Allergy medications you can buy without a prescription are considered relatively safe and can be taken on a long-term basis. But they may not be the best option if your allergy symptoms are severe or persist. In those situations, it's best to consult an allergist.
There are three main ways to manage allergies: Take medications, receive immunotherapy and make changes to your environment.
Many people try over-the-counter allergy medications first. Those that contain diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine are older-generation, short-acting drugs that may cause drowsiness or nausea or abdominal pain.
Newer antihistamines that contain cetirizine, loratadine or fexofenadine trigger less drowsiness, and the effects last longer. They may cause some side effects, such as dry mouth.
Another type of allergy medication that recently was approved for purchase without prescription is intranasal corticosteroid spray, such as fluticasone or triamcinolone nasal spray. These medicines are sprayed or inhaled into the nose to help relieve stuffy nose, nasal irritation and other symptoms.
An allergist can clarify whether your symptoms are caused by allergies or by something else, like nonallergic rhinitis. After pinpointing the cause of your reaction, an appropriate medication can be prescribed.
Changing your habits to avoid exposure to allergens can reduce your symptoms. For example, if you have a ragweed pollen allergy, wearing a tight-fitting face mask can reduce inhalation of pollen while mowing, for example.
The other treatment option, allergen immunotherapy, is available as an injection and in an oral tablet form. The injection, sometimes referred to as an allergy shot, can be very effective and may last for years.
An immunotherapy pill for grass and ragweed was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to the Mayo Clinic News Network.
