“Allergic rhinitis is a trivialized disease,” Jonathan A. Bernstein, MD, an allergist at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine tells WebMD. “Obviously, nobody dies from it. But it does cause a tremendous amount of sickness and suffering.”
“Allergic rhinitis is a treatable problem,” Bernstein says, “and when people get diagnosed and treated properly, they do very well.”
Here’s a look at treatment options:
Antihistamines
A chemical in your body called histamine is what triggers your body’s response to allergens. An antihistamine blocks this reaction. Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin, and Benadryl are all examples.
Decongestants
Antihistamines don’t relieve congestion. If you need to relieve congestion, a decongestant is the answer. They can reduce swelling in the nasal passages. Sudafed is common over-the-counter decongestant.
Nasal sprays
A prescription strength nasal spray is a common treatment for allergy symptoms because it is effective in treating many side effects.
“The great thing about steroid sprays is that with just one medication, you can treat the congestion, the itchiness, and the sneezing,” says Corinna Bowser, MD, an allergist in Narbeth, Pa.
Nasacort, a nasal steroid, is available over-the-counter, but others like Flonase require a prescription.
Prescription meds
There are prescription strength antihistamines and decongestants too. Your doctor can access the severity of your allergy symptoms and prescribe medications like Clarinex, if needed.
Nasal irrigation
It’s not one of the prettiest treatments, but irrigating your nasal passages with salt water can also help.
“Some trials found that nasal irrigation works as well as antihistamines in reducing symptoms,” says Bowser. There’s evidence that it relieves sinus symptoms, too.
The salt water clears the allergens that are causing the reaction. Get rid of the allergens and you’ll feel better.
“It’s just like cleaning your furnace filter,” says Bernstein. “If you want good air quality in your home — or your lungs — the filters have to be clean.”
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