Allergic Rhinitis Treatment: Medicine

The most effective way to treat allergic rhinitis is to avoid the allergen(s) responsible for triggering the symptoms. Since this can be difficult or impossible, other treatments are available.

Conventional medicine offers several approaches to treating allergic rhinitis:

• Corticosteroids, which can be sprayed directly into the nasal passages, reduce the inflammation associated with allergic rhinitis. They are the first line of treatment for allergic rhinitis.
• Immunotherapy, known more commonly as allergy shots, is used to retrain the immune system to react less dramatically to specific allergens. Immunotherapy is recommended for people who develop strong side effects to allergy medicines, don't respond to allergy medicines, and/or can't avoid frequent exposure to allergens.
• Antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, and leukotriene inhibitors come in pill, syrup, or topical (nasal spray) forms, and block the release of histamine and other chemicals that trigger some of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
• Decongestants can be taken in pill or nasal spray form to reduce or eliminate the congestion associated with allergic rhinitis. Saline nasal sprays are low-tech decongestants.
• Antihistamine/decongestant combinations are available by prescription.

• Allergic Rhinitis and Topical Corticosteroids
• Allergic Rhinitis and Mast Cell Stabilizer
• Allergic Rhinitis and Antihistamines
• Allergic Rhinitis and Decongestants
• Allergic Rhinitis and Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots)
• Allergic Rhinitis and Nasal Decongestant Sprays
• Allergic Rhinitis and Oral Decongestants
• Allergic Rhinitis and Oral Decongestant and Antihistamine Combinations
• Allergic Rhinitis and Leukotriene Inhibitors
• Allergic Rhinitis and Saline Nasal Spray
• Talking to Your Doctor About Allergic Rhinitis

Nasal corticosteroids are sprayed or inhaled into the nose to help relieve the stuffy nose and discomfort of allergies.

Read more about Allergic Rhinitis and Topical Corticosteroids.

Cromolyn changes the body's immunological response to allergens, possibly preventing the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Read more about Allergic Rhinitis and Mast Cell Stabilizer.

Antihistamines help reduce or block the action of histamine, a chemical that is released when the immune system reacts to an allergen. The release of histamine leads to the symptoms of allergic...

Read more about Allergic Rhinitis and Antihistamines.

The purpose of immunotherapy is to decrease or eliminate your response to a particular allergen or group of allergens. This is done by injecting a very tiny extract of the allergen into the skin, and...

Read more about Allergic Rhinitis and Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots).

The mucus that produces congestion is part of the immune system's inflammatory response to allergens. Decongestants work by shrinking the tissues and blood vessels that have become inflamed.

Read more about Allergic Rhinitis and Nasal Decongestant Sprays.

The mucus that produces congestion is part of the immune system's inflammatory response to allergens. Decongestants work by shrinking the tissues and blood vessels that have become inflamed, thereby...

Read more about Allergic Rhinitis and Oral Decongestants.

Decongestants help to narrow the blood vessels, which results in a clearing of nasal congestion. Antihistamines help stop or reduce the production of histamine, a chemical that is released when...

Read more about Allergic Rhinitis and Oral Decongestant and Antihistamine Combinations.

Singulair works by decreasing how many leukotrienes (chemicals) the body creates in response to an allergen, thereby preventing symptoms from developing.

Read more about Allergic Rhinitis and Leukotriene Inhibitors.

Read more about Allergic Rhinitis and Saline Nasal Spray.