What Type of Allergy Medicine Do I Need?

Whether you get the sniffles and sneezes

or more severe reactions to environmental allergies, there are many medicines and other ways you may find allergy relief. Learn more about allergy triggers and how to get relief from symptoms.

Environmental allergy triggers

Allergies develop when your body's immune system overreacts to something in the environment.1 As our environment changes, we are exposed to new and different potential allergens. As more houses are insulated with central heating, allergies have increased.2 People and their pets also stay indoors more, which can also contribute to an increase of allergies. Three common types of environmental allergies are pollen, mold and pet allergies.

• Pollen from grasses, weeds and some trees are the most common triggers of pollen allergies and can be carried unseen in the air for miles. These allergies are commonly referred to as hay fever. ³
• Mold and mildew allergies happen when seed-like spores from fungi travel through the air and people inhale them. ⁴ Since fungi grow in many places both indoors and out, these types of allergies can be bothersome year round. ⁴
• People with pet allergies react to harmless proteins in a pet's urine, saliva or dander (dead skin cells) carried in a pet's hair. ⁵ Pet allergens are even found in places that never housed pets because people carry pet allergens on their clothes. ⁵

Options for allergy relief

Fortunately, a wide range of allergy medications, both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription allergy pills, may help you find relief from symptoms. If you have a history of seasonal allergy symptoms, allergists recommend starting allergy meds two weeks before those symptoms are expected to begin. ⁶

What are the best OTC allergy meds for you? It depends on your symptoms, other medications you take and if you need an OTC non-drowsy allergy medicine. Drowsiness is one of the major side effects of some antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), so it is important to read all labels and talk with your doctor provider or pharmacist about your medication regimen before you begin any allergy meds.

Allergy medications include these options: pills, nasal sprays and aerosols, corticosteroid nasal sprays and aerosols and immunotherapy. If OTC allergy meds don't do the trick, talk with your provider about a prescription.

Pills

OTC allergy meds:

• Alavert*
• Allegra*
• Benadryl
• Claritin*
• Chlor-Trimetron
• Sudafed*
• Xyzal*
• Zyrtec*

*Tend to be less drowsy allergy medicines

Prescription allergy pills:

• Clarinex*
• Cyproheptadine
• Semprex-D*
• Vistaril

*Tend to be less drowsy allergy medicines

Nasal sprays and aerosols

Nasal decongestant sprays and aerosols put directly into your nose can help relieve nasal and sinus congestion, but should only be used for a short time. If you continue to use these medications regularly, you may worsen congestion. In order to avoid this, do not use these medications for more than approximately five days and do not exceed recommended dosages.7 These allergy meds include:

• Afrin and Dristan
• Benzedrex
• Neo-Synephrine

Corticosteroid nasal sprays and aerosols

Some nasal sprays are corticosteroids that suppress allergy-related inflammation inside your nose. These allergy meds include:

OTC allery meds

• Flonase
• Nasacort
• Rhinocort

Prescription medications

• Nasonex
• Qnasl*
• Zetonna*

*Aerosols that will not have the sensation of liquid in the back of your throat.

Immunotherapy

One of the most effective ways to treat seasonal allergies linked to pollen is immunotherapy. These include traditional "allergy shots," and for some allergens, tablets that are placed under the tongue and swallowed as they dissolve. ⁸ Immunotherapy exposes you to gradual increments of your allergen over time, so your body learns to tolerate it rather than have allergy symptoms. ⁶

Non-medical treatment

There are also more natural ways to relieve side effects of pollen, mold and pet allergies. Try the following tips:

• Monitor pollen and mold counts, which are usually included in weather reports. In tree and grass pollen seasons (spring and summer), pollen levels are highest in the evening. In ragweed pollen season (late summer and early fall), pollen levels are highest in the morning. ⁶ When counts are high, stay indoors and keep doors and windows in your house and car closed.
• Wear a NIOSH-rated 95 filter mask when mowing the lawn or doing other chores outdoors. ⁶ These masks can be found in hardware stores.
• If you are allergic to your own animals, establish an allergy-free zone, specifically in your bedroom. Do not let the animal into your room. ⁹ Bleach clothing and bedding to reduce allergens and cover your mattress and pillows with tightly woven microfiber fabrics. ⁹ Limit carpeting and throw rugs, invest in a good vacuum and bathe animals regularly. ⁹

There's a wide variety of allergy medications. Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist to find relief that's right for you.

Published on February 28, 2019

Sources:

1. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Seasonal Allergies. https://acaai.org/allergies/seasonal-allergies Accessed 2/7/2019.

2. UpToDate. Increasing prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis and the role of environmental factors https://www.uptodate.com/contents/increasing-prevalence-of-asthma-and-allergic-rhinitis-and-the-role-of-environmental-factors?search=environmental%20allergies%20treatment&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=2#H2 Accessed 2/7/2019.

3. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. What is a Pollen Allergy? https://www.aafa.org/pollen-allergy/ Accessed 2/7/2019.

4. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Mold Allergy. https://www.aafa.org/mold-allergy/ Accessed 2/8/2019.

5. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Pet Allergy: Are You Allergic to Dogs or Cats? https://www.aafa.org/pet-dog-cat-allergies/ Accessed 2/8/2019.

6. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Seasonal Allergies. https://acaai.org/allergies/seasonal-allergies Accessed 2/7/2019.

7. UptoDate. An overview of rhinitis https://www.uptodate.com/contents/an-overview-of-rhinitis?search=rhinitis%20medicamentosa&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~23&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H7 Accessed 02/12/2019.

8. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Allergy Tablets, Sublingual immunotherapy. https://acaai.org/allergies/allergy-treatment/sublingual-immunotherapy-slit/allergy-tablets-sublingual-immunotherapy 2/12/2019.

9. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Love your pet, not you allergy? https://acaai.org/news/love-your-pet-not-your-allergy Accessed 02/11/2019.