A-choo! A-choo! A-choo! You know you’ve taken your over-the-counter allergy pills—but you’re still experiencing symptoms. Unfortunately, sometimes, we encounter instances when our allergy pills aren’t working. We don’t have to just accept the discomfort, though. Read on to learn about finding some much-needed relief.
Try Prescription Nasal Sprays
If your allergy pills aren’t working, you may need to bring in a more effective option: prescription steroid nasal sprays. Like your allergy medicine, they provide antihistamines. That’s not all they do, though. They also work to decrease the size of your swollen nasal tissue. Plus, they help you drain your stuffed nose. So, no more sniffles!
Of course, like all good things, they take time. You will have to use your nasal spray for around five to seven days before it works. Additionally, remember to start it the week or so before allergy season too—and until the colder weather returns.
Over-the-Counter Nasal Sprays Versus Prescription Nasal Sprays
Please note that you should never use over-the-counter nasal sprays daily, as they can be habit-forming or cause rebound congestion. You should employ them for no longer than three days at a time. However, prescription nasal sprays—the kind you get from your physician—do not pose the same problem. Just make sure to take them as directed.
Still Struggling? Let Us Help!
You’ve taken your pills. You’ve used nasal spray. And yet, your symptoms won’t abate. That means you need to give us a visit. As ENTs (doctors specializing in the ear, nose, and throat), we’ve helped many people struggling with allergies.
After you make an appointment with us, we can determine the cause of your allergies with testing. That way, we can pinpoint the source of the problem. Once we know what to allergies to treat, we can give you allergy shots.
Interestingly enough, these shots will involve us injecting a very, very, very small bit of your allergen or allergens into your body. Even though it may sound unnerving, it provides a kind of immunotherapy. Plus, it comes with a 90 percent improvement rate and 75 percent cure rate. These shots start off on a weekly schedule, but don’t worry—the frequency will decrease as your body learns how to handle the allergens more effectively.
Summary
No one deserves to live in misery during allergy season! At Southern Head & Neck Surgery, we strive to make our patients’ lives easier. If you ever notice that you’r allergy pills aren’t working, let us give you some relief. You can contact us here. Finally, for more on allergies and allergy relief, browse our blog.