Seasonal Allergy Treatments
Seasonal allergy treatments come in several forms — for example pills, liquids, nasal sprays, eye drops. No known medicine can “cure” allergies. So the goal of allergy treatment is to help relieve symptoms.
What seasonal allergy medication works best for you can often depend on your symptoms and the severity of those symptoms. Your doctor can help you decide what seasonal allergy treatment is right for you.
Different Types of Seasonal Allergy Treatments
Allergy treatments come in different forms and work in a variety of ways. Here are some examples.
- Antihistamines are one of the most commonly used types of allergy medications. They block histamine, a chemical that is released by the body’s immune system. Antihistamines are available in several forms; for example, pills you swallow or as nasal sprays. Some antihistamines may cause drowsiness.
- Decongestants relieve congestion in the nose and sinuses. They work by constricting blood vessels in the nose. However, decongestants may sometimes lead to an increase in blood pressure. For this reason, and others, decongestants should be used with caution in people with certain common medical conditions, including high blood pressure.
- Nasal steroid sprays are used to prevent and treat the inflammation often caused by allergies. They can take up to a week to work. They also have been linked to worsening glaucoma and cataracts.
- Leukotriene blockers treat symptoms by blocking the effects of a chemical that is included in the allergic reaction.
- Immunotherapy, commonly called “allergy shots,” may help in cases of persistent seasonal allergic rhinitis. Allergy shots are given regularly over a period of years and contain allergen extracts. The goal is to reduce your sensitivity to specific allergens so that you are less likely to react or to react as strongly to them.
