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Are there any prescription treatments for allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is a reaction to tiny particles in the air such as tree and grass pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and mold spores. Prescription drugs for allergies include antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, and an anticholinergic nasal spray called Atrovent (ipratropium). These medicines may relieve your symptoms but will not cure your allergies. The closest thing to a cure for allergies is allergy injections. Your doctor can help you determine which treatments are best for you.

Prescription antihistamines relieve symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, and watery and itchy eyes. They can cause less drowsiness than over-the-counter antihistamines. Examples include Allegra (brand name for fexofenadine), Claritin (loratidine), and Zyrtec (cetirazine). Allegra and Claritin are also available in combination with a decongestant, pseudoephedrine. These products are marketed as Allegra-D and Claritin-D. Antihistamines in the form of a nasal spray such as Astelin (azelastine) relieve symptoms of runny, itchy, stuffy nose and sneezing

Other prescription medicines used for allergic rhinitis include corticosteroid nasal sprays. These can be effective in preventing all of your allergy symptoms. Steroid nasal sprays on the market include the Beconase, Beconase AQ, Vancenase, and Vancenase AQ (all brand names for beclomethasone). Other steroid nasal sprays are Rhinocort (budesonide), Nasalide (flunisolide), Flonase (fluticasone), and Nasacort or Nasacort AQ (both brand names for triamcinolone).

Atrovent (ipratropium) is an anticholinergic nasal spray that stops a runny nose. It is not effective for a stuffy nose.

Reference: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. William Morrow & Co., 1996.

This answer prepared 7/15/99.