Your guide to treatment for allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a chronic condition that commonly causes inflammation in your nose and airways, leading to symptoms like sneezing, congestion, and itching. True to the name, it’s related to allergic reactions to things in your environment, such as pollen, mold, or pet dander.

Seasonal allergies like hay fever are a form of allergic rhinitis. But the condition may also affect you year-round. This is known as perennial allergic rhinitis. Both forms of the condition have slightly different triggers, but their treatments are the same.

Many of these treatments, such as decongestants and antihistamines, are available OTC. In severe cases, a doctor may decide to prescribe a medication. You can also support your treatment with lifestyle measures such as avoiding triggers.

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OTC treatments for allergic rhinitis

Many treatments for allergic rhinitis and seasonal allergies are available OTC. These medications can be very effective at managing symptoms, especially if your condition is mild.

Antihistamines

One of the primary treatments for allergies is antihistamines. This is because when your body experiences an allergic reaction, it releases a substance called histamine to fight off the allergen. Histamine is what causes the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Antihistamines, as the name suggests, are medications that block the action of histamine. This can help reduce your symptoms.

Some common examples include:

• loratadine (Claritin)
• fexofenadine (Allegra)
• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• olopatadine (Patanase)

These may come in oral pill form or as a nasal spray that you inhale. The nasal sprays get to work very quickly, within around 15 minutes, whereas the oral versions may take up to 3 hours to get to work.

Decongestants

Another OTC treatment option for allergic rhinitis and seasonal allergies is decongestant medications. These also come in oral form or as nasal sprays. One common example of a decongestant is pseudoephedrine (Sudafed).

Decongestants can help relieve congestion in your nose, but they might also cause uncomfortable side effects, like insomnia and headaches.

They can also get to work very quickly, with nasal sprays getting to work within 5 to 10 minutes and oral medications getting to work within 30 minutes.

It’s important not to take decongestant nasal sprays for longer than 3 days so that your body doesn’t become dependent on them. Dependence can mean that your symptoms come back more severely when you stop taking the medication. This is known as the rebound effect.

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Prescription medications for allergic rhinitis

In more severe cases, a doctor might decide to try a stronger prescription medication to manage seasonal allergies and allergic rhinitis.

These options include:

• Intranasal corticosteroids: Nasal corticosteroid sprays can reduce inflammation in the nose. You can use them alone or in combination with antihistamines, but research suggests that they’re more effective than antihistamines. Examples include fluticasone (Flonase), budesonide (Rhinocort), and triamcinolone (Nasacort).
• Antihistamines: In some cases, a doctor might prescribe stronger antihistamines for allergic rhinitis. Examples include azelastine (Astelin) and olopatadine (Patanase).
• Leukotriene modifiers: Leukotriene modifiers work by blocking the action of leukotriene, a compound that contributes to inflammation in your body. Examples include zafirlukast (Accolate) and zileuton (Zyflo). These may be particularly helpful if your symptoms affect you significantly at night.

Lifestyle strategies and self-care

Doctors will often recommend lifestyle strategies and self-care remedies alongside medications to improve your symptoms.

Allergic rhinitis symptoms usually arise after coming into contact with an allergen. For example, pollen often triggers seasonal allergies, and mold or pet hair can trigger allergic rhinitis.

If you aren’t sure what triggers your allergies, consider keeping a diary of your symptoms and when they occur.

Some self-care remedies for allergic rhinitis include:

• steam inhalation
• saline nasal rinses using a neti pot
• air filters or purifiers
• staying indoors on days with a high pollen count

Can it be cured permanently?

There’s no permanent cure for allergic rhinitis. But you can usually manage it with medications and lifestyle changes.

That said, your symptoms may actually decrease with time. Experts believe that symptoms are highest during adolescence and slowly reduce as you age. For example, in one study, 54.9% of people showed improvements in symptoms after 23 years.

Summary

Allergic rhinitis is a common condition that includes seasonal allergies. It causes a range of uncomfortable symptoms, like sneezing and inflammation in your airways.

There’s currently no permanent cure, but many cases are manageable with OTC remedies like antihistamines and decongestants. In more severe cases, a healthcare professional might prescribe intranasal corticosteroids or leukotriene modifiers for your symptoms.

Experts also advise you to avoid your triggers if you know what they are. You can also use home remedies like saline nasal rinses to prevent or reduce your symptoms.

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