Common Medication for Allergy Relief

Medication for allergy relief provides millions of people with a way to deal with allergy symptoms. For the sake of simplicity, here is a list of the drugs by their generic names, followed by the names their manufacturers use. The ones most commonly used as antihistamines are as follows:

Azatadine Maleate sold as Optimine®

Azelestine as Asteline®;

Citirizine as Zyrtec®;

Chlorpheniramine Maleate as Chlo-Amine®, Allergy® and Chlortrimeton®; Clemestine Fumerate as Antihist®, Dayhist®, Tavist®, Allerclor® and Chlortrimeton®;

Cyproheptadine as Periactin®;

Dexchlorpheniramine as Polaramine®;

Fexofenadine in Allegra®;

Hydroxyzine as Atarax® and Visteril®;

Loratadine as Claritin®;

Phenindamine Tartrate as Nolahist®;

Promethazine as Phenergan®;

Some of these drugs are sold in over-the-counter preparations, and most of us are familiar with at least some of these, either because we have used them ourselves, or we know people who use them. It is always best to follow your doctor’s orders where these drugs are concerned.

These medications for allergy relief  have been used successfully for the temporary relief of itchy eyes, runny nose and hives associated with most allergies. They block the histamine receptors throughout the body, thus preventing many of the symptoms we associate with allergies. They do not stop the body from manufacturing histamine, but for a few hours they block its effects.

All of these drugs can make one drowsy. This is why it may be dangerous to operate heavy machinery or drive a car when taking them.  Antihistamines can travel from a nursing mother to her baby through her breast milk, so she should be cautious of using them if she is breastfeeding her child. Newborns and premature infants may experience severe convulsions from these drugs, so she should not use them if she is in the third trimester of her pregnancy.

Over dosage of antihistamine medication in young children has caused hallucinations, convulsions and even death. We know that school age children have a more difficult time dealing with their classroom studies when they are stuffed up and itchy from allergies and colds. However, most of the over-the-counter medications leave them either hyped up – overactive, or drowsy from the drugs, making it even harder for them to concentrate.

Some prescription drugs do not cause as much drowsiness, but one does need to be cautious with them, and only take them as prescribed. People process drugs differently as they age. The digestive tract slows down so it takes longer for oral medications to clear the system. Often, it is best to prescribe drugs for them in smaller doses.

Decongestants are a different class of medication for allergy relief. The most commonly used ones are pseudoephedrine, which is being taken off the market, and phenylephrine, which is not as effective when used orally.  These drugs cause the blood vessels throughout the body to constrict, thus raising the blood pressure; increasing the heart rate and making the person feel ‘hyper’ or nervous.

Once the effect of the drug wears off, the blood vessels return to their normal size, though people who have used too much of the drug over a long period of time, or are otherwise sensitized to it, will experience what is known as a rebound effect, where the membranes in the nose and sinuses become even more swollen and clogged than they were before. Some people find that saline nose drops are more soothing than most other medications, and these are available without a prescription. Perhaps the best medical treatment for allergies are the immuno-therapy injections, given over a period of months or years, to desensitize the person to the allergies.

Often the best thing we can do is to create areas in our homes that are as free as possible of allergens and irritants.

Read the next article on allergy treatment.