Skip to main content

Allergy season

How to prepare for allergy season


Identify your triggers: Try to identify the specific allergens that trigger your symptoms. This may include pollen, dust mites, pet dander, or mold. Once you know your triggers, you can take steps to avoid them.

Check the pollen count: Check the local pollen count in your area to know when the levels are high. You can use this information to plan your outdoor activities accordingly. Keep windows closed. Cool your home with fans or air conditioning.

Keep your home clean: Regularly clean your home to reduce exposure to allergens. This may include vacuuming carpets and furniture, washing bedding in hot water, and using an air purifier.

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help thin mucus and reduce congestion.

Be proactive: Start taking allergy medications before your symptoms start to reduce their severity.

Mask: If you're going to be outdoors during high pollen counts, consider wearing a mask to reduce exposure to allergens. Examples include N95, Vogmask Particle Filtering Face Mask, and RZ Mask M2 Reusable Mask-


Antihistamines: These medications can help relieve allergy symptoms like sneezing, itching, and runny nose. Some common over-the-counter antihistamines include loratadine/Claritin, cetirizine/ Zyrtec,  fexofenadine/ Allegra, Xyzal/Levocetirizine

Pharmacists often recommend generic medications as a cost-effective alternative to brand-name medications, especially if they have the same active ingredients and are bioequivalent.

For children 2+:  loratadine/ Claritin, cetirizine/Zyrtec, Fexofenadine/ Allegra, Xyzal liquid, and chewable formulations are available. 

Combination medications: Some allergy medications combine antihistamines with decongestants to relieve multiple allergy symptoms. Examples include loratadine/pseudoephedrine-ClaritinD and cetirizine/pseudoephedrine Zyrtec D behind the counter.

Nasal corticosteroids: These prescription medications can help relieve nasal congestion, sneezing, and runny nose caused by allergies. Some examples include 

 For children 3+ Mometasone/Nasonex, 



Important: If you have strong allergic reactions to tree pollen, start nasal sprays or oral medications a couple of weeks before the beginning of the pollen season.


Eye Drops: I often recommend allergy eye drops for patients experiencing symptoms such as itching, redness, and watery eyes due to allergies.

 Pataday used to be behind the counter, now it's OTC and available for ages 2+

   

Compared to Alaway/ketotifen, Pataday/olopatadine provided quicker relief of symptoms and improved symptoms. 


In conclusion, it's best to use a nasal spray,  antihistamine tablet/liquid and eye drops together for the best allergy relief during peak season.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Heartburn

Heartburn is a pretty uncomfortable symptom that many of us have experienced at some point. It's caused by stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus, which creates that burning sensation in our chest and throat.  Here's some helpful prevention tips: Avoid spicy or fatty foods, caffeine, and alcohol Eat smaller and more frequent meals Avoid eating two hours before bed Maintain a healthy weight Quit smoking Reduce stress levels If lifestyle changes aren't enough, there are plenty of over-the-counter medications that can help relieve heartburn symptoms.  1. Antacids  Tums,   Rolaids   are great for short-term relief because they neutralize stomach acid quickly.  2. H2 blockers like  - Pepcid AC / famotidine   reduce acid production and can provide relief for several hours.  3. Lastly, if you experience heartburn frequently, or more than 3+/week, then start a course of 2 to 4-week PPI therapy. PPI stands for  Proton pump inhibitors  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sleep

Did you know that getting quality sleep is super important for your overall health and well-being? It's true! Not getting enough sleep can actually lead to a bunch of health problems, like depression, anxiety, and even cardiovascular disease.   But don't worry, there are some easy things you can do to improve your sleep quality, like getting regular exercise, cutting back on caffeine, and sticking to a consistent sleep schedule. Of course, sometimes these lifestyle changes aren't enough, and that's where sleep aids come in.   There are different kinds of sleep aids out there, like prescription and over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, and natural supplements. Prescription sleep aids can be effective, but they can also be risky since they can lead to dependence and other adverse effects.  Over-the-counter sleep aids can also be helpful, but they're not recommended for long-term use because they can cause cognitive impairment and daytime drowsiness. This ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cough/Cold

 As a pharmacist for 10+ years, one of the most common question I encounter is, “What is the best medicine to take for the cold and flu?”  I would then follow up with, "What's your age and how long has it been? Do you have any other medical conditions?" If it's been more than 7 days and the symptoms are getting worse, then it's recommended to see the doctor.  Children under 6 years of age,  stay tuned for future posts.  -Get plenty of rest -Drink plenty of fluids -Use a humidifier to relieve congestion by adding moisture to the air.  -Take over-the-counter (OTC) medications: OTC medications, such as pain relievers, decongestants, and cough suppressants, can help relieve symptoms. However, it's important to read labels carefully and only take medication as directed. Here are the common ingredients to look for in cough/cold medicine 1) Headache, Fever - Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 2) Muscle Aches—  Ibuprofen ( Advil ) I often recommend alternating the two drugs ...
Post a Comment
Read more