Treating Indoor and Outdoor Allergies

They flush out your nasal passages and sinuses, to reduce the amount of symptom-causing allergens, for example, after an outdoor activity during pollen allergy season. They help relieve nasal congestion.

Available in various forms, including drops, sprays, and nasal irrigation products, according to personal preference.

Nasal irrigation products, which send saltwater from one nostril to the other through the sinuses, are considered more effective than sprays for treating congestion. Nasal irrigation products are not as complicated to use as they may sound. Your pharmacist can explain how to use them.

Antihistamines work by blocking histamine, one of the substances released by the body that cause typical allergy symptoms.

Antihistamines are available in tablets, syrups and eyedrops. Your pharmacist can pick the best one for you.

There are two (2) generations of antihistamines:

• Older products like diphenhydramine are fast-acting, but their effect does not last long (4 to 6 hours). They are particularly useful to relieve hives and itching. In addition, they cause drowsiness, a side effect that can interfere with your daytime activities, but is helpful at night.
• Newer products like cetirizine, desloratadine, fexofenadine, and loratadine provide longer-lasting relief (12 to 24 hours) and cause very little drowsiness.

Both first and second-generation products provide similar efficacy. Each antihistamine has different properties to combat specific symptoms.

They act in different ways, notably by reducing inflammation and relieving congestion. While they start to take effect within a few hours, it can take several days before they become fully effective.

Sprays.

Make sure you carefully follow the instructions for using sprays, so you maximize their efficacy while minimizing the risk of side effects. Your pharmacist can show you how.

In Canada, certain corticosteroid nasal sprays are sold over or behind the counter, while others require a prescription. In some provinces, pharmacists can prescribe these products in specific circumstances. Ask your pharmacy staff.

Decongestant nasal sprays provide temporary relief of nasal congestion.

Decongestants are also available in tablet form, most often in all-in-one allergy products and in certain “cold and sinus”–type products. Oral formulas are not recommended for long-time use, as they can cause some side effects over time.

It is important not to use it more often or for longer than recommended, to avoid increasing the risk of side effects such as rebound congestion (congestion caused by the overuse of the decongestant nasal spray).

If you have high blood pressure, decongestants are not your best option as they may increase your blood pressure. Use saline formulas instead.