What Are Antihistamines and Decongestants?
Antihistamines and decongestants won't cure your allergies. But they’ll give you much-needed relief for a runny or congested nose.
Antihistamines target histamine, which your body makes during an allergic reaction.
You can take them as pills, nasal spray, or eye drops. The pills target itching, sneezing, and runny nose. The nasal sprays work on congestion, an itchy or runny nose, and postnasal drip. Some common ones are:
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
- Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
- Clemastine (Tavist)
- Desloratadine (Clarinex)
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Fexofenadine (Allegra)
- Loratadine (Claritin)
Antihistamines can ease your symptoms, but they work best when you take them before you feel a reaction. They can build up in your blood to protect against allergens and block the release of histamines. Ask your doctor if you should start taking allergy medicine a couple of weeks before you usually have symptoms.
Decongestants cut down on the fluid in the lining of your nose. That relieves swollen nasal passages and congestion.
Your immune system is designed
to defend your body
against dangerous invaders
like bacteria and viruses.
But sometimes it overreacts
to harmless things like grass,
dander, or pollen.
When this happens, your body
is having an allergic reaction.
Things that cause
allergic reactions are called
allergens and vary from person
to person, like bee stings,
medications, shellfish,
or peanuts.
Once your immune system
recognizes the allergen,
it triggers your white blood
cells to release antibodies.
These cells release chemicals
called histamines that produce
the symptoms
of an allergic reaction,
like sneezing, wheezing,
itchy eyes, or hives.
Allergies are very common
and usually pretty minor.
But sometimes a reaction can be
sudden, severe, and potentially
life-threatening.
This is known as anaphylaxis.
For minor reactions,
try over-the-counter treatment
like antihistamines,
anti-inflammatory steroid
creams, eye drops, or ice
packs to ease your symptoms.
For more serious cases,
your doctor may prescribe
allergy injections, epinephrine,
or corticosteroids.
Allergies may be irritating,
but they're nothing to sneeze
at!
Mayo Clinic: "Bee Sting."
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: "Food Allergy."
University of Maryland Medical Center: "Allergic Reactions."
You can take these by mouth in pills or liquids, like pseudoephedrine.
Some pills with decongestants are:
- Chlorpheniramine/phenylephrine (Actifed)
- Loratadine/pseudoephedrine (Claritin-D)
- Phenylephrine (Sudafed PE)
- Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
Some medications combine antihistamines and decongestants. Their names usually end with “-D.”
Decongestant Nasal Sprays
Decongestant nasal sprays are another possibility. They shrink the swelling inside your nose to make you less stuffy. And they do it fast. Some sprays are:
- Oxymetazoline (Afrin)
- Phenylephrine hydrochloride (Neo-Synephrine)
- Xylometazoline (Otrivin)
There's a catch, though. If you use them more than a few days in a row, your swelling and stuffiness may get worse. This is called a "rebound reaction." You get temporary relief, but your symptoms come back worse than before.
If you use nasal decongestant sprays, limit it to 3 days max.
Another Option: Steroid Nasal Sprays
Nasal steroids are a type of nose spray and are often the first drugs recommended for allergies. They're a powerful way to fight stuffiness because they get to the root of the problem.
They lessen the whole allergic inflammatory process. Plus they target all your allergy symptoms, not just congestion.
Some options are:
- Beclomethasone
- Fluticasone (Flonase)
- Mometasone (Nasonex)
- Triamcinolone (Nasacort)
If you use one, be patient. You don't get the full effect for several days or even a week. But if you use it daily, it can be very effective.
