday, there was almost no end to my day long sneezing.
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Avatar universal
So sorry to read about all this suffering ... you have my deepest sympathies. I had something similar in my teens when my hormones were all over the place (I am female). I would have what my mother called 'one of your colds' and the main symptom was very runny nose and lots of sneezing for a day. I suffered every few months, and then grew out of it. Nowadays, it happens very occasionally. I was interested to read about the itch in one place that is almost s pain and that no amount of sneezes will relieve. I get hormone-related migraine and, thought the causes of migraine are not fully understood (and seem to vary from person to person), one commonality is the dilation of blood vessels. I wonder if something similar is behind this unusually extreme sneezing? Bless you all and I hope a cure is found very soon
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1 Comments
having all of your symptoms too.  I have started swabbing the inside of my nostrils with Vaseline or Aquafor. What you put in the front of your nostrils will eventually migrate to the back. Within 30 minutes or so it seems to help. I'm guessing my old body is just not moist enough and the dryness causes the uncontrollable sneezing. After all, our body is designed to sneeze with irritation.
Avatar universal
Bless you
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Avatar universal
I call them - my sneezy days!!
I have suffered with this for years, tried to figure out what causes them, conclusions have changed over the years, from a change in barometric pressure, to nasal polyps, and everything in between.  Just hyper sensitive nasal passages perhaps, or is it because I need additional sleep.  My days often occur if I have not slept well, and zonking out on the sofa for a few hours often helps relieve the symptoms slightly.
Six weeks ago I started dieting at Slimming World, not had one of my sneezy days since!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh my goodness, could this really be an effective cure/remedy/whatever!!???  I thought my diet was OK before, but there must be something that has changed for this to have happened.  Main difference I can think of is bread, white bread, I am no longer eating white bread!!!!  
Just thought it was worth sharing, watch this space!!!  I'll probably have one of my days tomorrow now I have realised I haven't had one in 6 weeks! :)
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Avatar universal
This  has helped me a lot today thanks!
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Avatar universal
The nose spray is working!!!!  My nose is dry but it is better than the sneezing.
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Avatar universal
I have had these sneezing fits for years and started getting allergy shots (allergic to everything). I recently went back to the allergist after 2 yrs of shots and said they are not working, because i have sneezing fits where i sneeze 100+ times a day. The only thing that helps is laying down on my back. He said my problem is not allergies but instead nonallergic rhinitis. He perscribed me Ipratropium Bromide Nasal Solution. As i read up on it it says to avoid triggers like strong odors such as cleaners, perfumes etc. I do notice whenever i spray perfume i instantly sneeze. i hope this finally works for me, because it is emberassing having people continuously says "Bless you" and all i want to do is rip my nose off.
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Avatar universal
Having been prescribed Rinatec nasal spray about 2 months ago, I had an attack 2 days later. It didn't work...... I had a small victory though after I literally took the contents of my meds drawer.  Same again today, attack came on around 9 am and lasted until about 6pm when I dosed up on: antihistamine,  ibuprofen,  anadin extra and sudafed.  Honestly,  about half an hour after taking them all I was better. I'm starting to wonder if it was a mix of the anti inflammatory ibuprofen and the sudafed.  Will try again much earlier next time and report back.
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Avatar universal
I find that when I'm tired, more fatigued than anything, the sneezing starts. And the sneezing gets more violent, racking my body and I am sore in my chest and ribcage the next day.  I wonder if the immune system has anything to with it?
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