Combination Medicines
There are several allergy medicines available that combine an antihistamine with a decongestant including:
Claritin-D is available without a prescription. The others require a prescription.
Immunotherapy for Allergy Relief
Immunotherapy, or a series of
allergy shots, is the only allergy treatment available that has a chance of providing long-term allergy relief. With this type of allergy treatment, you receive subcutaneous (under the skin) injections of the allergen(s) to which you are sensitive. As the treatment continues, the concentration of the allergen is progressively increased.
These injections reduce the level of IgE antibodies in the blood and cause the body to make a protective antibody called IgG.
About 85% of people with allergic rhinitis will see their
hay fever symptoms and need for medicines drop significantly within 12 months of starting immunotherapy. Those who benefit from this treatment may continue with immunotherapy for 3 years and then consider stopping. While many are able to stop the injections with good results lasting for several years, others do get worse after the shots are stopped.
One research study showed that children with allergic rhinitis who were treated with immunotherapy were less likely to develop
asthma. Researchers need to study this further, however.
As researchers produce better allergens for immunotherapy, this technique will likely become an even more effective approach to allergy relief.
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