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Allergy & Asthma Advocate: Spring 2007
Skin allergies: When you should seek an allergist
By Noga Askenazi, MD, FAAAAI
 You don’t have to suffer through spring allergy season this year. Take control and find relief by seeing an allergist, who can recommend a variety of medication options. The advantages and disadvantages of common
allergic rhinitis medications are described below to help you understand the many treatments that are available.
What is allergic rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis causes the familiar symptoms of nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose, and itchy, watery eyes. These symptoms occur because of inflammation within the nose in response to allergy triggers, such as pet dander and pollens. The effective management of allergic
rhinitis involves the appropriate use of three categories of treatment. These categories are:
- Environmental control
- Medications
- Allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots), if needed
Available medication options
Medications for allergic rhinitis, in general, reduce an allergy sufferer’s sensitivity to allergy triggers. Medication options include oral and nasal antihistamines, nasal inhaled corticosteroids, decongestants and leukotriene modifiers. It is important to understand how the different medications work and their strengths and weaknesses.
Allergic rhinitis affects nearly 36 million Americans and causes a great deal of misery. Fortunately, there are effective treatments available. By carefully and thoughtfully using available treatments for allergic rhinitis, including antihistamines,
nasal corticosteroids, decongestants, and leukotriene modifiers, most people can achieve excellent control of their symptoms.
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