To the common cold that has arisen against the background of an allergic reaction, many are not serious. Apparently, these people do not know that this disease can lead to a number of complications, for example, sinusitis, bronchial asthma and chronic atopic dermatitis. Preparations for the treatment of allergic rhinitis will help to avoid this kind of trouble, while the exact observance of medical prescriptions is important.
Recommendations for patients
To cure an allergic rhinitis in an adult or a child, it is important not only to take the medicines prescribed by your doctor, but also to comply with certain conditions. First of all, care should be taken to eliminate the allergen, otherwise taking even the most effective drugs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis becomes meaningless. In addition, it is important:
- refuse to use food allergens;
- regularly do wet cleaning in the room;
- air the room in the morning and evening;
- take regular walks in the fresh air in the evenings and after rain;
- maintain normal air humidity at the level of 55-65%;
- monitor the air temperature, which should not rise above 19 ° C.
These recommendations are of particular importance for people suffering from hay fever in the flowering season of plants. To facilitate nasal breathing, it is better to resort to the use of hypoallergenic cosmetics, household chemicals. In this case, it is advisable to remove sources of dust and irritating substances (carpets, soft toys, decorative and aromatic pillows, exotic indoor plants).
The task of antiallergic drugs
It is not difficult to distinguish an allergic rhinitis from a common cold - these are transparent and copious discharge from the nose, accompanied by congestion, swelling. In general, such rhinitis does not affect general well-being, proceeds without an increase in body temperature, in contrast to respiratory infections.
Against the background of an allergic reaction in the human body, the active production of histamine is launched. In simple words, we can say that this is a substance that occurs as a result of an immune response to a stimulus. Because of it, there is discharge from the nose, swelling of the mucous membrane, sneezing. To reduce the level of histamine, take special antihistamines that prevent the secretion of this substance. Drugs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis are available in various forms - in tablets, syrup, drops, sprays. The last two forms are considered more preferable in case of a runny nose, however, in some cases their use is contraindicated and then only the oral way of stopping the allergy remains.
It is not worth it to choose antihistamines yourself with allergic rhinitis. Without harm to health, only an allergist, therapist or ENT doctor can do this. For example, for children under two years of age, it is advisable to use anti-allergic rhinitis drugs in the form of drops, since the spray can cause an inflammatory process in the middle ear. At the same time, for adults, it is the form of the spray that is considered more preferable due to the possibility of more volumetric irrigation of the nasal cavity with the minimum dosage, which is provided by the installed dispenser. When choosing a dosage form and dosage of a drug, specialists are based on the age and body weight of the patient.
Allergy drops and sprays
Today, pharmacies sell many antihistamines nasal preparations. The most effective and common medications are:
- Zirtek. The drug, which reduces the severity of allergic components, eliminates mucous discharge from the nasal cavity. The active substance in the composition is cetirizine dihydrochloride, which is prohibited during pregnancy, lactation and in children under the age of six.
- "Allergodil." Unlike a number of other drugs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, this can be used for a long period (up to six months). Children under six years of age should not be used. The active ingredient is azelastine hydrochloride.
- "Tizin Alergi." Antihistamine spray, the effect of which, according to patients, occurs in a matter of minutes. The drug helps relieve swelling, restore normal nasal breathing. The main substance is levocabastine. Age restrictions are the same as for previous funds.
- Cromohexal. This drug for the treatment of allergic rhinitis is dispensed in an over-the-counter form. It is used only in direct contact with the irritant, as a prophylactic, the spray and drops of Cromohexal are ineffective. Sodium cromoglycate as part of the drug can be prescribed to children over five years of age.
Each of these medicines has some limitations. In order to avoid overdose and side effects, any of them should be prescribed by a specialist.
For oral use
Compared with the antihistamines of previous generations, the current pharmacological products are of higher quality and minimal risk of side effects. It is impossible to do without oral medications for allergic rhinitis if the disease is severe, accompanied by asthma, skin rashes, and conjunctivitis.
Tablets, suspensions, syrups, drops for oral administration have a pronounced sedative effect, so they must be used with caution for those whose professional activity involves an increased concentration of attention. That is why second and third generation drugs are more preferable for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Tablets from the common cold are prescribed for adults, syrup and drops for children. Most often, doctors prescribe:
- Suprastin. This is a first-generation antihistamine that stops allergy symptoms. It is usually prescribed in tablet form, but at the risk of developing an attack of bronchial asthma can be used in injectable form. Suitable for the treatment of children older than one month.
- Tavegil. Unlike Suprastin, this drug has a less pronounced sedative effect. Can be given to children over 6 years old. Available in the form of tablets, syrup for children and an injection solution.
- "Loratadine." An effective drug for allergic rhinitis of the second generation. It is prescribed for adults and children over two years of age. The likelihood of side effects is minimal. The same active substance acts during the day. Sold in the form of tablets and liquid suspension.
- "Cetirizine." Refers to the latest drugs for any allergic manifestations. Not addictive. For tangible relief, one tablet per day is enough. In the form of drops is prescribed for children after six months, in the form of syrup - for babies from 2 years old, in tablets - for adults.
- Telfast. Third generation antihistamine drug that can be taken only by adults.
Vasoconstrictors for the common cold
A complex of drugs for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis or a year-round form of the disease is rarely dispensed with representatives of this drug group. Effective vasoconstrictor drugs include:
- Otrivin.
- "Oxymetazoline."
- "Naphthyzine."
- "Phenylephrine."
Unlike antihistamines, these do not affect the production of histamine and do not neutralize irritation from the allergen. The principle of action of vasoconstrictor drugs is clear from their name: they constrict blood vessels, which makes breathing easier by the nose and relieves swelling.
What drugs for allergic rhinitis can I buy without a prescription? Any remedy from this group is dispensed in a pharmacy without a prescription, but improper self-use can significantly harm and addictive. The optimal duration of the use of vasoconstrictor drops is no more than five days.
The best vasoconstrictor drops in the nose
Also, for this pharmacological group, a pronounced “withdrawal syndrome” is characteristic, which is manifested by severe swelling of the nasal mucosa. Such drugs are especially dangerous for children. That is why, in childhood, it is recommended to use combined means, which, in addition to narrowing the vessels, have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. One of the best drugs for allergic rhinitis for adults and babies over 12 months old is Vibrocil. Also appoint "Sinupret", "Sanorin Analergin."
Why take enterosorbents?
In addition to an impressive list of tablets, drops and sprays, for allergies, it is necessary to drink enterosorbents. These drugs help cleanse the body of allergens, toxic substances, their decay products and everything else that causes general intoxication of the body. Many people think that drugs from this group are prescribed only for food poisoning, but this is not so. Enterosorbents act indiscriminately, absorbing all kinds of harmful substances and leaving the body with them.
If you take sorbents after the appearance of the first symptoms of an allergic reaction, you will be able to prevent further deterioration of well-being and prevent the appearance of concomitant symptoms. Such drugs are prescribed not only for adults, they are suitable for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in children. Preparations of this group (Enterosgel, Smecta, Atoxil, Polysorb, Multisorb, activated charcoal) cleanse the body of pathogens, but at the same time they wash the beneficial intestinal microflora, so doctors recommend taking probiotics along with sorbents , vitamin and mineral complexes, drink enough fluids and monitor the diet.
In order for enterosorbents to work as efficiently as possible, they must be correctly taken:
- you need to drink the medicine on an empty stomach (a couple of hours before a meal);
- observe the intervals between doses of antihistamines and sorbents (optimally 2 hours);
- the course of treatment should not be more than a week;
- Before use, be sure to read the annotation to the drug.
Corticosteroids for severe rhinitis
If an allergic reaction proceeds in severe or moderate form, hormonal drugs are connected to antihistamine therapy. With allergic rhinitis, they relieve inflammation. Children, as a rule, are not prescribed nasal corticosteroids due to the large number of side effects. It is worth noting that the latest generation of medicines is more easily tolerated by adult patients. Sometimes they are prescribed to children over two years old. In this case, it is extremely important not to neglect the doctor's recommendations about the dosage, since such drugs are quickly addictive, and with prolonged use can provoke bleeding, the formation of benign tumors.
In addition, glucocorticosteroids reduce the sensitivity of the immune system to potentially dangerous allergenic substances, which has been proven in numerous studies. They are prescribed for severe pollinosis, hay fever. The expected therapeutic effect usually occurs after 10-12 hours. Using hormonal drops and sprays, it is advisable to adhere to a strict schedule so that the active substances enter the body with the same frequency. Among the hormonal nasal drops from allergies, it is worth noting the first generation dexamethasone drugs ("Mometasone") and more modern drugs ("Fluticasone", "Flixonase", "Nazonex", "Syntaris", "Alzedin", "Cyclesonide") softer and do not penetrate the bloodstream.
Reviews on medications for allergic rhinitis
Doctors adhere to a single approach in the treatment of allergic rhinitis with drugs. According to reviews, in adults this problem occurs quite often. In each case, doctors select medicines based on the individual characteristics of each patient. After analyzing user comments about the drugs that are used to treat allergic rhinitis, we can come to the following conclusions.
The most popular and effective remedy is considered by many to be the hormone sprays "Nazonex" and "Flixonase." They are dispensed without a prescription in a pharmacy, so some patients, unaware of the dangers of uncontrolled use of corticosteroid drops, use them on their own, without medical advice. In their reviews, they note a longer effect in comparison with antihistamines. Among the side effects in patients there is dryness of the nasal mucosa.
If you believe the feedback from users, many struggle with allergic rhinitis with a simple home remedy - saline. Washing the nose gives, albeit not a long, but tangible relief and does not give adverse reactions. But doctors do not advise abusing vasoconstrictive drops: they quickly cause drug addiction and hypertrophy of the nasal mucosa, which in severe cases is treated only surgically.
What else you need to know about allergy treatment
Allergen-specific therapy, which is carried out by specialists in the hospital, belongs to the category of radical methods of treating allergic rhinitis. The essence of treatment is the repeated injection of an allergen with a gradual increase in dose. The result of such manipulations is the formation of the body's resistance to allergens.
Drug treatment is mainly aimed at neutralizing the effects of contact with an allergen. The most effective preventive measure is the complete elimination of allergic components from your environment. Therefore, drugs are popular in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in adults and children, which act like a barrier, minimizing contact with the irritant floating in the air. One such drug is Nazaval. It forms a protective layer in the nasal cavity, is safe for all ages, pregnant and lactating women, since it does not penetrate the blood and does not interact with other medicines.
Before applying drops and sprays to the nose for allergies, it is advisable to carry out preliminary sanitation of the nasal cavity with saline. Thus, it is possible to relieve inflammation, improve nasal breathing, and get rid of inhaled allergens.