What medicines can I take to help relieve my symptoms?

If avoiding allergens doesn’t help enough, you may need to try allergy medicines. Some common types are described below:

• Antihistamines help reduce sneezing, runny nose and itchiness. Antihistamines that you can buy without a prescription relieve symptoms just as well as prescription medicines do. However, they tend to cause tiredness and dry mouth. Prescription antihistamines are less likely to cause tiredness or dry mouth. Before you take an allergy or cold medicine, check the label for a drug called phenylpropanolamine, or PPA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recalled this drug for safety reasons. If a medicine contains PPA, don’t take it.

• Pseudoephedrine - a decongestant helps temporarily relieve a stuffy nose. Pseudoephedrine, currently the only decongestant on the market in the U.S., comes as pills, nose sprays and nose drops. Decongestant tablets or liquids are best used only for a short time (1 to 2 weeks). Nose sprays and drops shouldn’t be used for more than 3 days because your body can become dependent on them. This causes your nose to feel even more stopped-up when you stop using them.

  You can buy pseudoephedrine without a prescription. However, decongestants can raise blood pressure in some people, so it’s a good idea to talk to your family doctor before using them.

• Cromolyn sodium is a nasal spray that helps prevent your body from reacting to inhaled allergens. Cromolyn sodium is more helpful if you use it before you’re exposed to allergens. This medicine may take up to 2 to 4 weeks to start working. It is available without a prescription.
  
  
• Nasal steroid sprays reduce the inflammatory reaction of your nasal tissues to inhaled allergens. Your doctor may prescribe a steroid spray to relieve the swelling in your nose so that you feel less stopped-up. This medicine may take a couple of weeks to start working.
  
  
• Eye drops. Eye drops can help itchy, watery eyes. You can buy these drops without a prescription.

  Your doctor might suggest eye drops that contain an antihistamine-decongestant combination. These drops are available in over-the-counter and prescription forms. Be sure to read the directions before using any medication. Many of these eye drops should not be used for longer than a few days.