ok here's the story, i had hives everyday and night for a year. they got so big they actually itched and hurt. i could not do anything, heat made them worse, so i was constantly cold packing myself, i tried everything i could think of, Benedryl, zyrtec, gold bond, nothing helped me!!!! i lived on my couch, i was put on predisone, due to the fact i was in the ER every week, though they helped some i gained almost 30 pounds, so i stopped them. i forgot to mention that anytime i would drink alcohol, especially anything with sulfites, the hives would get soooo bad, my lips and eyes would swell up, i felt like a monster, until one day after much research, i tried Claritin and it helped me, also I had a bad tooth and i was popping Motrin like you wouldn't believe, due to a fear of the dentist i have now gotten over. well that bad tooth produced poison that was going into my bloodstream which in return caused the hives. i have been hive free for 6 years....i wish you all the best..i know how much this affects your life...if anything i hope to help someone.