| Lots of people rely on over the counter allergy | | | | Decongestants |
| medicine for treating their allergy problems as it is | | | | Decongestants are allergy relief medicine that works |
| more easily available and cheaper. However, when | | | | by shrinking the swollen tissues of the nose, thereby |
| you go for an over the counter medicine, you will be | | | | improving the airflow within the nasal passage. It also |
| making your own choices rather than being guided by | | | | relieves the pressure in the head, which is also |
| a physician. As such it is important to have a | | | | characteristic of some allergy attacks. Decongestant |
| thorough knowledge of allergy drugs before buying | | | | drops, pills, and nasal sprays are available as over the |
| an allergy relief medicine over the counter. | | | | counter allergy medicine. Doctors often prescribe |
| Antihistamines, decongestants, and topical | | | | decongestants to allergy patients in combination with |
| corticosteroids are among the more commonly used | | | | antihistamines. |
| allergy relief medicine. | | | | Topical Corticosteroids |
| Antihistamines | | | | Though corticosteroids are used less as allergy relief |
| Antihistamines are the first preference of most | | | | medicine than antihistamines or decongestants, they |
| doctors as an allergy relief medicine. When the body | | | | may be used topically in some cases on the |
| comes into contact with allergens, it produces what | | | | recommendations of the doctor. It is the ability of |
| are known as histamines which act on the cells | | | | corticosteroids to control inflammation of blood |
| causing them to inflame or itch. Antihistamines work | | | | vessels and muscles, which make it an allergy relief |
| by preventing histamines from getting attached to | | | | medicine. Topical applications of corticosteroids are in |
| the various tissues that cause inflammation or | | | | the form of eye drops, skin creams etc. |
| sneezing. So they are very effective in relieving a | | | | People who have been using certain types of allergy |
| sufferer from the most common symptoms of | | | | relief medicine periodically over the years, and have |
| allergy. | | | | become familiar with the body's reactions and |
| Antihistamines may be prescribed by the doctor or | | | | responses to it, can opt to buy over the counter |
| may be available as over the counter allergy medicine. | | | | allergy medicine. Still, they should seek the advice of |
| People who have a heart problem or hypertension or | | | | a doctor if they develop any health problems, even if |
| any other serious ailments should not buy it over the | | | | it is unrelated to allergy. For others, it is best to take |
| counter and should take in only under the guidance of | | | | any allergy relief medicine only under the guidance of |
| a doctor, as prescribed by him. | | | | a doctor. |