Make Informed Decisions When Picking Allergy Meds

By Jeanine Kendle

Spring allergies are having an impact. Antihistamines have been used for years to treat allergy symptoms. They can be taken as pills, liquid, nasal spray or eye drops. Over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops can relieve red itchy eyes, while nasal sprays can be used to treat the symptoms of seasonal or year-round allergies.

Examples of antihistamines include:

— Over-the-counter: Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, Chlor-Trimeton, Dimetane and Tavist. Ocu-Hist is an OTC eye drop.

— Prescription: Clarinex and Allegra. Astelin is a prescription nasal spray. Eye drops include Emadine and Livostin.

Many over-the-counter antihistamines cause drowsiness. Nonsedating antihistamines are available by prescription.

Decongestants relieve congestion and are often prescribed along with antihistamines. They come in nasal spray, eye drop, liquid or pill form.

Nasal spray and eye drop decongestants can be used for only a few days because long-term use can actually make symptoms worse. Pills and liquid decongestants may be taken longer safely.

Some examples of decongestants include:

— Over-the-counter: Sudafed tablets or liquid, Claritin-D and Zytec-D combine a decongestant with another allergy medicine. Neo- Synephrine and Afrin nasal sprays and Visine eye drops.

— Prescription: Prescription decongestants include Semprex-D and Allegra-D that combine a decongestant with another allergy medicine.

Decongestants may raise blood pressure, so they are not recommended for people who have blood pressure problems or glaucoma. They may also cause insomnia or irritability and restrict urinary flow.

Some allergy medicines contain an antihistamine and a decongestant to relieve multiple symptoms. There also are other combinations, such as those between an allergy medicine and asthma medicine and an antihistamine eye drop with a mast cell stabilizer drug.

Some examples of combination medicines include:

— Over-the-counter: Benadryl Allergy and Sinus, Tylenol Allergy and Sinus, Claritin-D and Zyrtec-D.

— Prescription: Allegra-D and Semprex-D for nasal allergies. Naphcon, Vasocon, Zaditor, Patanol and Optivar for allergic conjunctivitis.

Steroids, known medically as corticosteroids, reduce inflammation associated with allergies. They prevent and treat nasal stuffiness, sneezing and an itchy, runny nose due to seasonal or year-round allergies. They also can decrease inflammation and swelling from other types of allergic reactions.

Steroids are available as pills for serious allergies or asthma; inhalers, for asthma; nasal sprays, for seasonal or year-round allergies; creams, for skin allergies or as an eye drop for allergic conjunctivitis. Your doctor may prescribe a steroid in addition to other allergy medications.

The drugs are highly effective, but they must be taken daily to be beneficial — even when you aren’t feeling symptoms. In addition, it may take one to two weeks before the full effect of the medicine can be felt.

Some steroids include:

— Nasal steroids: Beconase, Flonase, Nasocort, Nasonex, Rhinocort and Veramyst used to treat nasal allergy symptoms.

— Inhaled steroids: Azmacort, Beclovent, Flovent and Pulmicort used to treat asthma. Advair is an inhaled drug that combines a steroid with another drug to treat asthma. Inhaled steroids are available only with a prescription.

— Eye drops: Alrex and Dexamethasone.

— Oral steroids: Deltasone, also called prednisone.

Steroids have many potential side effects, especially when given orally and for a long period of time.

Side effects with short-term use include weight gain, fluid retention and high blood pressure.

Side effects with long-term use include growth suppression, diabetes, cataracts of the eyes, bone thinning osteoporosis and muscle weakness.

Side effects of inhaled steroids include cough and yeast infections of the mouth.

(c) 2008 Daily Record, The Wooster, OH. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.