The simplest answer of course is that there’s no known cure for an allergic reactions, a condition where your body simply develops a heightened sensitivity to certain medications or substances when introduced into your system, obviously because your body just refuses the ingestion of the drug medication. There are however, a number of medications available that can help alleviate the annoying symptoms of these conditions which will be the subject for discussion in this article.
A Variety of Treatments
The several types of treatments available for allergic reactions, include both over-the-counter and prescription medications to help and treat common symptoms such as runny nose or congestion.
These drug medications include:
- Antinistamines
- Decongenstants,
- Combination drugs
- Corticosteroids and
- Other medications for allergies.
We will have a look at each of these drug medication types together with how they work, and the kind of side effects they cause starting with Antinistamines.
Antinistamines
Examples of antinistamines include both over-the-counter and prescription treatments.
Over-the-counter (OTC):
These medications include:
- Centrizine (Zyrtec)
- Fexofenading (Allegra)
- Levocetrizine (Xyzal)
- Loratadine (Alavert, Claritin)
All the above are to be taken by mouth
- Brompheniramine (Dimetapp allergy, Nasahist B)
- Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
- Clemastine (Tavist
- Diphenydramine (Benadryl)
All the above can make you drowsy.
- Ketotifen (Zaditor)
- Naphazoline and pheniramine (combination)
These two medications are eye drops
Prescription:
The following medications are available on prescription:
- Desloratidine (Clarinex) – a medication to be taken by mouth.
- Azelastine nasal (Astelin – a nasal spray.
- Azelastine ophthalmic (Optivar)
- Epinastine ophthalmic Elestat)
- Olopatadine ophthalmic (Patanol)
The Work Dynamics of Antihistamines
Antihistamines are very active treatments that act quickly in addressing a health problem.
The moment you become infected with an allergen, say for instance an infection of ragweed pollen, your immune system is triggered into action.
One salient point about people who have allergies is that their immune system is always on active standby ready to bounce on the first intruder it doesn’t like.
Immune system cells called “mast Cells” quickly release a substance called histamine when there’s an intrusion and attach themselves to receptors inside blood vessels causing them to expand.
This substance (histamine) can also bind themselves with other receptors and usually cause a redness to develop accompanied by swelling, itching and also cause changes in secretions.
What antihistamines do is that they block the histamine from binding to receptors, and therefore prevent the symptoms from occurring.
Antihistamines Side Effects
There are many over-the-counter antihistamines medications that are an older version and they usually cause drowsiness.
However, there are newer versions that don’t give you a drowsy outcome and you can find these as over-the-counter medications or given as prescription medication.
Decongestants
These medications typically alleviate congestion and in many cases are often prescribed together with antihistamines for the treatment of allergies.
Decongestants can come in the form of pills, nasal sprays, liquids and eye drops.
It’s useful to note that the nasal spray and eye drop decongestants should be used only for a few days at a time given that using them over the long-term can exacerbate your symptoms.
However, the antihistamine pills and liquid forms can be taken over the long-term without any problems.
Here are some examples of decongestants:
- Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed liquid or tablets)
- Phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine )
- Oxymetazoline (Afrin) nasal sprays
- Some Visine eye drops
The Work Dynamics of Decongestants
When an allergic reaction takes place don’t be surprised when tissues in your nasal passages start to swell when they comes into contact with an allergen.
From the swelling usually come fluid and mucus and if the allergen invades the eyes, the blood vessels in your eyes may also swell causing a redness to develop.
Decongestants are known for their ability in shrinking nasal tissues and blood vessels caused by an allergen.
The shrinking action alleviates the symptoms of redness, mucus secretion, nasal swelling and congestion.
Decongestion Side Effects
One side effect of decongestions is that it may increase blood pressure and therefore shouldn’t be given to people with high blood pressure or glaucoma, for fear of further worsening the pressure.
Decongestions also have the propensity o cause insomnia, irritability or restriction of urinary flow
Taking Allergy Drugs in Combination
It’s medically known that some allergy drugs contain both an antihistamine and a decongestant for the treatment and relief of multiple allergy symptoms.
Other drug treatments also possess multiple effects apart for just blocking the binding effect of histamine, as they can also prevent mast cells from releasing other chemicals that can induce allergic conditions.
Some examples of allergy medications that are taken in combination include the following:
Over-the-counter:
- Cetirizine and pseudoephedrine (Zyrtec-D)
- Fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine (Allegra-D)
- Diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine (Benadryl Allergy and Sinus)
- Loratadine and pseudoephedrine (Claritin-D)
- Pseudoephedreine/triprolidine (Actifed) for nasal allergies and naphazoline/pheniramine (Naphcon A for allergic conjunctivitis.
Prescription:
- Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine (Simpres-D) and pseudoephedrine/triprolidine (Actifed) for nasal allergies
- Azelastine/fluticasone (Dymista) combines an antihistamine with a steroid in a nasal spray for short-term (seasonal) nasal allergies.
Anticholinergic Nasal Sprays
Drug medication Ipratropuim bromide (Atrovent) has the propensity to reduce a runny nose.
When the medication is sprayed into each nostril, the amount of mucus from the glands lining the nose passages usually subsides.
Antichlonergic Nasal Spray Side Effects
Side effects caused by antichlonergic nasal sprays include the following:
- Cause the nose to become really dry
- The nose dryness can lead to nosebleeds or irritation
- Headaches
- Stuffy nose
- Upset stomach
- Sore throat
Steroids
These drug medications are also medically known as corticosteroids, a group of drug medications that have the propensity to reduce inflammation that are related to allergies.
What these corticosteroids do is they:
- Decrease the size of inflammations
- Prevent and treat nasal blockages
- Alleviate the onset of sneezing
- Stop itching that usually accompanies allergic reactions
- Treat and prevent a runny nose due to seasonal or throughout the year allergies
- Reduce swelling and inflammation that develop from other allergic reactions
Availability
Steroids are available in a variety of forms such as:
- Pills or liquids for chronic allergies or asthma
- Inhalers with localized alleviating action for asthma
- Nasal sprays for short-term (seasonal) and long-term (year-round) allergy
- Topical creams for skin allergy treatment
- Topical eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis
Additional to these steroid medications would be other types of medications you doctor may decide to prescribe for you for combating your allergic symptoms.
It’s been medically proved that steroids are very effective drug medications for the treatment of allergies, but they must be used on a continuous basis, (a daily basis would be ideal), to provide any benefit.
You should take it in this regular manner even if you don’t have allergy symptoms and you should also note that it takes 1 to 2 weeks before you can feel the total effect of the medication.
Some examples of steroids include:
Prescription nasal steroids:
- beclomethasone (Beconase, Qnasl, Ovar)
- ciclesonide (Alvesco, Omnaris, Zetonna)
- Fluticasone furoate (Veramyst)
- Mometasone (Nasonex)
Over-the-counter nasal steroids:
- budesonide (Rhinocort
- fluticasone (Flonase Allergy Relief)
- triamcinolone (Nasacort Allergy 24 HR)
Eye drops:
Dexamethasone ophthalmic (Maxidex), and loteprodnol ophthalmic (Alrex)
Oral Steroids:
- prednisone (Deltasone)
Bottom line
Do you have any problems with allergic reactions because if you do, then all the information contained in this article should prove invaluable for overcoming your allergic problems. Allergic reactions shouldn’t be brushed aside as if they are no consequence. They are serious conditions that can really impact your health if you don’t take concrete actions to treat them. Browse this site and make your selection for the medication you need and it shall be yours.
