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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : February 24, 2015 10:29 PM IST
Q: Hi my name is Manisha and I'm suffering from allergic rhinitis. Can you please tell me some medicines I can take for this allergy?
Allergic rhinitis refers to the inflammation of the nasal airways and is caused mostly when you breathe in something you're allergic to like dust, pollen, insect venom, etc. The main reason for this is your immune system reacting to particles. Here are some medicines used to treat the condition:
Antihistamines: They are perfect to treat allergy symptoms when you are suffering from mild symptoms. Many of them are available over-the-counter and newer histamines like loratidine, fevofenadine and cetrizine cause little or no sleepiness. Antihistamine nasal sprays like Azelastine and Astepro (Asthalin) and olopatadine (Patanase) work well for treating allergic rhinitis.
Corticosteroids: Nasal corticosteroid sprays are the most effective treatment for allergic rhinitis. Many brands are available. You will need a prescription from your doctor. (Read: Allergic rhinitis: All you need to know)
Decongestants: May also be useful in reducing symptoms such as nasal congestion. Do not use them for more than 3 days. Over-the-counter saline nasal sprays that contain benzalkonium chloride may actually make symptoms worse and cause infection.
Leukotriene Modifiers: Leukotriene, produced by the immune system causes inflammation in allergic rhinitis. Leukotriene modifiers block its actions, giving relief from symptoms. These drugs include zileuton, zafirlukast, and montelukast and are highly efficient in treating allergic rhinitis.
Mast cell stabilizers: They mediate anti-inflammatory activities. They prevent the release of histamine and related mediators of inflammation by blocking calcium channel in mast cells. These drugs include intranasal cromolyn sodium. No significant side effects are associated with their use.
Allergy Shots: This is a last resort and is recommended when you can't avoid the allergen and your symptoms are unbearable. Allergy shots usually are small doses of allergen, which can result in fewer or less severe symptoms. They work best when you are allergic to pollen, animal dander or dust mites.
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Immune-based therapies: Drugs called Anti immunoglobulin E Antibodies (Omalizumab) have been used in the treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR). They reduce the risk of anaphylaxis in patients who are receiving immunotherapy. Sublingually administered allergen immunotherapy (SLIT) brings about a significant reduction in symptom in patients with allergic rhinitis.
All in all the aforementioned drugs should cover every different kind of allergy you might face but if the problem persists it's vital you visit a physician immediately.
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of anaphylaxis.
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