Many people have had symptoms of allergic rhinitis such as itchy nose, frequent sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose and more. The symptoms can be especially evident in the morning after waking up. In some cases, it may also lead to post-nasal drip, breathing discomfort and smell distortions, leading to inconveniences in daily life.
What exactly is/are the cause(s) of allergic rhinitis? As a matter of fact, these allergic reactions are caused when the nasal mucosa is exposed to airborne allergens, causing inflammation of the nasal cavity. Examples of allergens include pollen, environmental factors, dust, mites, cosmetics and animal dander.
How do we manage allergic rhinitis? Effective management involves “symptomatic relief” and “addressing the root cause”.
You may have heard of many medicines that can achieve symptomatic relief. How do we choose among these medicines? You can take reference to the followings and consult your pharmacist:
- First generation antihistamine
- E.g.: Chlorpheniramine
- Orally taken. Relieve symptoms of itchy nose, sneezing and runny nose.
- It might cause drowsiness. It can be used at night time, especially for those with sleeping problems caused by allergic rhinitis.
- There are some contraindications. Please consult a pharmacist before use.
- Newer generation antihistamine
- E.g.: Cetirizine, Loratadine, Fexofenadine
- Orally taken. Relieve symptoms of itchy nose, sneezing and runny nose. Effectiveness is similar to first generation antihistamines.
- Long-acting: One tablet can usually last for 12-24 hours.
- Usually non-drowsy.
- There are some contraindications. Please consult a pharmacist before use.
- Decongestant
- E.g.: Pseudoephedrine (orally taken), Oxymetazoline (intranasal use)
- Act as vasoconstrictor which has nasal decongestant effects
- There are some contraindications. Long-term use is not recommended. Please consult a pharmacist before use.
What can we do to address the root causes of allergic rhinitis? Here are some common managements of allergic rhinitis:
- Steroid nasal spray
- E.g.: Beclomethasone dipropionate (available in pharmacy and use under guidance of pharmacist)
- Beclomethasone nasal spray is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works by blocking the release of certain natural substances that cause allergy symptoms and hence reduce inflammation.
- Usually requires at least two weeks to take effect.
- It can be used before the anticipated onset of allergic rhinitis according to individual conditions.
- Some may be frightened by corticosteroids due to the concerns of side effects. However, intranasal corticosteroids spray has less systemic side effects compared with oral corticosteroids as there is only a minimal amount of corticosteroids absorbed through nasal application.
- There are some contraindications. Please consult a pharmacist before use.
- Nasal Wash
- E.g.: Nasal Care, Flo Sinus Care, NeilMed
- Nasal wash can flush away allergens in the nasal cavity and sinuses
If you are interested in knowing more about allergic rhinitis or finding a suitable treatment for yourself, feel free to contact Health in Action Pharmacists via the phone 3612-9515 or through WhatsApp 6618-9212.
