Prescription Drugs, Over-The-Counter and Natural Remedies for Allergies

In continuation of my last article about the prevention of allergies, let's talk about the treatment of allergies. Let's face it you can do all you can to prevent allergens from causing allergies and asthma, but it might not be possible to prevent them all, and, therefore, still suffer from allergies.

Nasal Sprays

Nasalcrom was first introduced as a prescription drug in 1983 and then went over-the-counter in 1997. The main ingredient, Cromolyn, was originally taken from an herb, the fruit of Bishop's weed, or Ammi Visnaga, which was traditionally used to treat asthma. Cromolyn stabilizes highly sensitive cells in the lining of the nose and lungs so they can better resist pollen. It does not cause drowsiness or cognitive impairment and if used properly, can be highly effective. Since it is not a decongestant nasal spray you do not have to be afraid of dependency.

Cromolyn is also available in eye drops for itchy, red eyes caused by allergies. There is also an aerosol inhaler to treat asthma. However, these two products require a prescription, whereas Nasalcrom does not.

Antihistamines have been the number one treatment for allergies, but most of them cause drowsiness and impairment. For example, these so-called first generation drugs such as Benadryl, Dimetane, Dimetapp, and Chlor-Trimeton are linked to drowsiness and cognitive impairment. Second generation antihistamines such as Zyrtec, Clarinex, Allegra, and Claritin have been promoted as non-sedating and because of that, carry a steep price of $2-$3 a pill. However, when given in doses that are adequate in relieving allergy symptoms, even these can cause some drowsiness and produce mild impairment. Because of this, researchers now believe that there is no way to prevent drowsiness and impairment with any antihistamines. So if you must use these drugs for your allergies, do an experiment to see which ones cause the least drowsiness.