What other medications are there which might help with my allergic symptoms? - Allergy treatments

Nasal decongestants are available to help you with symptoms of allergic rhinitis. These might also be useful in any other conditions where your nose is blocked, such as the common cold. Breathing in the vapours of a eucalyptus leaf in warm air might help with a blocked nose. Decongestant nasal sprays, such as ephedrine, can also help, and work by acting on the blood vessels in your nose, however, these should be avoided in children under 6 years of age. There are also rubs (such as Vicks Vaporub), which you can apply to your chest, throat, and underneath your nose to help with a blocked nose. These should be avoided for babies under 3 months of age.

You can buy eye drops which contain no medications but do have the effects of a moisturiser for dry an irritated eyes. This can be useful if you have symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis – itchy, red, swollen eyes. These should not be used too often, as when you stop using them, your eyes might become more irritated than they were before you started using the eye drops. An example of moisturising eye drops is Vital Eyes.

In addition, a number of moisturising creams and lotions that might be able to help with dry or irritated skin. These are readily available and can be found in most pharmacies and a lot of other shops too.

Allergies Treatment Guide Index:

• What are antihistamines?
• What are corticosteroids?
• What are leukotriene antagonists?
• What are beta-2 adrenergic agonists?

• What is adrenaline?
• What other medications are there which might help with my allergic symptoms?
• Is there anything I need to do before I start my medication?