About Allergies and Antihistamines

The trees and flowers are in full bloom for another year…as any allergy sufferer will tell you. Spring and summer (and even fall) bring a steady stream of patients to the pharmacy, each hoping desperately for relief from the itchy, watery eyes and stuffy nose that seem to be the penalty for living in this area. There is little comfort in the knowledge that you are not suffering alone, but even that small comfort is better than none.

There are many antihistamines available without a prescription. They are all effective, as long as they are used properly. To use them properly, it’s important to know what they do.

Histamine is a substance released in the body when a person is exposed to an allergen. It causes the familiar redness, itching, irritation and swelling that are common in ‘allergic reactions’. Antihistamines are used to block the histamine receptors in the body, so histamine cannot cause such reactions. In order to be effective, the block has to come before the histamine release, so optimum benefit is obtained by using the antihistamine on a regular basis BEFORE experiencing the usual allergy symptoms. Once the allergic response has begun, an antihistamine can be used to prevent further release of histamine if exposure to the allergen is continued, but the symptoms already present will not be relieved and must be tolerated until they run their course. There are products available that will give temporary relief, but they should not be used regularly.

While antihistamines are effective in minimizing symptoms in most patients, They are sometimes less effective in patients who experience chronic symptoms. Always keep in mind that no antihistamine can be expected to relieve 100% of symptoms all the time, so even if you use them properly, you will probably notice some of the normal symptoms of your allergies from day to day. This does not mean that the medication is not working for you anymore, unless the symptoms worsen despite faithful proper use of the medication. If that’s the case, your pharmacist may be able to recommend an alternative antihistamine. Sometimes one product will work better for you than another, or will give you fewer unwanted side effects (like drowsiness). So be sure to return to the pharmacy if your symptoms get worse, or if you have any questions about the medications you are taking.