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Medications for Allergies

Other names: Allergy; Dust Mite Allergy

Allergies are an overreaction by your immune system to a substance or food that is not considered harmful to most other people. Substances that cause allergies are called allergens or “triggers”.

What Causes Allergies?

When you have allergies, your immune system mistakes normally harmless substances for dangerous invaders and produces antibodies to fight them. These antibodies release chemicals, such as histamine, that cause allergy symptoms. 

The most common allergens are:

  • Animal fur or hair (such as that from cats, dogs, horses, or rabbits)
  • Dust mites
  • Food, especially cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, seafood, soy, tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews) and wheat
  • Insect stings
  • Latex
  • Medicines
  • Mould
  • Pollen.

An allergen for one person may not cause any problems in another person. There is a link between allergy and asthma.

What are the Symptoms of Allergies?

Reactions to the same allergen vary among individuals and depend on how the allergen entered the body (for example, being bitten by a mosquito causes a localized reaction on the skin whereas exposure to pollen may cause a tickly throat and itchy eyes).

Symptoms may include:

  • Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting (food allergies)
  • Areas of swelling and redness where a person has been stung or bitten (for insect bites/stings)
  • Cough, chest tightness, wheezing or shortness of breath
  • Itching of the nose, eyes or roof of the mouth
  • A skin rash or hives, usually accompanied by body-wide itching
  • Runny, stuffy nose
  • Sneezing
  • Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat
  • Tingling of the mouth
  • Watery, red or swollen eyes (conjunctivitis)
  • Wheezing.

Some types of allergies can trigger a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

  • Loss of consciousness
  • A drop in blood pressure
  • Severe shortness of breath
  • Skin rash
  • Lightheadedness
  • A rapid, weak pulse
  • Nausea and vomiting.

When Should I See a Doctor for my Allergies?

Many allergies can be effectively treated with over-the-counter medications. See your doctor if you have persistent allergies that are interfering with your day to day life if you have severe reactions, or over the counter, remedies are not effective.

People who develop anaphylaxis should always carry an epinephrine auto-injector 24 hours a day and know how to use it. People should also visit the emergency department after using the auto-injector to ensure symptoms don't return when the effects of the injection wear off.

How Are Allergies Treated?

Treatment depends on what is the most troublesome or predominant symptom. Treatments may include:

  • Antihistamines (oral, nasal, topical)
  • Corticosteroids (oral, nasal, topical)
  • Decongestants (oral, nasal)
  • Saline nasal rinses
  • Immunotherapy.

People with known allergies should try and avoid known triggers and wear a medical alert bracelet (or necklace) that lets others know that you have a serious allergy in case you have a reaction and you're unable to communicate.

See also: sub-topics

Drugs used to treat Allergies

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
hydroxyzine 7.3 61 reviews
Rx N N X

Generic name: hydroxyzine systemic

Brand name:  Vistaril

Drug class: miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics, antihistamines

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

loratadine 4.6 9 reviews
Rx/OTC B N

Generic name: loratadine systemic

Drug class: antihistamines

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

levocetirizine 4.8 216 reviews
Rx/OTC B N X

Generic name: levocetirizine systemic

Brand name:  Xyzal

Drug class: antihistamines

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Xyzal 4.6 183 reviews
Rx B N X

Generic name: levocetirizine systemic

Drug class: antihistamines

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Vistaril 6.7 3 reviews
Rx N N X

Generic name: hydroxyzine systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics, antihistamines

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

doxylamine Rate Add review
Rx/OTC B N X

Generic name: doxylamine systemic

Brand names:  Equaline Sleep Aid, Equate Sleep Aid

Drug class: miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph

corticotropin 5.0 2 reviews
Rx C N

Generic name: corticotropin systemic

Brand names:  Acthar, H.P. Acthar Gel

Drug class: corticotropin

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph

Acthar 5.0 2 reviews
Rx C N

Generic name: corticotropin systemic

Drug class: corticotropin

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

chlorpheniramine / ibuprofen / phenylephrine Rate Add review
OTC N X

Generic name: chlorpheniramine / ibuprofen / phenylephrine systemic

Drug class: upper respiratory combinations

For consumers: interactions, side effects

dexbrompheniramine Rate Add review
OTC C N X

Generic name: dexbrompheniramine systemic

Brand name:  Ala-Hist IR

Drug class: antihistamines

For consumers: interactions, side effects

Ala-Hist IR Rate Add review
OTC C N X

Generic name: dexbrompheniramine systemic

Drug class: antihistamines

For consumers: interactions, side effects

dexbrompheniramine / phenylephrine Rate Add review
OTC C N X

Generic name: dexbrompheniramine / phenylephrine systemic

Drug class: upper respiratory combinations

For consumers: interactions, side effects

Equaline Sleep Aid Rate Add review
Rx/OTC B N X

Generic name: doxylamine systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Equate Sleep Aid Rate Add review
Rx/OTC B N X

Generic name: doxylamine systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

H.P. Acthar Gel Rate Add review
Rx C N

Generic name: corticotropin systemic

Drug class: corticotropin

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Topics under Allergies

Alternative treatments for Allergies

The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for Allergies. Their efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in the table above. However there may be historical, cultural or anecdotal evidence linking their use to the treatment of Allergies.

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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