How Does Allergy Medicine Work

Allergy Pretreatment: The Importance Of Control

According to the experts, the secret to living with allergies is being prepared. If you can anticipate when and where youâll have allergy symptoms, you can often prevent them from developing. This is why allergy pretreatment is so important.

âControlling allergy symptoms is really important in reducing complications like chronic sinusitis and the progression into asthma,â says Bernstein.

Donât be passive. Instead, work with your doctor — or a specialist such as an allergist and immunologist — and come up with your allergy pretreatment plan.

âEven if you have allergies, you should be able to enjoy the outdoors, your home, your pets, and your job,â says Kelkar. âAs long as you take the proper precautions, you should be able to do whatever you want.â

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Is It Safe To Take An Antihistamine Daily

Experts say, its usually okay. Taken in the recommended doses, antihistamines can be taken daily, but patients should make sure they do not interact with their other medications, saysSandra Lin, MD, professor and vice director of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at John Hopkins School of Medicine.

In other words, youll need to make sure that you choose the right antihistamine for everyday use. First-generation antihistamines come with risk of more side effects and interactions, so are not generally advised for long-term usage. Additionally, frequent use of the first generation antihistamines may lead to excessive weight gain.

With first-generation antihistamines, some people note decreasing effectiveness if used daily for several days, says Dr. Lin. Because they cause drowsiness, they are not safe to mix with alcoholsomething to consider if you plan to have a drink during allergy season.

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The risk of interaction increases with combination products. Some allergy medications contain an antihistamine and a decongestant . The decongestant component can cause elevated blood pressure and elevated heart rate, saysStephen Tilles, MD, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Washington. However, Dr. Lin says antihistamines alone are not bad for the heart in otherwise healthy people.

• Sore throat
• Nausea or vomiting

Otc Allergy Medicine Doesn’t Work Anymore What Now

It can be extremely frustrating: just as Houston’s allergy season is getting into gear, you find your trusted over the counter medication is not providing the relief you’d received from it in the past. What causes this and what can you do? Understanding more about your allergies can help you find answers when you can’t get over the counter allergy relief.

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Add A Nasal Steroid Spray

Antihistamines can relieve the mild congestion that comes along with most bouts of allergies, but some people may experience more severe congestion. If this sounds like you, Dr. Hays recommends using a nasal steroid spray in addition to taking an antihistamine.

Until recently, nasal steroid sprays were offered only by prescription. Now, there are a few you can buy over-the-counter, including:

• Budesonide
• Triamcinolone

“Nasal steroid sprays won’t help with all of your allergy symptoms, such as itchy and watery eyes, but they do help with nasal congestion, post-nasal drip and scratchy throat,” Dr. Hays explains.

Just like antihistamines, Dr. Hays says that nasal steroid sprays need to be used every day to be effective. The good news is that they’re also generally safe and well-tolerated.

“However, unlike antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays don’t provide quick relief from allergy symptoms,” Dr. Hays says. “It can take a few days for a nasal steroid spray to take effect.”

What You Should Do

Work with your doctor to develop a pretreatment strategy, including how far in advance you should use medications. That plan should also include drug-free ways to avoid allergens, such as keeping air conditioning and heating filters and vents clean, keeping windows closed, wearing a mask for outdoor yard work, and avoiding going outside when pollen levels are highest.

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How Do I Know Which Antihistamine To Take

Because there are so many antihistamine products, both over-the-counter and prescription, and because they are used to treat so many different conditions, you may need help figuring out which medication to take. For minor ailments, you can probably take over-the-counter products. You can read the package labeling and match your symptoms to the labeled symptoms. Also, never hesitate to ask the pharmacist. They are highly schooled in the actions and effects and side effects of drugs. You may need to try different antihistamines to find the best medication to manage your symptoms.

If you need a prescription antihistamine, you and your healthcare provider will work together to figure out what medication will be best for you. Many drugs interact with antihistamines, so your healthcare provider will want to know what medical conditions you have and medications you are currently taking. They will also want to know if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Some antihistamines are not recommended in pregnancy because they may cause birth defects in very high doses. Antihistamines can pass into breast milk, so you should consult with your healthcare provider before using antihistamines if you are breastfeeding.

Benefits Of Allergy Medicine For Dogs With Itchy Skin

Allergy medicine is a great way to help your dog. It relieves itching, helps prevent infections, and reduces the severity of symptoms. Allergy medicine can be given as an oral medication or applied topically to the skin as creams or ointments. The most common side effects of allergy medication for dogs are gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting and diarrhea. In rare cases, some dogs may experience liver damage after taking it for a long period of time so you should ask your veterinarian about this before administering any medications at home.

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What Should I Avoid While Taking Cold & Allergy Relief

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of chlorpheniramine and phenylephrine.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, or sleep medicine. Cold & Allergy Relief are contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug. Check the label to see if a medicine contains an antihistamine or decongestant.

Best For Nighttime: Benadryl Ultratabs Antihistamine Allergy Relief Tablets

• Cheaper than most store brands

• Must take every four to six hours

Have you had a long day? Do you want to just sleep right away and forget about your allergies? The Extra Strength Benadryl Allergy Nighttime Caplets can make that happen. It can instantly put you to sleep and treat your common allergies and cold symptoms at the same time. Get ready for some uninterrupted slumber and by the next morning, youll feel as good as new.

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How Do You Prepare For An Allergy Shot

Before you start allergy shots, youll need a full evaluation. The doctor needs to test your allergies to know exactly which substances to use in the shots.

For example, if you have allergies during pollen season, theyll test for which types of pollen cause your symptoms. Ragweed, grasses, and various tree pollens are common culprits.

Allergy testing usually consists of skin pricking. During a skin prick test, your doctor will prick the skin on your back or forearm with several types of allergens to determine which ones cause reactions.

A type of specialist known as an allergist or an immunologist will conduct all testing and treatment with allergy shots.

Once your doctor has identified your allergens, youll start receiving allergy shots. The process is broken down into two phases:

• buildup
• maintenance

Treats Mild To Moderate Inflammation In Allergy Sufferers

Mast cell stabilizers are often used alongside other allergy treatments to help alleviate mild to moderate inflammation. These treatments work by preventing histamine from being released by the mast cells, which are the cells that produce and store histamine.

Mast cell stabilizers are available as eye drops for itchy eyes, also called allergic conjunctivitis, and as nasal sprays for nasal allergy symptoms. As with many drugs, it may take several weeks to start working at its best.

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Advertising That Makes Your Allergy Meds Work Better

May 6, 2018

Beginning each spring and carrying on through the fall, television ads for over-the-counter allergy medications blanket the airwaves. Theyre as unavoidable as the pollen and mold spores that make people so miserable during allergy season. These commercials are designed to convince consumers of the superiority of one brand over another, but in 2013, a unique study from the University of Chicago suggested that the ads themselves could increase the effectiveness of these drugs as well.

The study crossed academic boundaries at UChicago, conducted by Emir Kaminica, professor of economics at the Booth School of Business, Anup Malani, Lee and Brena Freeman Professor of Law, and Robert Naclerio, MD, who at the time was chief of the Section of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery . They found that people who took a common allergy medication responded better after watching a movie interspersed with commercials for that drug instead of ads for one of its competitors.

The body responds to common allergens like pollen, mold or dust mites by releasing a substance called histamine. This triggers an inflammatory responsesneezing, itching, watery eyes, etc. The most common way to treat these symptoms is with an antihistamine that lessens that reaction.

Its clear that there is a placebo effect. Ive always believed that. As a clinician we get the placebo effect plus whatever effectiveness of the drug, he said.

But this research revealed a new dimension.

Matt Wood

Best For Pet Allergies: Xyzal Allergy Tablet

• Maximum strength for severe allergies of all kinds

• Eases pet dander irritations

• Better for those under their 60s

• Can cause drowsiness

No matter how much you love your furry friends, life isnt going to be easy if youre allergic to them. You can give yourself some relief by taking the Xyzal Allergy Relief Tablets that were made to alleviate symptoms associated with animal dander allergies.

Unless youre willing to get rid of your pet, many say this is the only thing that works. Additionally, Parikh suggests keeping the pet out of your bedroom and getting a HEPA air purifier.

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Work With An Expert To Find Relief Faster

Deciding which allergy treatment option is right for you can be difficult. Its important to understand your exact type and severity of allergies and discuss all of your options with a specialist. Working with an expert to discuss your symptoms and determine your best course of action will help you find the right medication and get relief from allergy symptoms faster. Schedule a consultation with Advanced ENT & Allergy Center to get to the root of your allergies and find the right treatment for your lifestyle.

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Cold & Allergy Relief Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction:hives difficulty breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Cold & Allergy Relief and call your doctor at once if you have:

• chest pain, rapid pulse, fast or uneven heart rate

• confusion, hallucinations, severe nervousness

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness or

• dangerously high blood pressure .

Common side effects may include:

• dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision

• nausea, stomach pain, constipation, loss of appetite

• problems with memory or concentration or

• feeling restless or excited .

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1 800 FDA 1088.

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How Long To Use Allergy Medicine For Dogs With Itchy Skin

The best way to determine how long you should use allergy medicine for dogs with itchy skin is by consulting your veterinarian. This will help them give you an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan that meets the needs of your dog, as well as a prognosis on how long theyll need to take these medications before they can get off of them.

The length of time that it takes for a dogs allergies to subside varies depending on several factors, including:

• The severity of the allergy
• Which allergens are causing their symptoms
• Your dogs age

Blocking Allergy Symptoms: How Pretreatment Works

Tackle allergies before they start, and you could be breathing a lot easier.

For lots of people, allergy treatment is reactive. You get stuffed up, your eyes water, and then you go to the medicine cabinet for relief. But many doctors say that weâve got it the wrong way around. Instead, we should be taking the medicine before we have symptoms. Call it allergy pretreatment.

âWe always tell people to start taking medicine before the allergy season begins,â says Jonathan A. Bernstein MD, an allergist and professor of clinical medicine at the University of Cincinnati. âPeople often come to me in the middle of the allergy season, and theyâre already a mess. Once the symptoms start, they can be like a runaway train.â

By waiting, you could be risking more than mild discomfort. Once allergy symptoms start, you might need more heavy-duty medicine to get them under control. In some people, allergy symptoms quickly turn into allergic sinusitis and more serious problems. That requires even more intensive treatment.

So the key to getting through the allergy season is to have a good defense. By arming yourself with medicine before the trees unleash their pollen — or before you go visit your sister and their five cats — you can save yourself a lot of suffering. How does allergy pretreatment work? Here are the answers.

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How Do Allergy Medicines Actually Work

Ah yes, springtime is here! The weather starts to warm, the trees and plants begin to bloom, and a lot of us begin our annual run in with seasonal allergies! This time of year there are a lot of people taking allergy medicines, but whats going on when you take these pills? How do allergy medicines work? Listen to this Question Your World radio report produced by the Science Museum of Virginia to find out.

First of all, allergies are a pretty common issue for many individuals. Over 50 million Americans suffer from some sort of allergy, and many of us experience what is known as seasonal allergy symptoms – things like coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose during the spring or fall.

Seasonal allergies are different from food and insect allergies, which can cause more serious issues like rashes, hives, breathing trouble, asthma attacks, or even death. Allergies are due to our bodies thinking theyre doing a good thing – that is, fighting off something thats attacking our body. However, most of the time, these allergens are otherwise harmless.

There you go, folks. Science, hard at work making your springtime a little less a-pollen.

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Are There Different Types Of Antihistamines

Generally, antihistamines have been classified into two groups:

• First-generation or sedating antihistamines can cause significant drowsiness and are generally more associated with the antimuscarinic side-effects mentioned above. These include alimemazine, chlorphenamine, clemastine, cyproheptadine, hydroxyzine, ketotifen and promethazine. These medicines may be used for their sedative effects should your sleep be disturbed by itching.
• Non-sedating or second-generation antihistamines are newer medicines which generally cause less drowsiness. However, anyone taking these medicines while performing skilled tasks – for example, driving – should be aware that a sedative effect may still occur and, in particular, in combination with alcohol. Second-generation antihistamines include acrivastine, cetirizine, desloratadine, fexofenadine, levocetirizine and loratadine.

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What Antihistamine Is Right For You

You can buy many different brands and forms of antihistamines without a prescription.

• Some work for only 4 to 6 hours, while others last for 12 to 24 hours.
• Some are combined with a decongestant, a drug that dries up your nasal passages.

Ask your health care provider what type of antihistamine and what exact dosage is right for you or your child. Make sure you understand how much to use and how many times a day to use it. Be sure to read the label carefully. Or ask your pharmacist if you have questions.

• Some antihistamines cause less sleepiness than others. These include cetirizine , desloratadine , fexofenadine , and loratadine .
• Do not drink alcohol when you are taking antihistamines.

Also, remember:

• Store antihistamines at room temperature, away from heat, direct light, and moisture.
• Do not freeze antihistamines.
• Keep all medicines where children cannot reach them.

What Our Experts Say

When it comes to Zyrtec, Dr. Parikh emphasizes the only thing to avoid is anything with a decongestant. I would avoid decongestants as they can cause rebound symptoms, long term side effects, and are addictive. Examples of decongestants are any allergy med that includes D for example, Zyrtec D has a decongestant and plain Zyrtec doesnt and is okay to use long-term.

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Liquid Allergy Medicine And Nasal Sprays Expire Earlier

While most antihistamines are tablets, corticosteroids are in liquid form, and used to treat symptoms like itchy noses, sneezing, and nasal congestion.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays can be over-the-counter, like Flonase, or by prescription, like Nasonex. They contain preservatives to keep the liquids fresh longer.

Prescription liquid medicine expiration dates are no longer than one year, , although sometimes the manufacturer sets the shelf life at six months or earlier. Expiration dates for over-the-counter liquids are usually around two years.

And liquid allergy medicines shouldn’t be stretched as far beyond their expiration dates as tablets, Frank says.

Frank says nasal sprays, as well as liquid forms of antihistamines, can last for one year beyond the bottle’s expiration date. After that, the efficacy dwindles. “Like tablets, these drugs won’t be unsafe when expired,” Frank says. “They’ll just become ineffective.”

To extend the potency of liquid drugs like nasal sprays, Frank suggests keeping them at room temperature. “Storing in a room that’s too warm, in sunlight, or colder like a refrigerator would make it go bad faster,” she says.