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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Can Severe Allergic Rhinitis Be Treated?

Sir I am suffering from severe allergic rhinitis for last five years. Sneezing and running nose throughout the day and gets cold frequently. I have visited several doctors and they have given me tablets for allergy and nasal sprays but I got only temporary relief. When I stop those tablet and nasal spray after due course of time the symptoms will reappear. Now daily I am using Momeflo nasal spray in the night but still I do not have any improvement. My father is also suffering from the same problem for several years and now my son who is 6 years old is also suffering from this disease. My docter told me it is due to increased humidity I am suffering this and please give me a suggestion for my future treatment.
Thu, 13 Apr 2017
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello Dear. You can treat your allergic rhinitis in several ways.

1. Antihistamines
You can take antihistamines to treat allergies. They work by stopping your body from making histamine.

Some popular over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines include:

i. Allegra (fexofenadine)
ii. Clarinex (desloratadine)
iii. Claritin (loratadine)
iv. Xyzal (levocetirizine)
v. Zyrtec (cetirizine)

Talk to your doctor before starting a new medication. Make sure that a new allergy medication won’t interfere with other medications or medical conditions.

2. Decongestants

You can use decongestants over a short period to relieve a stuffy nose and sinus pressure. Popular OTC decongestants include:

i. Afrin nasal spray (oxymetazoline)
ii. Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
iii. Sudafed PE (phenylephrine)
iv. Zyrtec-D (cetirizine with pseudoephedrine)

If you have high blood pressure or a genitourinary disease, speak with your doctor before using a decongestant.

3. Eye drops and nasal sprays

Eye drops and nasal sprays can help relieve itchiness and other allergy-related symptoms for a short time. However, you should avoid long-term use of these products.

Overusing eye drops can cause a rebound effect. This means that, when you stop using them after a long period, your symptoms will be worse than before you started using eye drops.

Overusing nasal spray can cause a yeast infection to occur in the back of your nose. It can also create a hole in your nasal septum.

Corticosteroids can also help with inflammation or immune responses. These steroids are usually available as injections, creams, or eye drops.

4. Immunotherapy

Your doctor may recommend immunotherapy, or allergy shots, if you have severe allergies. You can use this treatment plan in conjunction with medications to control your symptoms. These shots decrease your immune response to particular allergens over time.

An allergy shot regimen begins with a buildup phase. During this phase, you’ll go to your allergist for a shot one to three times per week for about three to six months to let your body get used to the allergen in the shot.

During the maintenance phase, you should see your allergist for shots about once per month over the course of three to five years. You may not notice a change until over a year after the maintenance phase begins. Once you reach this point, it’s possible that your allergy symptoms will fade or disappear altogether.

Some people experience severe allergic reactions to an allergen in their shot. Many allergists ask you to wait in the office for 30 to 45 minutes after a shot to ensure that you don’t have an intense or life-threatening response to it.

5. Home remedies

Home remedies will depend on your allergens. If you have seasonal or pollen allergies, you can try using an air conditioner instead of opening your windows. If possible, add a filter designed for allergies.

Using a dehumidifier or a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can help you control your allergies while indoors. If you’re allergic to dust mites, wash your sheets and blankets in hot water that’s above 130°F (54.4°C). Adding a HEPA filter to your vacuum and vacuuming weekly may also help.

Hope i have answered your question. Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions. I ll be glad to help you.
All the best
With warm regards
Dr Sanjay Kini     
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How Can Severe Allergic Rhinitis Be Treated?

Hello Dear. You can treat your allergic rhinitis in several ways. 1. Antihistamines You can take antihistamines to treat allergies. They work by stopping your body from making histamine. Some popular over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines include: i. Allegra (fexofenadine) ii. Clarinex (desloratadine) iii. Claritin (loratadine) iv. Xyzal (levocetirizine) v. Zyrtec (cetirizine) Talk to your doctor before starting a new medication. Make sure that a new allergy medication won’t interfere with other medications or medical conditions. 2. Decongestants You can use decongestants over a short period to relieve a stuffy nose and sinus pressure. Popular OTC decongestants include: i. Afrin nasal spray (oxymetazoline) ii. Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) iii. Sudafed PE (phenylephrine) iv. Zyrtec-D (cetirizine with pseudoephedrine) If you have high blood pressure or a genitourinary disease, speak with your doctor before using a decongestant. 3. Eye drops and nasal sprays Eye drops and nasal sprays can help relieve itchiness and other allergy-related symptoms for a short time. However, you should avoid long-term use of these products. Overusing eye drops can cause a rebound effect. This means that, when you stop using them after a long period, your symptoms will be worse than before you started using eye drops. Overusing nasal spray can cause a yeast infection to occur in the back of your nose. It can also create a hole in your nasal septum. Corticosteroids can also help with inflammation or immune responses. These steroids are usually available as injections, creams, or eye drops. 4. Immunotherapy Your doctor may recommend immunotherapy, or allergy shots, if you have severe allergies. You can use this treatment plan in conjunction with medications to control your symptoms. These shots decrease your immune response to particular allergens over time. An allergy shot regimen begins with a buildup phase. During this phase, you’ll go to your allergist for a shot one to three times per week for about three to six months to let your body get used to the allergen in the shot. During the maintenance phase, you should see your allergist for shots about once per month over the course of three to five years. You may not notice a change until over a year after the maintenance phase begins. Once you reach this point, it’s possible that your allergy symptoms will fade or disappear altogether. Some people experience severe allergic reactions to an allergen in their shot. Many allergists ask you to wait in the office for 30 to 45 minutes after a shot to ensure that you don’t have an intense or life-threatening response to it. 5. Home remedies Home remedies will depend on your allergens. If you have seasonal or pollen allergies, you can try using an air conditioner instead of opening your windows. If possible, add a filter designed for allergies. Using a dehumidifier or a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can help you control your allergies while indoors. If you’re allergic to dust mites, wash your sheets and blankets in hot water that’s above 130°F (54.4°C). Adding a HEPA filter to your vacuum and vacuuming weekly may also help. Hope i have answered your question. Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions. I ll be glad to help you. All the best With warm regards Dr Sanjay Kini