This year allergy season seems more potent and early in many areas of the United States. The vigorous bloom of pollens has been bothersome for more than six weeks. In the Northwest we have seen many patients this season who have well known allergies struggling with symptoms more than they have in several years. Many clients who historically have not had allergies have also been affected this year. Most people are familiar with seasonal allergy symptoms and how bothersome they can be. It is not always clear which specific allergens are in the air at any given time. This time of year is a very fluid situation which plants are in bloom spewing pollen in the air. The amount of dust, mold and pollutants in the air can vary air quality greatly depending on the wind, humidity, and temperature of your locale.
The real challenge with seasonal allergies is that avoidance is not a choice. You have to breathe. Consulting an allergist may be necessary to identify potential allergens if your symptoms are severe. Having said that, there are several fundamental tools your health care provider can offer to find a solution tailored to your individual needs.
#1 Antihistamines: Still the foundation and first line treatment in managing allergies. Fortunately the two best ones in this category are sold over the counter without a prescription at the same strength as by prescription. Claritin also sold in a generic at very affordable prices as Loratidine is conveniently dosed once a day and is unlikely to cause any drowsiness compared to one of the older favorites Benadryl (generic: diphenhydramine). Another good option is Zyrtec (generic: cetirizine). This is also a once daily medication that causes very little drowsiness in most people. It is also available in pediatric liquid form for children two years of age and older.
#2 Steroid nasal spray: These are prescription only. However in conjunction with a daily oral antihistamine, steroid nasal spray provides satisfactory results for a large majority of people who suffer with the common allergy symptoms. The prototype is Flonase or fluticasone spray used only once daily in each nostril. The convenient dosing and efficacy makes this part of the fundamental therapy for seasonal and environmental allergies. Both of these options have to be used daily on a preventive basis. The proactive approach is very successful in controlling the common symptoms.
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Article comments
1 - Mark Buckingham
Strangely, my allergies have been quite dormant so far this year, and over the past few years. Claritin-D 24hr is my weapon of choice when they do act up, though.
2 - Andi
I didn't have allergies up until a few years ago and even when they first started they weren't all that bad. This year, on the other hand, they have been out of control! I felt like I'd been sick for about a month until I started taking Claritin everyday. Now that I've been taking it, I not only feel so much better during the day, but I can sleep at night, not waking up unable to breath because of congestion. So yes, I think it's safe to say that I HIGHLY recommend Claritin to anyone suffering from allergies!
3 - Dorthy
I recently just started having very bad "natural" allergies. It was really wrecking my life enjoying the summer outdoors. SO I started taking different allergy medications but I seem to have very bad side affects from them all. I came across a article on "kiwi drug" about Flonase over the counter and I was wondering if anyone else has read of this too?