Of course, discuss your symptoms with me or another physician. If you have been diagnosed with seasonal allergies or "allergic rhinitis" then you are probably searching for relief. Here are a few suggestions for the treatment and prevention of seasonal allergies.
The best medication for seasonal allergies is intranasal (in your nose) corticosteroids. This includes Fluticasone (Flonase) and Mometasone (Nasonex). These medications are the strongest available for treating eye itchiness, nose itching, sneezing and runny nose. These medications must be taken as directed (often twice a day) and start working within the hour, but may take a few days for maximum effect. Do not give up on them if they do not work the first 2 days. Give it time!
Past nose steroids such as Flonase (now over the counter), antihistamines are powerful ways of reducing your allergy symptoms. Everybody reacts differently to allergy pills, and some can cause you to become sleepy. There are a lot of options. The allergy medications that seem to work the best include fexofenadine (Allegra) and cetirizine (Zyrtec). These are also available over the counter and come in generic and brand name formulations. Of course, I recommend the generic versions to save you money with the same medication!
Interested in an all natural approach to keeping allergies controlled?
Look no further than a NetiPot. This device flushes out your sinus cavities, and whatever irritants (dust, pollen) are wreaking havoc with you. A few things to remember with the NetiPot. First, always use fresh, purified bottle water, not from the tap. Second, always use the salt packet that comes with the NetiPot. Lastly, give it some time to get used to the sensation of salt water going through your nose and sinuses. It will feel very odd the first few times.
