Common Treatments for Allergies
There are many popular methods of treatment. They work in different ways, but some are more effective than others.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY NASAL SPRAY
Works directly at the source to relieve your symptoms and won’t cause drowsiness.
ANTIHISTAMINES
Block only one of the many inflammatory substances—histamine—that produce allergy symptoms.*
EYE DROPS
Helps treat itchy, watery eyes associated with allergies, but not the stuffy nose or sneezing.
NASAL DECONGESTANTS
Clears nasal passages but can, after 3 days of use, cause a “rebound effect”, which makes a stuffy nose worse.
HOME REMEDIES
Some, like saline rinses, may provide decongestant relief for some people.
ALLERGEN AVOIDANCE
This means to simply avoid—if possible—your allergy triggers.
IMMUNOTHERAPY
Exposes the person with allergies to gradually increasing doses of the allergy trigger.
IMMUNOTHERAPY INJECTIONS
Treatment carried out by specialists on patients whose symptoms do not respond otherwise.
*Mechanism vs. most OTC allergy pills. Flonase® acts on multiple inflammatory substances (histamine, prostaglandins, cytokines, tryptases, chemokines and leukotrienes).
The exact number and precise mechanism are unknown.