What Allergy Relief Medicine Should I Use for Spring Allergies?

The cold days of winter are behind us now. Spring is in full bloom and so is allergy season! Allergy sufferers can be plagued with a multitude of symptoms during Spring. Get out your tissues and over-the-counter medications and be prepared to combat these annoying allergy symptoms of stuffy noses, red watery eyes, itchy throat and stopped up ears.

Cortiosteroids

Allergy medications work by blocking your body's allergic reaction to common allergens such as pollen, ragweed, mold and dust. Medications used to combat allergies fall into several classifications. Cortiosteroids treat inflammation by blocking allergic reactions and usually require a prescription. They are available in pill and liquid form, nose sprays, eye drops and skin creams. If your allergies are severe, you may want to make an appointment with an allergist who can diagnose your particular allergy and prescribe the appropriate medicine. Severe allergies may require you to undergo allergy shots.

Antihistamines and other Medications

For those who need immediate relief and do not want to schedule a doctor's appointment, you can try several over-the-counter remedies including antihistamines, leukotriene modifiers and homeopathic medicines. Antihistamines work by blocking histamine receptors in the body. Histamine is a chemical that over reacts to certain allergens and causes the annoying allergy symptoms. Antihistamines can cause drowsiness and decrease your alertness, so take care when taking and do not operate heavy machinery while taking antihistamines.

Brand Names

There are several over-the-counter brand name allergy medications you can try before scheduling a doctor's visit to see if they will provide any relief to your allergy symptoms. Some of the name brands you can find at your local drugstore are Allegra, Zyrtec, Claritin, and Benadryl. Allegra, Zyrtec, and Claritin are known as "second-generation antihistamines" meaning they do not cause drowsiness to the degree of a first generation antihistamine such as Benadryl or Chlortrimetron. Singular is a leukotriene modifier used for allergies and asthma. It blocks leukotrienes, another chemical that produces the same symptoms in the body as histamines.

Seasonal allergies usually clear when the blooming trees and bushes begin to be in decline. Fall allergy suffers have to watch out for the ragweed in bloom. If your symptoms continue to worsen while taking over-the-counter allergy medications or you develop fever or other severe symptoms, consult your physician for further diagnosis and treatment.

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/allergy-medications

http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/9229/allergy-medicine

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergy-medications/AA00037