See your doctor for diagnosis and advice about treatment for allergic rhinitis. Many treatments for allergic rhinitis are available without a prescription.
Although medications do not cure allergies, they can improve symptoms and have very few side effects. It is important to use them correctly.
When allergens are breathed in, they reach the moist tissues of the nose and if someone is allergic to them, then the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction follow. The nose releases chemicals, such as histamine, as part of this reaction which lead to the common allergic rhinitis symptoms such as:
- congested nose (blocked or runny)
- an itchy nose
- sneezing
- itchy, watery eyes
Treatments are aimed at reducing the production of these chemicals.
Some people need more than one medication to manage allergic rhinitis. As with asthma management, medications for allergic rhinitis can be preventer treatments (such as INCS) and reliever treatments (such as antihistamines). Some medications contain both a preventer and a reliever treatment.
- Mild, occasional symptoms such as itching, sneezing and watery eyes may settle with non-drowsy antihistamines used when needed. Antihistamines provide temporary relief from mild symptoms only.
- Daily or moderate/severe symptoms require preventative treatment, using an INCS. These sprays must be used daily, and used in the right way, so the medication reaches the right places in the nose.
- Combination nasal spray medicines contain both an INCS (preventer) and an antihistamine spray (reliever). These can be more effective and convenient that using an INCS and antihistamine separately.
- Saline (salt water) nasal sprays or nasal/sinus rinses can also be effective in relieving symptoms, as they wash some of the pollen breathed in, out of the nose and the sinuses.
- Decongestant sprays reduce congestion by unblocking and drying the lining inside the nose. DO NOT use for more than a few days at a time as they can cause long term problems in the nose.
ASCIA has developed a Treatment Plan for Allergic Rhinitis.
Saline nasal rinses
Nasal or sinus rinses can help in two ways
- They help wash away pollen, reducing the amount of pollen in the nose. This helps reduce the chemicals that cause the allergic rhinitis symptoms. This can then help reduce the severity of the signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
- If used before INCS or combination sprays, saline can clean the nose or sinuses and can improve how well the nasal sprays work.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice on a saline nasal rinse that is most suitable.
When to use your INCS
If you have allergic rhinitis symptoms only during pollen season, you should take your daily INCS in the weeks before pollen season starts and then during the pollen season – usually from September through to December in Australia.
If you have symptoms all year round, your doctor or pharmacist will probably advise you to use your INCS every day of the year. Many people control their symptoms with a daily INCS and add antihistamine treatment when symptoms get worse. INCS help with both nasal symptoms and eye symptoms.
How to use a nasal spray correctly
Do I need to see an allergy specialist?
If you have tried over-the-counter treatments for your allergic rhinitis, but your symptoms are still occurring and affecting your quality of life, you should see your doctor. It is important to be properly diagnosed by a doctor so you can then do your best to avoid or reduce exposure to your trigger allergen/s. Allergic disease is very much about management as for the majority of people, it cannot be cured.
If you suffer from allergic rhinitis, particularly if it is ongoing, or affects your day-to-day function, discuss treatment options with your general practitioner (GP).
Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, examine your nose and eyes, and possibly do an allergy blood test or skin prick test. Your doctor can also check that you are using your INCS correctly and discuss ways to reduce exposure to your allergy triggers.
If your symptoms continue, even after treatment, your GP will refer you to an allergy specialist.
Your doctor can:
• Perform blood or skin prick allergy testing
• Diagnose what is triggering your symptoms
• Advise how to reduce exposure to your triggers
• Recommend the most appropriate treatment (some require a prescription)
• Discuss immunotherapy if needed. Immunotherapy can make you less sensitive to the cause of your allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis. This means you have less symptoms.
Read about allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
Find out about allergic rhinitis symptoms, treatment and more.