Treatments for seasonal and perennial rhinitis

There is no cure for either allergic rhinitis (hay fever ) or perennial rhinitis. However, in most cases symptoms can be controlled effectively using a range of treatments.

There following list includes some of the most widely used treatments for hay fever and perennial rhinitis. For some you need a prescription from your doctor, others can be bought over the counter without a prescription. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist and they will help you find the most suitable treatment.

Antihistamines
Antihistamines provide a quick relief for symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes and itchy throats. They work by stopping many of the effects of histamine – one of the chemicals the body releases during an allergic reaction. They come in tablets, capsules or as liquids.

Side effects
Newer antihistamines cause little if any sleepiness, but older types such as chlorpheniramine can make you drowsy. Do not take these older types if you are going to drive, operate machinery or sit an exam.

On rare occasions, terfenadine may react with other medicines (for example antibiotics and even grapefruit juice) to produce severe side effects. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Decongestant sprays
Decongestant sprays may be used occasionally to relieve stuffy or blocked noses. However, If you use them too often the symptoms come back (or rebound).

Side effects
Although side effects are rare, decongestants must only be used for a few days at a time. If over-used, they can lose their effect. This can lead to a need for bigger doses.

Preventer treatments
Preventer treatments are used to prevent nose and eye symptoms developing in the first place. They do this by suppressing the allergic reaction in the nose and eyes.

They are very effective at controlling seasonal and perennial rhinitis symptoms if used regularly each day. If you have seasonal allergic rhinitis, you should start using them a couple of weeks before the season starts.

Eye drops, nasal sprays and nose drops are available. Some contain a corticosteroid (for example beclomethasone, fluticasone and flunisolide). Others contain sodium cromoglycate. Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist as there are many others available.

Side effects
Some preventer treatments contain a small amount of corticosteroid. They do not generally cause side effects. Some patients report irritation and occasionally nose bleeds. Other patients find that eye drops sting a little.

If you need to take corticosteroids long-term, discuss this with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Always read the label and do not exceed the stated dose.

How to take nasal sprays and drops

If you use a nasal spray, bend your head forwards to look at your feet before spraying one or two puffs into each nostril and breathing in slowly. Carefully read the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine. Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to check that you are taking your medicine correctly.

A new way of looking at asthma and allergic rhinitis

International guidelines from the ‘Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma’ panel (ARIA) in association with the World Health Organisation (WHO), emphasise that because these related conditions are both caused by inflammation in the airways, they should be treated together. By managing asthma and allergic rhinitis together, doctors can ensure the best possible approach to alleviate the irritating symptoms of both diseases.

Treating asthma and seasonal allergic rhinitis together

Doctors may prescribe steroid sprays inhaled through the nose and lungs to treat both asthma and seasonal allergic rhinitis, as well as the medications mentioned above. Another option available for people with mild to moderate asthma and seasonal allergic rhinitis is a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA), which is available on prescription. An LTRA blocks the action of naturally occurring chemicals in the lungs called leukotrienes – an underlying cause of allergy symptoms which can lead to inflammation in both upper and lower airways.

How do I know which treatments to take?

Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about which treatments to take. They will be able to advise you on which treatments are the best for you. If you have seasonal allergic rhinitis, early preventive treatment is the most effective. Visit your doctor or pharmacist long before the hay fever season starts.

If your symptoms are mild, you may only need to take an antihistamine tablet. If this is not enough to control the problem, you may need to use a preventer treatment as well.

Often the best way to control symptoms is to take a preventer nasal spray or drops together with an antihistamine tablet. Anti-allergy eye drops can be added and should be used regularly if you have symptoms affecting your eyes.

If you have mild to moderate asthma and also suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis, an LTRA may be prescribed by your doctor to control the symptoms of both conditions together.

Do complementary treatments work?

Some people find that complementary therapies can help relieve their hay fever or perennial rhinitis symptoms. However, there is little scientific evidence that they are effective when used on their own. If you want to try one of the many complementary treatments available, tell your doctor and do not stop taking your normal medication.

Back to "Exploring Treatments"

Back to Homepage

Basics | Exploring Treatments | Advanced Resources | News | Contact Us | Disclaimer

	Copyright © 2009. All rights reserved.
	We subscribe to the principles of the Health On the Net Foundation