Which Allergy Medication Is Right For You?

Decongestants: Sprays And Drops

Nasal decongestant drops and sprays alleviate nasal and sinus congestion, if used for a short period of time. If a person uses these medications for more than three days, it can result in worsening of the congestion or start the cycle of recurrence. Some examples of these drugs include:

• Tyzine (tetrahydrozoline)
• Afrin, Dristan, etc. (oxymetazoline)

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroid drugs relieve the symptoms of sinus congestion by blocking allergy-related inflammation. Most of these medications require a prescription from a medical physician.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays prevent and ease nasal stuffiness, sneezing and runny nose. The side effects can include an unpleasant taste or smell, nosebleeds and irritation. Examples of a corticosteroid nasal spray include; Nasacort Allergy 24 Hour ®, Nasonex®, and Flonase®.

Mast Cell Stabilizers

These medications block the release of the immune system chemicals that set off an allergic reaction. Mast cell stabilizers are typically safe, but will usually have to be used for several days to reach their full effect. Usually, these medications are used when antihistamines are not working or not tolerated very well.

What To Know About Allergies

Diagnosing an allergy is a complicated process and it involves more than administering skin prick tests or a blood test. There are many factors that are involved in diagnosing an allergy and developing an effective treatment protocol. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology reports that there are between 40 and 50 million people in America who suffer from allergies or asthma. These diseases are so common it may seem like diagnosing and treating them is a straightforward process, but it’s not that simple.

An allergy specialist may need to do the following things in order to diagnose an allergy:

• Perform extensive allergy testing
• Identify the source of a person’s allergy
• Accurately diagnose the condition
• Treatment could involve more than just alleviating the symptoms
• Develop a personalized plan for elimination and controlling of the allergy symptoms
• Provide a patient with the most cost-effective treatment that will yield the best results

Prognosis

There are many types of over-the-counter anti-allergy medications available to help provide relief of allergy symptoms. However, the choice of medication and treatment will depend on receiving a diagnosis and treatment plan from a trained allergist. Before taking any type of new medications, it is important to visit your physician to determine which course of action would work best.

READ Pollen Allergy Treatment

With medication, a treatment plan and possibly seeking the assistance of an allergy specialist, you no longer have to suffer with the symptoms of an allergy and relief may be possible.