9 Frequently Asked Questions About Allergy Relief

1. How will my doctor know what to prescribe for allergy relief?

The first step in finding allergy relief with the most effective allergy treatment is to determine which substances or allergens cause your allergy symptoms. Your doctor or allergist/immunologist will do a physical examination, take your medical history and family history of allergies, and then do a series of skin tests or the RAST blood test to see which allergens or substances react with your system. Using the results of these tests and discussions, your doctor can begin to piece the allergy puzzle together and determine the best allergy medicine for allergy relief. Sometimes your own observation of what causes your allergy symptoms such as cold air, foods, pollen, dust, perfumes, plants, or animal dander can help suggest which allergens are the culprits.

2. How do inhaled steroids work to give allergy relief?

Because inflammation is a key factor in allergies and allergy symptoms, inhaled nasal steroids are the most effective medications to give allergy relief. These prescription allergy relief medications help to prevent or reduce inflammation in the nasal passages and sinuses when exposed to allergens (pollen, animal dander, or dust mites).

Inhaled nasal steroids do not give immediate allergy relief from allergy symptoms.  You will probably notice allergy relief -- decreased swelling and mucus production -- within one to two weeks of starting a nasal steroid spray. Inhaled nasal steroids must be used every day for continued benefit.

3. Do allergy shots (immunology) give good allergy relief for allergy symptoms?

Allergy shots or immunotherapy are injections of tiny doses of allergens that produce allergy relief in up to 90% of patients with seasonal allergies, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). These injections are effective for reducing allergy symptoms associated with cat dander, pollens, house dust mites, certain molds, and fire ant bites. Your doctor will give shots of weak allergen solutions once or twice a week initially.  Over time, your doctor will give you regular injections of your allergens in increasing strength to stimulate changes in the immune system and reduce the chance of future allergy symptoms.

Allergy shots or immunotherapy bring allergy relief by turning off allergic disease at the source. By stimulating changes in the immune system over time, you develop fewer allergic reactions and allergy symptoms.

4. What other medicines give allergy relief?

Over-the-counter and prescription antihistamines and decongestants can give allergy relief by easing nasal congestion or postnasal drip and reducing swelling so you can breathe. Antihistamines relieve such miserable symptoms as sneezing, itching, congestion, and discharge. Decongestants reduce nasal congestion and other allergy symptoms by constricting the blood vessels and decreasing the amount of fluid that leaks out into the lining of the nose.

In addition, combination allergy medicines are available that contain both antihistamines and decongestants. These medicines can give you overall allergy relief by easing nasal congestion, itchy eyes, postnasal drip, and other allergy symptoms. Be sure to read the product label to understand the side effects of antihistamines and decongestants.