The Ultimate Guide to Allergy Medications
The Ultimate Guide to Allergy Medications
Most allergies are easily treated with medication.
This guide will explain your allergy drug options, including a list of allergy drugs, what they do, and their generic and brand names.
Antihistamine Medications
For many years, antihistamine medications have been available and are used to treat allergy symptoms. They are available and can be taken as pills, liquid, nasal spray or eye drops. Over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops relieve red itchy eyes; pills and nasal sprays are used to treat the symptoms of seasonal or year-round allergies.
How do antihistamine medications work?
When you are exposed to an allergen, your immune system is triggered into action. Your mast cells (immune system cells) then release histamine which attaches to receptors in blood vessels causing them to enlarge. Histamine also binds to other receptors causing redness, swelling, itching and changes in secretions. Antihistamine medications block these histamine receptors, thereby preventing the symptoms of your allergic reactions.
If your symptoms do not go away with antihistamine medications alone, nasal corticosteroid sprays are generally safe and may work well. Decongestants in pill or nasal spray form can also help relieve a stuffy nose. However, nasal spray decongestants should not be used for more than several days at a time, because they may cause a “rebound” effect which worsens the congestion. Decongestants in pill form do not cause this problem.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids help and treat inflammations associated with allergies and allergic reactions
Decongestants
Decongestants relieve nasal and sinus congestion. Examples of antihistamine medications and nasal sprays are outlined below.
Over-the-Counter – “OTC” Allergy Medications
| OTC Antihistamines in Pill Form
|
| Brand Name |
Generic Name |
| Benadryl |
Diphenhydramine |
| Claritin |
Loratadine |
| Chlor-Trimeton |
Chlorpheniramine Maleate |
| Dimetane |
Prompheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine |
| Tavist |
Clemastine Fumarate |
| Zyrtec |
Cetirizine |
| Drixorol |
Dexbrompheniramine |
OTC Eye Drops
| OTC Eye Drop Antihistamines
|
| Brand Name |
Generic Name |
| Ocu-Hist |
Naphazoline Hydrochloride,
Pheniramine Maleate |
| Visine-A, Opcon-A, & others |
Naphazoline |
Prescription Allergy Medications
| Prescription Antihistamines in Pill Form
|
| Brand Name |
Generic Name |
| Allegra |
Fexofenadine |
| Clarinex |
|
| Clarinex RediTabs – available in disintegrating tablet, and syrop form |
|
Eye Drops
| Antihistamines Eye Drops
|
| Brand Name |
Generic Name |
| Emadine |
Emedastine |
| Livostin |
Levocabastine |
| Albalon |
Naphazoline |
| Patanol |
Olopatadine |
Mast Cell Stabilizer Eye Drops
| Mast Cell Stabilizer Eye Drops – Mast cell stabilizer eye drops prevent the release of the symptom triggering chemical histamine. They reduce symptoms associated with hay fever and allergic conjunctivitis, such as inflammation, itching, watering, and burning of the eyes.
|
| Brand Name |
Generic Name |
| Crolom |
Cromolyn Sodium |
| Alomide |
Lodoxamide |
| Alamast |
Pemirolast |
| Alocril |
Nedocromil |
Corticosteroid Eye Drops
| Corticosteroid Eye Drops are prescription medications used to treat severe allergy symptoms such as red, watery and itchy eyes caused by hay fever and allergic conjunctivitis. Generally used only for a short time period when other eye drops do not work.
|
| Brand Name |
Generic Name |
| Decadron, Maxidex |
Dexamethasone |
| FML, Fluor-Op |
Fluorometholone |
| Pred Forte, Econopred |
Prednisolone |
Nasal Sprays
| Antihistamines Nasal Sprays
|
| Brand Name |
Generic Name |
| Astelin |
Azelastine |
Nasal Spray
| Corticosteroid Nasal Spray
|
| Brand Name |
Generic Name |
| Flonase & Veramyst |
Fluticasone |
| Nasonex |
Mometasone |
| Nasacort AQ |
Triamcinolone |
| Rhinocort |
Budesonide |
| Nasarel |
Flunisolide |
| Beconase |
Beclomethasone |
| NasalCrom |
Cromolyn Sodium |
| For hay fever symptoms: Cromolyn sodium also prevents the release of histamine. |
Leukotriene Modifiers
| Leukotriene Modifiers – Another medication option for allergy sufferers, particularly effective for those who also have asthma (although it is used to treat symptoms of hay fever as well) is leukotriene inhibitors. Leukotrienes are inflammatory chemicals released by your immune system (similar to the release of histamine) during an allergic reaction. The following medications are prescription leukotriene inhibitors approved for those with asthma and indoor and outdoor allergies:
|
| Brand Name |
Generic Name |
| Singular |
Montelukast |
| Accolate |
Zafirlukast |
| Zyflo |
Zileuton |
Click here to find out about allergy medication side effects.
Content Created/Medically Reviewed by our Expert Doctors
