Our body comes into contact with harmless substances like pollen, grasses and other irritants. Our body mistakes these as intruders. Our immune system goes into "defense" mode leading to the eventual release of HISTAMINE...lots of HISTAMINE!
So what then are your options? There are many, each with different plusses and minuses. Speaking to your pharmacist when trying to treat your symptoms will put you on a path that's right for YOU!
Options
Nasal Saline
Non-medication option
Safe for all ages
Flushes out the nasal hairs that do the filtering in your nose
Squirt bottle option by the brand name Ocean
Fine Mist option by the brand name Simply Saline
Weekly sinus rinse by the brand name NetiPot or SinuRinse
Nasal Steroids
Should be used consistently for desired effect
Onset of relief in days - not immediate
Once daily dosing
Can dry the nasal area leading to nose bleeds
Flonase, Nasonex, Nasacort AQ - all with generics now that are affordable and over the counter at the pharmacy
Nasal Decongestants
shrinks the enlarged blood vessels that are causing congestion with QUICK onset and relief
use for less than 3 days only
can cause rebound congestion if used longer
short term symptomatic relief only
does not get to the root of allergies
SHORT TERM USE ONLY - less than 3 days
Brand name Afrin (oxymetazoline) but generic is great!
Oral Anti-Histamines
First Generation
Gold Standard
Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
MOST drowsiness
dosed every 4-6 hours
best for acute allergic reactions
Commonly causes drowsiness
MOST effective at blocking histamine
Second Generation
Developed as non-drowsy once daily options
Zyrtec (cetirizine)
5-10% of users experience drowsiness
dosed once daily
best for night-time allergies taken at bedtime
Allegra (fexofenadine)
No drowsiness
dosed once daily
quickest onset of the once daily meds
Claritin (loratadine)
NO drowsiness
dosed once daily
least effective of the 2nd generation options
Mast Cell Stabilization
When the allergen attaches to the mast cell it triggers a release of histamine.
Mast cell stabilizers stop the mast cells from releasing the histamine
Singulair (Montelukast) -Prescription ONLY
Non-Pharmacologic
Shower before bed to rinse off allergens and contaminants
Change your clothes when coming indoors
Keep windows and doors shut especially in the early morning when pollen counts are highest
Know the pollen counts in your area
So many options
So many ways to help your allergies
The choice is yours and there is help and guidance out there for you for the best allergy treatments!