Why have I suddenly lost my ability to sneeze?

   I am a teenage female of average health. (I know my profile says different. I didn't want to give out too much personal info just so I could ask a few questions.) And I suddenly can't sneeze anymore...

   Starting about 6 weeks ago I started having allergies (I took 30mg of loratadine and that made most of my allergies go away). I would get this tickle deep inside my nose, and it would cause me to sneeze constantly. But for the past couple days, I've still been getting the urge to sneeze, but I just can't let it out. I get the "Ahh" part down, but I can't do the "Choo" part, and I just end up exhaling heavily through my mouth instead of sneezing.

   The strange part is, this didn't start until I recovered from a cold I had just a few days ago. Is there some kind of connection...?

   I'm getting really freaked out by this, and strangely, it's making me a little anxious. I've tried using pepper, exposing myself to my allergies, and tickling my nose with a feather, but I can't sneeze. What should I do? Will I have a normal sneeze again?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Lack of sneezing could be due to throat disorders. It could also be due to neurological problems. Sometimes anti histamines in excess can lead to loss of sneezing. You may have to consult an ENT specialist for evaluation.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.