If you've stuck to your allergy medicine schedule, reduced your exposure to allergens, and tried to reduce your stress levels, and you're still suffering from allergy symptoms, it might be time to see an allergy specialist.
You may need immunotherapy.
If you don't get relief from medicines alone, it might be a good option for you. This long-term treatment exposes you to what you're allergic to. Over time, it can reduce or prevent your allergy symptoms. It could stop your body from overreacting to allergens all together.
If antihistamines aren't working for you and you have allergy-like symptoms, it may not be a bad allergy season—but instead something non-allergic you're reacting to. Symptoms of nonallergic rhinitis include: Sneezing. Runny or stuffy nose.
It is possible that you are not entirely sure what is triggering your allergy symptoms, which is why they are not going away. Allergy triggers include pollen, molds, animal dander, and food.
If you have chronic allergy symptoms, the first step should be to identify and avoid the allergens that bother you. If avoiding your allergy triggers isn't helping, then talk to your healthcare provider about medical or surgical treatments that may be helpful.
Do NOT "double-up" on a dose. Do NOT take a dose sooner than you're supposed to. Do NOT take two different antihistamines at the same time. Instead, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have trouble finding a drug that works well for your allergy symptoms.
Though the newer antihistamines all appear to be equally safe and effective, some people may respond better to one than another. So if, for example, cetirizine doesn't seem to help, try fexofenadine or loratadine, Hong says.
Take allergy medicine.
Antihistamines, which block your body's response to allergies, usually work in less than an hour. But read the package carefully. Some older drugs, like chlorpheniramine, clemastine, and diphenhydramine can make you drowsy. For more severe allergies, Kim suggests a nasal spray.
You may not be consistent in taking your medication
If you have missed a few doses or days of your allergy meds, you will be more sensitive to the surge in outdoor allergen. Typically an allergy patient jumps back on the medication in desperation, but finds that it isn't as effective as before.
On bad allergy weeks, it is reasonable for many patients to double-up on some of their meds to improve symptoms without the need for adding more medication types to their mix (“polypharmacy”). Talk to your doctor first, and make sure she is aware of any current medications you are taking already.
Cetirizine is the most potent antihistamine available and has been subjected to more clinical study than any other.
A recent University of Michigan study indicates that warming temperatures and rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) are making allergy season nastier than before. Findings suggest that pollen season in the U.S. could begin earlier and last longer by the end of the century.
“Zyrtec is found to be more potent, or stronger, in laboratory studies, compared with Claritin,” says Dr. Kung. “It also reaches a higher concentration in the skin, which can be more helpful for skin-related allergies. However, Zyrtec has a greater chance of making you sleepy while taking it.”
Sublingual drugs are used to treat some pollen allergies. Emergency epinephrine. If you have a severe allergy, you might need to carry an emergency epinephrine shot at all times. Given for severe allergic reactions, an epinephrine shot (Auvi-Q, EpiPen, others) can reduce symptoms until you get emergency treatment.
Good allergy treatment is based on your medical history, the results of your allergy tests, and if your symptoms are mild or severe. Your allergy treatment plan may include three treatment types: avoiding allergens, medicines, and/or immunotherapy (allergens given as a shot or placed under the tongue).
What's the best time of day to take ZYRTEC®? Any time of day works. And ZYRTEC® will continue to work for 24 hours.
You can't become immune to your allergy meds.
"What's more likely is that the disease has become more severe, in which case you should consider other treatment options, like allergen immunotherapy, intranasal steroids, isotonic saline nasal washes and/or other antihistamines."
There's currently no cure for hay fever, but most people are able to relieve symptoms with treatment, at least to a certain extent. The most effective way to control hay fever would be to avoid exposure to pollen.
Allergies occur at the same time every year and last as long as the allergen is in the air (usually 2-3 weeks per allergen). Allergies cause itching of the nose and eyes along with other nasal symptoms. Colds last about one week and have less itching of the nose and eyes.
One of the biggest causes of nighttime allergies is dust mites - microscopic, spider-like bugs that feed on exfoliated human skin cells. These critters can be found in mattresses, pillows, bed linens, carpets and upholstered furniture. Dust mites won't bite you or harm you.
Chronic allergies are most commonly caused by indoor allergens. Indoor allergens include dust mites, cockroaches, pet hair or dander and mold.
Different oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, cetirizine, loratadine, levocetirizine, desloratadine, and fexofenadine should never be taken together. Taking different oral antihistamines together can lead to an antihistamine overdose. Signs of an overdose may include the following: Fast or racing heartbeat.
Do not take 2 antihistamines together unless recommended by your doctor.