About Allergies: What Does an Allergist Take For Hay Fever?

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Allergies Allergies Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping From Daniel More, MD, your Guide to Allergies Like 30% of the U.S. population, I also suffer from allergic rhinitis. My skin testing results are more impressive than most of my patients'. So, I'm often asked by my patients what I use to treat my own allergy symptoms. I've been on allergy shots in the past, mainly for fire ant allergy, and I tried allergy drops before offering them to my patients. I've also tried just about every allergy medicine currently available. But instead of using an allergy medicine indiscriminately, I base my choice on the symptoms I'm having. It doesn't make sense to take an antihistamine to treat nasal congestion -- because nasal congestion isn't caused by histamine. Similarly, a medicine like Singulair wouldn't be expected to help sneezing and nasal itching, because Singulair blocks leukotrienes, not histamine. The best allergy medicine is one that would be expected to treat the allergy symptoms that a person is experiencing. When you see your allergist or primary care doctor, make sure you describe your allergy symptoms accurately, with an emphasis on which symptom bothers you the most. Your doctor should then be able to choose an allergy medicine that will best suit your needs. Symptom-Based Allergy Treatment For the person with nasal allergy symptoms, the choices of available medicines can be daunting. From pills to nasal sprays, it can be quite difficult to decide which medication is best for your symptoms. While there is no one-size-fits-all allergy medicine, there may be better choices based on the kind of symptoms you're experiencing. Search Related Topics:  allergy symptoms  allergy diagnosis  allergy treatment What is the Best Allergy Medicine? There are numerous medications available for the treatment of allergy symptoms. In general, a medication that works particularly well for one person may not work for another, especially when the allergy symptoms are different. That being said, there has been numerous studies published comparing the effects of antihistamines, nasal steroids, and antileukotriene medications (such as Singulair). Overview of Hay Fever Treatments Allergy season can make people miserable with symptoms of hay fever, causing them to want to take medications. A variety of allergy medications are available for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, from over-the-counter (OTC) options to prescription-only drugs. Given the number of choices available, almost everyone can find a medicine that will help them get through allergy season. Search Related Topics:  antihistamines  nasal sprays for allergies  allergy shots Related Searches Allergy or Allergies Food Allergy Cat Allergies Allergies Symptoms Food Allergies Featured Articles Frequently Asked Questions Nose and Eye Allergies Skin Allergies Asthma and Lung Allergies Common Allergy Issues in Children Food Allergies   More from About.com 10 Easy Ways to Look Thinner Don't wait until you've lost those first pounds to make these simple, slimming changes. Read more...> Create a Shared Photo Stream Sharing your photo stream with friends and family is a great way to keep in touch. Read more...> This newsletter is written by: Daniel More, MD Allergies Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Allergies newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Must Reads What are Allergies? Symptoms of Allergies Diagnosis of Allergies Treatment of Allergies Preventing Allergies   Follow me on: Advertisement