DID YOU KNOW?! Histamines are the chemicals that your body releases to help fight the irritation of allergens, but histamines can also cause allergy symptoms. For example, your body releases histamines to fight the pollen inhaled through your nose, but also can cause a runny nose.

To escape fall allergy symptoms, get a head start: Begin treatment before spring begins, & stick with it throughout the season.

Pre-Treat Before Symptoms Start

The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid allergy triggers altogether, but this is not always possible. Many physicians recommend people with allergies pre-treat their symptoms by beginning their allergy medication, such as an antihistamine or nasal steroid spray, before the pollen counts are high, or before visiting a relative with pets that cause allergy symptoms.  

Pre-treating with an allergy medicine can help to block the allergic process before it starts; hence eliminating symptoms. 

Treat During Allergy Season

Over-the-Counter Relief: Managing your allergies means recognizing your symptoms and taking the correct medication before and throughout the allergy season. But with so many allergy medications available, choosing the right one can be confusing.

• Symptoms: Runny nose, sneezing, itchy/watery eyes or itchy nose or throat
  • How to treat: Oral antihistamines block histamines that usually cause most allergy symptoms.
    • Rite Aid certirizine, diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, fexofenadine, or loratadine, Allegra, Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, Xyzal

• Symptoms: Stuffy nose and sinus pressure 
  • How to treat: Decongestants narrow blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the affected area to help clear up congestion and improve breathing. They are available in 2 forms:
    • Oral decongestants: 
      • Rite Aid pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, Nexafed, Sudafed, Sudafed PE
    • Nasal decongestant sprays: These should not be used for more than 3 days. 
      • Rite Aid 12-hour Nasal Spray, Sinex Nasal Spray

• Symptoms: Runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes or itchy nose or throat
  • How to treat: Oral antihistamine and decongestant combination products block histamines and help clear congestion and improve breathing.
    • Rite Aid Cetiri-D, Fexofenadine D, and Lorata-D, Allegra-D, Claritin-D, Zyrtec-D
    • Note: These products are available over-the-counter at the pharmacy

• Symptoms: Runny and stuffy nose
  • How to treat: Saline rinses physically remove and thin out secretions. Plus, they may rinse out allergens and irritants.
    • Rite Aid Saline Nasal Spray, Xlear Saline Nasal Spray

• Symptoms: Itchy, watery and red eyes
  • How to treat: Allergy eye drops are available in single and combination ingredient formulations. Topical decongestants narrow blood vessels and decrease eye congestion which relieves redness. Topical antihistamines block histamine and provide itch relief.
    • Rite Aid Allergy Relief Drops, Rite Aid Eye Allergy & Itch and Redness Relief, Pataday, Naphcon-A, Opcon-A, Visine Allergy Eye Relief Multi-action

DID YOU KNOW? The D listed after a brand name means the product contains a decongestant ingredient. And the A listed after a brand name means the product is designed to treat allergies.

Some products are single agent formulations, while others contain multiple ingredients. When selecting a product, always review the label to make sure you are not “doubling up” on an ingredient and to determine if the medication is appropriate for you.  OTC medications can interact with other medications and/or medical conditions. Please consult with your physician before adding any medication to your current drug therapy.

The information available through this service is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional health care.  Advances in medicine may cause this information to become outdated, invalid, or subject to debate. Professional opinions and interpretations of scientific literature may vary.