Allergy Medicine – Treating the Body’s Adverse Reaction to a Substance
A good percentage of the world’s population is affected by an allergy.
An allergy is the body’s reaction to a substance that doesn’t cause much harm to other people, but it does to you. These allergens include dust, pollen, chemicals, foods, animal fur and insect stings.
Allergic reactions include:
- Runny nose and eyes
- Skin rashes – dermatitis, hives
- Excessive sweating
- Bloated stomach, intestinal disturbances, and others. In rare instances, the immune systems react so strongly to the offending substance that death occurs. The most deadly reaction occurs when the allergen gets into the bloodstream and causes an anaphylactic reaction – respiratory distress, severe itching, and shock.
Allergies can be debilitating and sinusitis is often so painful it can lead to time off from work. Acute sinusitis will develop quickly and lasts up to 10 days while chronic sinusitis is a long-term inflammation of the sinuses.
In adults, chronic sinusitis can lead to nasal swelling. Allergies cause histamine to be released and this causes the inner lining of the nose to swell and prevent sinus drainage. People with asthma and immune system problems develop chronic sinusitis more often than others.
Top 5 Allergy Medicine
- Nasacort Allergy Spray – Most effective with little-to-no side effects ($8.99)
- Allegra Adult 24 Hour Allergy Tablets – Best oral Antihistamine ($20.25)
- Rhinocort Allergy Spray – Suitable and best for Pregnant woman ($18.64)
- Flonase Allergy Spray – Customers’ favorite and good reviews ($18.33)
- Zyrtec Tablets – Fastest results ($26.96)
Note: Scroll down to the bottom of this article for more information
How to find the best Allergy Medicine
There are literally tons of allergy medications available. Decongestants and antihistamines aren’t going to cure your allergies – but they will give you relief. It is always wise to first try over-the-counter brands before moving onto something stronger.
Avoid “first” generation Medicines
They’ll tell you that first-generation antihistamines – the original medicines developed for allergy symptoms, have some unwelcome side effects such as dry mouth and drowsiness, leaving you with a hungover feeling. A typical example of a first-generation antihistamine is Benadryl.
Opt for Second generation
Second-generation antihistamines are a better choice as they come with fewer side effects. The second-generation over-the-counter medications such as Zyrtec, Loratadine and Claritin are much preferable compared with the old allergy medicines because they have fewer or none of the ugly side effects.
Powerful anti-allergy nutrient
Quercetin, nature’s antihistamine, is a type of flavonoid antioxidant found in plant foods such as tomatoes and broccoli. It’s a powerful anti-allergy nutrient capable of inhibiting inflammation. Physicians suggest quercetin supplements to help ease pollen allergies. It is especially effective in reducing the symptoms of asthma as well as environmental allergies.
Like quercetin, proanthocyanidins are important bioflavonoids that also have powerful anti-allergy, antihistamine, and antioxidant properties. They are a class of nutrients which include grape seed extract and bilberry. Proanthocyanidins eliminate the need for man-made antihistamines and their side-effects.
Homeopathic treatment for sinusitis is seen as highly effective for chronic sinusitis. Apart from using a saline nasal spray 3 times a day to clean out the nostrils, homeopathic medicines which are excellent for sinus are Hepar sulphur – the best homeopathic medicine for painful purulent sinusitis. Kali bichromicum is excellent if you have a yellow postnasal drip.
What is acetaminophen and why we eliminate it too
It can be unbearable to suffer from allergic symptoms, and it is natural to want to relieve yourself of pain and fever. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever, used for treating many conditions such as sinus, headache, backache, toothache and fever. It comes with side effects:
- Swelling of the tongue or lips
- Difficulty with breathing
- Serious skin reactions. Between 1969 and 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that 67 people required hospitalization of which 12 died after skin reactions were reported after taking acetaminophen products. This comes from documented medical literature. One of the skin reactions linked to acetaminophen included Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TENS). You start with flu-like symptoms such as headache, aches and fever and progress to a blister-like rash. The skin starts peeling and the hair starts falling out. This skin reaction is often fatal.
There are different brands and forms of acetaminophen available, but all labeling warns you not to take more than is recommended. It can damage your liver, more so if you drink alcohol with it.
Some disturbing fact about acetaminophen:
- Hundreds of deaths have been linked to taking just slightly more acetaminophen than the recommended dosage. The frightening aspect is that this can happen even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction.
- Acetaminophen is considered safe when taken as recommended. The serious part is when the line between what is considered a safe dose and a potentially lethal one is disturbingly fragile.
Taken over a few days, as little as 25% over the maximum daily dose can cause liver damage.
- It was in 2009 that warnings on liver damage were added to the drug’s label. The FDA issued a statement urging medical professionals to no longer prescribe prescription combination drug products that contain more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per tablet. Many manufacturers complied and yet there are still prescription products which contain more than the recommended maximum of 325 mg of acetaminophen on the market.
You should never take this medication without first getting advice from your doctor.
Acetaminophen is found in many combination medicines, and taking certain products together can lead to a fatal overdose. If you are treating a child, use a pediatric form of acetaminophen and the special dose-measuring dropper that comes with it.
Understand the Workings of Allergy Meds
Antihistamines like Allegra and Claritin for instance as well as Zyrtec are marked with a ‘D’ such as in ‘Allegra-D’. This tells you that it is an antihistamine with a decongestant which is known as pseudoephedrine.
In the United States, these drugs have to be bought from a pharmacist with a government ID. Zyrtec, Allegra and Claritin are all antihistamines, they all have different active ingredients but they all belong to the same family of drugs. They’re non-sedating and very effective.
There are low-cost allergy generics available in various formulations – tablet form, liquid form, and chewables – all available without a prescription.
You can’t really answer this question, ‘which is the best allergy med? An allergist and professor, Dr Ein, gives advice on the matter, saying ‘it’s the one that gives YOU the greatest relief with the fewest side effects at the lowest price.’ If one antihistamine isn’t working for you, try another one.
When do you need an Allergy Medicine? How do you know if you need one?
Don’t wait for a full-blown attack of coughing and sniffing before you take an allergy medicine. Then again, before you start taking an antihistamine, make sure you have an allergy and not something else. You want the medication to launch an immediate attack on your sniffles so that they don’t develop into anything. Another important factor is consistency. If you are one who easily forgets to take meds, then maybe opting for an allergy shot is a better option for you.
Desensitization or immunotherapy using a repeated injection of an offending allergen can bring relief. You start off with visiting your doctor once or twice a week, with the dosage going up gradually until you get a maintenance dose. Then you’ll get a shot every 3 or 4 weeks for about 4 or 5 months. The doctor will then increase the time between shots so that you’re getting them once a month for 3 – 5 years. During this time your allergy symptoms may disappear almost completely.
Hereditary Plays a Part
Hereditary factors certainly do set one up for a susceptibility to allergies. A predisposition is every reason to ensure you take steps to protect your body from potential health problems.
Allergies appear to run in families which means you have a higher than average risk of developing an allergy. Therefore avoiding the potential allergen and protecting your immune system with the right lifestyle and the right medicine is a smart move and will result in far fewer symptoms.
The 5 Best Allergy Medicine
- A very effective nasal spray that doesn’t affect your adrenal system. A powerful water-based formula, free of alcohol and scent anti-allergy.
Price when Reviewed: $8.99
One of the best and most effective reliefs that you can find in the market. It is a proven and tested 24-hour allergy relief product that can ease nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose and itchy nose. It is perfect for regular usage because it is scent free and alcohol-free. You won’t need to worry because as compared to other allergy relief products, there are no particular drowsiness side effects with this medicine. Its anti-inflammatory effect is very impressive. This medicine is also nonaddictive. Within 24 hours, you will immediately feel its great effects.
- Best Oral Antihistamine – Strong results with limited site effects
Price when Reviewed: $20.25
This proven and tested tablets can instantly relief nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, and itchy nose. You will notice relief in just an hour. A very cost effective med. In terms of effects, you can never go wrong with Allegra.
- An Allergy Spray that is suitable for pregnant woman
Price when Reviewed: $18.64
A cost effective allergy spray, Rhinocort is very capable of relieving nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, and itchy nose. With once a day dosage, you can enjoy a full 24 hours allergy-free day. It is non-drowse, scent free and alcohol-free. With one dose, you will be protected from indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms for an entire day. Suitable for pregnang lady too!
- Good Reviews from customers and best seller on Amazon. Proven to work but FLONASE might cause irritation in your nose
Price when Reviewed: $18.33
One of the best selling nasal spray in the market today. If you like to follow the crowd and feel ‘safe’, consider getting this one. But it might cause irritation in your nose!
- For Immediate Relief – Fastest Results
Price when Reviewed: $26.96
Among all other OTC oral anti-allergy medications, Zyrtec is one of the most reliable and effective in the market. Suitable for children above 6 years of age.
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