The medicine aisle is a virtual utopia for the allergy-afflicted this week.

"They're awful, I've been like this for three weeks," says Kelly Rankin-Gomez of her allergies.

Her symptoms sound like a list of the seven dwarves: Sneezy, Sleepy, Grumpy-- add itchy and runny in there somewhere too.

"The sneezing, the headache from the sinues, the feeling awful-- it really drags you down," Rankin-Gomez says.

Allergist Dr. James Saker blames the horrid, torrid allergy increase on enemy number one.

"Ragweed season is nasty for pollen," he says. "It hits its peak this time of year."

And the dry weather we've been having is making things exceptionally unbearable-- perfect conditions for ragweed. At the Allergy and Asthma Consultants of Mid-Michigan, their call volume of people complaining about allergies is up 50 percent this week.

"We try to keep martial bliss by giving proper medication," jokes Dr. Saker.

A lot of people are opting for over the counter allergy medicines like Benadryl or Sudafed, but some people's afflictions are so bad that these medicines aren't even helping.

"If they don't respond to the antihistamines, we can put them on prednisone," Dr. Saker says. Prednisone is a steroid.

But if you aren't too keen on the medical route, Dr. Saker says there are other solutions.

"Keep your windows shut, use air conditioning if you've got it. Remember it's worse early in the morning and late afternoon."

Or for the more daring?

"If airfare were cheaper, fly to Europe. They don't have ragweed in Europe," he says.

A ticket to Torino or a strong dose of Sudafed-- whatever helps to halt the allergy anguish.