Medications can help reduce your immune system reaction and ease symptoms. Your doctor might suggest over-the-counter or prescription medication in the form of pills or liquid, nasal sprays, or eye drops.

Medications classified as anti-histamines block the release of histamine from certain cells called mast cells in the body. When the body encounters something it is allergic to, histamine will cause blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell and subsequently itch. Many anti-histamines are available over the counter and include Brompheniramine (Dimetane), Cetirizine (Zyrtec), Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), Clemastine (Tavist), Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), Fexofenadine (Allegra), and Loratadine (Alavert, Claritin).

Another medication that helps with the management of allergy symptoms is Montelukast (Singulair). This medication blocks the inflammatory response to allergies in a different way. It works by blocking the action of leukotriene D4 in the lungs resulting in decreased inflammation and relaxation of smooth muscle. It has been FDA approved to treat both chronic rhinitis and asthma. There are also multiple steroid nasal sprays that help to control allergy symptoms. Flonase, Nasacort, and Rhinocort are available over the counter. Examples of prescription steroid nasal sprays include Beconase, Dymista, Nasarel, Nasonex, Qnasl, Vancenase, Veramyst, and Zetonna. There are also prescription anti-histamine nasal sprays that are available such as Astelin, Astepro, and Patanase. Dymista is a combination Nasal steroid and anti-histamine nasal spray.

Another treatment for allergy symptoms is saline rinses. There are over the counter preparations that are available to make the process easier. Saline rinses physically eliminate allergens from the nasal cavity thereby reducing the allergic response.

Finding the right medical therapy can be challenging, your healthcare provider can help find the best therapy for you.

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