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Treatments and drugs

By Mayo Clinic staff

Allergy treatments include:

  • Allergen avoidance. Your doctor will help you take steps to identify and avoid your allergy triggers. This is generally the most important step in preventing allergic reactions and reducing symptoms.
  • Medications to reduce symptoms. Allergy medications can help reduce your immune system reaction and ease symptoms. The drugs you use depend on the type of allergy you have. They can include over-the-counter or prescription medications in the form of oral medications, nasal sprays or eyedrops. Some common allergy medications include corticosteroids, antihistamines, decongestants, cromolyn sodium and leukotriene modifiers.
  • Immunotherapy. For severe allergies or allergies not relieved by other treatment, your doctor may recommend allergy shots (immunotherapy). This treatment involves a series of injections of purified allergen extracts, usually given over a period of a few years.
  • Emergency epinephrine. If you have a severe allergy, your doctor may give you an emergency epinephrine shot to carry with you at all times. Given for severe allergic reactions, an epinephrine shot (EpiPen, EpiPen Jr, Twinject) can reduce symptoms until you get emergency treatment.
Lifestyle and home remedies Tests and diagnosis
References
  1. Frequently asked questions. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.acaai.org/patients/faq/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed Nov. 3, 2010.
  2. Tips to remember: What is an allergic reaction? American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatisallergicreaction.stm. Accessed Nov. 3, 2010.
  3. Wayt TM. Anaphylaxis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1079270789&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00010-X--sc0170&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00010-X--sc0170&uniqId=225503130-3.  Accessed Nov. 3, 2010.
  4. Atkins D, et al. Diagnosis of allergic disease. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/224902915-6/0/1608/434.html?tocnode=54478103&fromURL=434.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50142-0_3366. Accessed Nov. 3, 2010.
  5. Tips to remember: Allergy shots. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatareallergyshots.stm. Accessed Nov. 3, 2010. Accessed Nov. 3, 2010.
  6. Tips to remember: Asthma and allergy medications. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/asthmaallergymedications.stm. Accessed Nov. 3, 2010.
  7. Allergy. Mitchell G, et al. In: Rakel RE. Rakel: Textbook of Family Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/225194068-12/1078164908/1481/288.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2467-5..50028-2--cesec19_1317. Accessed Nov. 3, 2010.
  8. Engler RJ, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine for the allergist-immunologist: Where do I start? The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2009;123:309.
  9. DeShazo RD, et al. Pharmacotherapy of allergic rhinitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 3, 2010.
  10. Li JT (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 16, 2010.
  11. Naegleria FAQs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/faqs.html. Accessed Dec. 30, 2011.
DS01118 Jan. 20, 2012

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