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Medication for Allergic Rhinitis

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are congestion, sneezing, itchy and runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes; allergic rhinitis is caused by an inflammation of the passages in the nose in response to allergens. Several medications are available for treatment of the symptoms of this condition.

  1. Antihistamines

    • Histamine is a major cause of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and blocking its action can relieve many of the complaints; however, some antihistamines can cause drowsiness. Examples of antihistamines are loratidine, fexofenadine or cetirizine.

    Inhaled Corticosteroids

    • Nasal inhaled steroids such as fluticasone, mometasone and budesonide block the effect of most of the mediators of allergic rhinitis; these are very effective medications and are commonly used.

    Decongestants

    • Decongestants relieve stuffy nose symptoms; however, they cannot be used for more than a few days because of rebound (increase in congestion). Examples include phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine.

    Leukotriene Modifiers

    • A major cause of allergic rhinitis symptoms are leukotrienes; leukotriene modifiers such as montelukast or zafirlukast block the action of these inflammatory substances.

    Other Medications

    • Cromolyn sodium nasal spray can be used for treatment of allergic rhinitis by children or pregnant women; nasal saline washes may help ease discomfort.

    Immunotherapy

    • Immunotherapy, or allergy shots, can be used to increase the tolerance to specific allergens.

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