What to Do If Allergy Medications Stop Working
I have tried it all – Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin, Xyzal, Benadryl, Nasacort, Flonase – even a neti pot – and yet I am having a hard time finding one single effective remedy that will relieve my bloodshot eyes and a slimy nose. once and forever.
If you’re struggling to find which allergy medication is best for you, sometimes all it takes is a combination of different medications, according to Dr. David Erstein, an allergist at Allergy and Asthma Wellness , Advanced Dermatology and NYC HHC. … types (and never leave the house) to fight the nightmare of seasonal allergies.
You may develop a drug tolerance, but there are a number of other factors as well.
First, you need to know a little about the allergy medications you are likely to be taking. The two most common types of medicines you will find over the counter are antihistamines and steroidal nasal sprays.
Antihistamines work by blocking histamine, a chemical that causes your immune system to overreact to “threats” like pollen. Drugs such as Claritin are considered “second generation” antihistamines because they do not cause the side effects such as drowsiness that can occur with “first generation” drugs such as Benadryl. (For this reason, you may prefer the former.)
Steroid nasal sprays (such as flonase) help curb your allergies by telling your nasal passages to stop making proteins like histamines and start producing those that suppress your allergic reactions, Iodine writes; Erstein said these sprays are generally more effective than your regular antihistamines. (There are also a number of other prescription drugs you can get from your doctor, such as beta agonist inhalers.)
According to Erstein, it is entirely possible to develop a tolerance for any medication, so that the Zyrtec you use on a daily basis may feel like it loses its effectiveness over time. There are few studies on the tolerability of allergy medications, but there are other explanations to consider.
Weather is a huge contributor to seasonal allergies: in dry, windy weather, allergens like pollen spread more easily, whereas a rainy day can lower pollen counts, which may explain why you’re feeling particularly awful right now. ( Air pollution , also has been shown to worsen allergic reactions and tends to spike during the summer.) It’s a shame, allergies can to actually worse with age, too, and with a strand may play a role in why you sneeze more today than usual. Of course, everyone reacts differently to allergy medications, so any number of these factors can lead to sneezing throughout the day.
Combine antihistamines with a steroid spray
A steroid nasal spray with oral antihistamines is commonly used primarily in the fight against seasonal allergies, Erstein said. If an antihistamine such as Zyrtec suddenly seems to be not working (for example, your eyes are red or mucus is everywhere), you can switch to another antihistamine, such as Allegra, to try it; “switching back is okay too,” Erstein said.
You can also supplement them with saline nasal spray to rinse your nose. You can also use a decongestant nasal spray, which constricts blood vessels in the nose for short-term relief of nasal congestion, although Erstein cautions against long-term use, especially in the case of Afrin spray. “If you use it for more than a few days, you may have something called ricochet rhinitis,” he said. “It helps you, and then all of a sudden your blockages come back faster.”
However, it’s best to prepare a few weeks before allergy season starts, he added. “I usually tell people to use things like steroid sprays a couple of weeks before the start of the season so that you don’t fall asleep so much. The problem with steroid nasal sprays is that they don’t work that quickly. If you’re in the midst of [allergy] season, the problem with the anatomy of the [nose] is that it’s all inflamed with irritants. Even if you use a nasal steroid spray, you are playing catch-up.
You can get rid of allergies by changing your behavior
And if allergy medications aren’t working, there are a few more things you can do to help relieve it. Perhaps most obvious, staying indoors is very important, especially if you are allergic to pollen. “Limiting contact with the things you are allergic to will help,” he said. “This pollen travels for miles [and] sticks to you, so when you come home from the outside it’s important to change your clothes before bed.”
If you can’t stay at home all day like a hermit, Erstein also recommends at least keeping your windows closed in the morning, when pollen counts tend to be highest, and changing your air conditioner filter regularly. this will help to delay some of your allergens. And if you’re in dire straits, Erstein also recommends allergy immunotherapy, which involves a few shots over the years that are still not reliable – so check with your doctor if this sounds like a gamble you are willing to take. go.