...poor thing can barely breathe

Her mom took her to the doctor and the doctor prescribed Singulair which even WITH insurance is over a $100.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Get better insurance or find out what drugs your insurance has cheaper copays for. Other similar drugs to singulair are zyflo and accolate.

Loratadine Syrup is FDA approved for allergies in children as young as 24 months and can probably be had for less than $10 a bottle. Nasalcrom is also approved for use in children two years old and older although most two year olds probably would not put up with having something sprayed up their nose.

I figure it'd be better not too, but can this be used long term? She has allergies almost year round.

Its Claratin...plenty of people use it year-round and have for years. As drugs go, its pretty benign stuff.

You may also consider seeing an allergist and having an allergy panel done. It'd help direct the course of treatment and let you know what triggers should be avoided.

sublingual immunotherapy would be effective and cost effective.

Same situation here with a four year old daughter. We quit Singulair - just was not working. The doc put her on Zyrtec, it works great. Good news is that you can get it OTC now. We give it at night before she goes to bed as it does cause slight drowsiness.

Good luck.

immunotherapy is a really good idea, if it's affordable. over time it will certainly be affordable in comparison

systemic cromolyn is also an interesting idea.

and low doses of magnesium, as a supplement.

Eat more stuff that grows out of the ground.