Your First Line of Defense: Antihistamines
Form: Pills, liquids, and nasal sprays
What they treat
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Runny nose and sneezing
- Itchy nose and throat
- Allergic skin conditions (like hives)
How they work
Antihistamines work by blocking the site where histamine (one of the chemicals your body releases in response to an allergy trigger) binds to in order to cause your symptoms. REACTINE® contains the antihistamine cetirizine which provides fast, 24 hour symptom relief.
Another First Line of Defense: Intranasal Corticosteroid (INS) Sprays
Form: Nasal sprays
What they treat
- Swelling and inflammation in the nasal passageway
- Runny noses, sneezing, itchy nose, and nasal congestion
How they work
Intranasal steroids work in two ways. They first block the inflammatory signals your body releases to cause your symptoms and then they help signal the body to provide anti-inflammatory proteins to help reduce the swelling. This leads to the relief of nasal allergy symptoms and the nasal swelling that comes with allergies. The treatment may start to work on the first day you take it, but can take longer. In order to get maximum relief, you must take these products for over 1 to 2 weeks continuously.
Nasal Decongestants
Form: Pills, liquids, and nasal sprays
What they treat
- Sinus and nasal congestion
- Nasal stuffiness
How they work
Decongestants prompt the blood vessels to constrict, and as a result, they help relieve congestion in the nasal passageways. REACTINE Complete Sinus + Allergy contain both an antihistamine (cetirizine) and a nasal decongestant (pseudoephedrine).
Saline Nasal Sprays
Form: Nasal sprays
What they treat
- Inflammation in the sinus passages.
How they work
Saline sprays can help to soothe irritated noses and ease stuffiness by loosening the mucus in the nasal passage.
Antihistamine Eye Drops
Form: Eye drops
What they treat
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Redness
How they work
Antihistamines work by blocking the site where histamine (one of the chemicals your body releases in response to an allergy trigger) binds to in order to cause your eye allergy symptoms.
Immunotherapy
Form: Allergy shots, pills, and oral drops
What they treat
- Sensitivity to specific allergens
How they work
A series of injections/drops/pills given in increasing concentration of the specific allergy trigger given by a healthcare professional, to increase tolerance of allergens over time and reduce your overall reaction to that trigger to reduce and in some cases, stop allergy symptoms.
Allergy Medication
Find the right relief for your symptoms
Suffering from seasonal allergies? If you’re in need of relief, the good news is that it’s in close reach and can be found in several different over-the-counter medications at your local drugstore or pharmacy.
But to get the relief you need, you need to know which option is right for you. Feeling overwhelmed? Here, we explore and explain the differences between common medications and treatment for allergies.
Antihistamines:
First line of treatment: Antihistamine tablets are the cornerstone of treatment for allergic rhinitis, with a longstanding reputation for being a dependable first line of defense against seasonal allergies.
Antihistamines are often used to treat allergy symptoms including itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, itchy, runny nose, allergic skin conditions (such as hives).
An Antihistamine like REACTINE® provides fast, 24 hour Symptom Relief. Most oral antihistamines are available OTC and can be taken once daily, particularly when you are exposed to triggers regularly, or during allergy season.
Intranasal Corticosteroids:
Another cornerstone treatment for allergic rhinitis: An intranasal corticosteroid spray reduces swelling and inflammation in the nasal passageway1 which help relieve troublesome nasal allergy symptoms, including a runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose and nasal congestion.
An intranasal corticosteroid spray can help some people within the first day of treatment; however, for other people, it may take 2 to 4 days to feel relief. In a few cases, it may take over a week to start to experience relief.2
Decongestants:
Breathing easier: If you are suffering from extensive swelling of the nasal passages, a decongestant is likely a good line of defense.
Decongestants prompt the blood vessels to constrict, and as a result, they help relieve congestion in the nasal passageways.3
Other Options
Saline Sprays
Salt-water solutions or ‘saline nasal sprays’ are also an option for relief of symptoms, without a prescription. This type of spray contains sodium-chloride can help soothe irritated noses as it loosens the mucus in your nasal passage to ease stuffiness.1
Antihistamine Eye Drops
If itchy eyes in particular are causing you discomfort, antihistamine eye drops are designed to offer relief.
Immunotherapy
This is a form of long-term treatment that decreases symptoms for many people with allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, conjunctivitis (eye allergy) or stinging insect allergy. Immunotherapy decreases sensitivity to allergens and often leads to lasting relief of allergy symptoms even after treatment is stopped.4