There are several types of medications available, both over-the-counter and prescription, to help ease and treat allergy symptoms. Here are some options:

• Antihistamines: These can be taken as pills, liquids, nasal sprays, or eye drops. They ease a runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, hives, swelling, and other signs or symptoms of allergies. Some antihistamines can make you feel drowsy and tired, so take them with caution when you need to drive or do other activities that require alertness. Examples of over-the-counter antihistamines include cetirizine (Zyrtec), fexofenadine (Allegra), levocetirizine (Xyzal), and loratadine (Alavert, Claritin).

• Decongestants: These relieve nasal and sinus congestion caused by hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Many decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), are available over-the-counter. A number of oral allergy medications contain a decongestant and an antihistamine.

• Nasal steroid sprays: These are nose sprays that reduce swelling, which causes a stuffy, runny, and itchy nose. They are the most effective medicines for nasal allergies.

• Corticosteroid creams: These relieve allergic skin reactions such as itching, redness, or scaling.

• Immunotherapy: This involves exposing you to small amounts of allergens and gradually increasing the dosage over several months to create a tolerance to the allergen. Immunotherapy is recommended if you cant manage your allergy symptoms through over-the-counter and prescription medications and avoiding allergens.

Its important to work with your doctor to choose the most effective allergy medications and avoid problems. Even over-the-counter allergy medications have side effects, and some allergy medications can cause problems when combined with other medications. Keep track of your symptoms, when you use your medications, and how much you use. This will help your doctor figure out what works best.