How to Choose an Allergy Medication

An allergy refers to your immune system’s damaging reaction to a normally harmless foreign substance that manages to get inside your body. The immune system always activates a response whenever it detects an “invader,” and this response usually prevents us from getting sick due to bacteria and viruses. 

But sometimes, the “invader” is a harmless one, and yet the immune system responds with an “allergic” reaction. Allergy reactions can be mild, but they can also be life-threatening. 

No matter what the scenario is, if you experience an allergic reaction, you need to take an allergy medication as soon as possible.

The Types of Allergies and Their Symptoms

There are several different allergens that cause allergic reactions. The allergic reaction also depends on what allergen has entered your body and triggered your immune system to react. 

The most common allergens and their symptoms are the following:

Pollen

Pollen is arguably one of the most prevalent causes of an allergic reaction. In fact, this is the allergen behind hay fever, which is most commonly known as seasonal allergic rhinitis. 

With seasonal allergic rhinitis, you will experience inflammation and swelling of the lining of your nose and the protective tissue of your eyes, also known as the conjunctiva. As such, the typical symptoms of this kind of allergy include:

• Sneezing
• Congestion (feeling stuffy)
• Itchy watery eyes, nose, and mouth

If you’re allergic to pollen, you can avoid having an allergic reaction by avoiding the allergen as much as possible. This means you might want to stay indoors and close the windows when pollen counts are high.

Dust Mites

At first glance, dust seems like an innocuous thing. But in reality, there are actually tiny organisms that live in dust and the fibers of household objects, like our pillows, carpets, mattresses, and many more. These tiny organisms are called dust mites, and they can cause an allergic reaction as well. 

The symptoms of a dust mite allergy are the same as those in seasonal allergic rhinitis. To avoid this allergy, you need to clean your pillows, mattresses, and carpets regularly using a high-efficiency filter vacuum cleaner. 

Pet Allergy

Pet allergy is another widespread kind of allergy. For this kind of allergy, the reaction is caused by the proteins found in an animal’s skin cells (shed in dander), saliva, or urine. Any animal can be a source of pet allergy, but cats and dogs are the ones that are most commonly associated with this. 

Pet allergy symptoms share the same symptoms with seasonal allergic rhinitis, but if you also have asthma on top of this allergy, then you may also experience: 

• Difficulty breathing 
• Chest tightness or pain
• Wheezing sound when exhaling
• Trouble sleeping due to shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing

Additionally, pet allergy can also cause skin inflammation. As a result, some people may experience skin symptoms, such as:

• Hives
• Eczema
• Itchy skin

Certain Foods

Certain foods can also be an allergen, and this only happens when your body develops a specific antibody to a specific food. For most people, the most prevalent food allergies are shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts. Eggs, milk, soy, and wheat can also cause an allergic reaction. 

If you have a food allergy, symptoms occur within minutes of eating the food, and they can be severe. These symptoms include:

• Itching
• Hives
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Breathing difficulties
• Swelling around your mouth

Bee Sting

Bee stings are relatively common, and when you do get stung by a bee, the typical reaction is that you experience pain, swelling, and redness around the site where the bee stung us. 

But if you’re allergic to bee stings, you might experience harsher symptoms, such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Hives that spread to other areas other than the sting site
• Swelling of your face, throat, or mouth tissue
• Wheezing or difficulty swallowing
• Restlessness and anxiety
• Rapid pulse
• Dizziness or a sharp drop in your blood pressure

If you’re having an allergic reaction to a bee sting, then you need immediate medical attention. Call your doctor as soon as possible.

How to Choose Allergy Medication

In order for you to successfully combat an allergic reaction, you need to have the right allergy medication on hand. But choosing an allergy medication can be a daunting task. 

So, to help you with this, here are a few factors you should consider before buying medication for your allergy.

• What allergy type do you have?: Some allergies share symptoms, but others do not. For that reason, allergies can vary in treatments and medications — some require oral medications, while others will need a nasal spray or allergy shots. Figure out what allergy type you have. That way, you’ll know which treatment will work best.

• Are you pregnant?: It’s common for pregnant people to use nasal sprays against allergies since this kind of allergy medication doesn’t travel throughout the body. But if you want more information, you can discuss your options with your doctor.

• Do you have other illnesses aside from allergies?: If you have other conditions (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.) on top of seasonal allergic rhinitis, you should talk to your doctor before selecting a medication. 

• Are you okay with feeling drowsy as a side effect?: Antihistamines are some of the most widely used medications for allergies, but they are also known for causing drowsiness. For that reason, you need to determine if you’re okay with feeling drowsy every time you consume an allergy medication. 

• Is the medication working?: Maybe you’re already using a prescribed medication for your allergy — but is it working? Ask yourself that question, and answer honestly. If you genuinely don’t think your current medication is working, then you should ask your doctor to prescribe you another one. 

Allergy Treatment Products

As of right now, there are several kinds of treatment available for allergies. Here are just a few of the many products available to treat skin-related allergic reactions, such as acne, on ZipRX. 

Atarax

Atarax (Hydroxyzine) is an allergic medication used to treat allergy symptoms like itching. An antihistamine, this medicine works by blocking a certain natural substance (histamine) that your body produces during an allergic reaction. This is taken orally, and you can take it with or without food. 

Aside from being an allergic medication, Atarax can also be used as a short-term treatment for anxiety. 

Dymista

Dymista is a medication used to relieve seasonal allergy symptoms, such as stuffy or runny nose, itching, sneezing, and post-nasal drip. This medicine contains two drugs. First is azelastine, which is an antihistamine that blocks histamines in the body. The second is fluticasone, which reduces inflammation in the nasal passages.

Flonase Nasal Spray

Flonase nasal spray contains fluticasone, a drug that works by blocking the effects of substances that cause allergies (e.g., pollen, pet dander, dust mites, etc.) and reducing swelling. As a result, this drug is used to relieve allergic (and non-allergic) nasal and eye symptoms. 

Reactine 

Reactine is an allergy medication containing cetirizine, which is an antihistamine that relieves allergy symptoms, such as watery eyes, runny nose, itchy eyes or nose, sneezing, hives, and itching. 

Conclusion

Living with allergies is no easy task. After all, many of the most common allergens are things we regularly encounter (such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and food), so it’s difficult to avoid them all the time. Aside from that, when we unknowingly come upon certain allergens, we will experience several symptoms that are inconvenient at best and deadly at worst. 

Fortunately, there are now several medications that treat allergic reactions — from oral medicines to nasal sprays to epinephrine shots. Because of this, you can find the right treatment for your allergy. All you have to do is talk with your doctor about your options and consider your needs before buying. 

ZipRX provides a great selection of allergic medications, so you should get yours from their website as soon as you can.