Allergy Drugs: Prescription and OTC
Jim Morelli, MS, RPh
Jim Morelli holds a B.S. from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health in Boston and an M.S. in civil engineering from Tufts University. He is registered as a pharmacist in the state of Georgia.
Louise Chang, MD
Dr. Chang completed her undergraduate degree at Stanford University and attended medical school at New York Medical College. She completed her internal medicine residency at Saint Vincent's Hospital in New York City, where she also served as a chief resident from 2001-2002. Dr. Chang is board-certified in internal medicine.
- Allergy medications overview
- For what conditions are allergy medications used?
- What are the differences in the types of allergy medications?
- What are the side effects of allergy medications?
- What are the drug interactions for allergy medications?
- What if medications aren't enough to improve symptoms?
- What are some warnings/precautions with allergy medications?
- Examples of allergy medications
Allergy medications overview
The arsenal of allergy drugs includes dozens of medications that relieve allergy symptoms when confronted with a trigger known as an allergen. That trigger could be something from a plant, such as pollen, or something from an animal (pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches). Other allergy triggers include certain fragrances or chemical substances.
What causes a person's allergic reaction is highly individual. But the reactions are often universal: swelling and inflammation, especially around the eyes, nose, and throat, usually accompanied by itching.
Some allergy medications work against the effects of histamines, which are released during an allergic reaction. Other medications reduce swelling, affect the immune system, or affect release of other substances associated with allergic reactions.
Many allergy drugs are available without a prescription.
For what conditions are allergy medications used?
The most common reason consumers turn to allergy medications is for seasonal allergy relief from seasonal allergic rhinitis. This condition is sometimes referred to as “hay fever” because it is triggered by the spring through fall appearance of leaves, grasses and weeds. Allergy medications are also used for perennial (year-long) allergy relief. Antihistamines are also useful in treating chronic urticaria, a skin condition characterized by a persistent, itchy hives. Corticosteroid ointments and creams – as well as nonsteroidal topical immunomodulators -- may be used for a variety of skin allergy conditions, including eczema or atopic dermatitis. Non-allergy-related uses for antihistamines include treating insomnia, migraine headaches, and motion sickness.
Allergies & Asthma
Improve treatments & prevent attacks.
Updated & New
