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Treatments and drugs

By Mayo Clinic staff

The first line of treatment for controlling pet allergy is avoiding the allergy-causing animal as much as possible. When you minimize your exposure to pet allergens, you should expect to have allergic reactions that are less often or less severe. However, it's often difficult or impossible to eliminate completely your exposure to animal allergens. Even if you don't have a pet, you may unexpectedly encounter pet allergens transported on other people's clothes.

In addition to avoiding pet allergens, you may need medications to control symptoms.

Allergy medications
Your doctor may direct you to take one of the following medications to improve nasal allergy symptoms:

  • Antihistamines reduce the production of an immune system chemical that is active in an allergic reaction. These drugs relieve itching, sneezing and runny nose. Prescription antihistamine tablets include fexofenadine (Allegra) and desloratadine (Clarinex). Azelastine (Astelin, Astepro) and olopatadine (Patanase) are prescription antihistamines taken as a nasal spray. Over-the-counter antihistamine tablets (Claritin, Zyrtec, others), as well as antihistamine syrups for children, also are available.
  • Corticosteroids delivered as a nasal spray can reduce inflammation and control symptoms of hay fever. These drugs include fluticasone (Flonase), mometasone furoate (Nasonex), triamcinolone (Nasacort) and ciclesonide (Omnaris). Nasal corticosteroids provide a low dose of the drug and have a much lower risk of side effects compared with oral corticosteroids.

  • Decongestants can help shrink swollen tissues in your nasal passages and make it easier to breathe through your nose. Some over-the-counter allergy tablets combine an antihistamine with a decongestant. Oral decongestants can increase blood pressure and shouldn't be taken if you have high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease. In men with an enlarged prostate, the drug can worsen the condition. Talk to your doctor about whether you can safely take a decongestant.

    Over-the-counter decongestants taken as a nasal spray may briefly reduce allergy symptoms. If you use a decongestant spray for more than three days in a row, it can contribute to congestion.

  • Cromolyn sodium prevents the release of an immune system chemical and may reduce symptoms. You need to use this over-the-counter nasal spray several times a day, and it's most effective when used before signs and symptoms develop. Cromolyn sodium doesn't have serious side effects.
  • Leukotriene modifiers block the action of certain immune system chemicals. Your doctor may prescribe this prescription tablet, montelukast (Singulair), if you can't tolerate corticosteroid nasal sprays or an antihistamine nasal spray. Possible side effects include headache. Less common side effects include abdominal pain, cough, dental pain and dizziness.

Other treatments

  • Immunotherapy, a series of allergy shots, can "train" your immune system not to be sensitive to an allergen. One to two weekly shots expose you to very small doses of the allergen, in this case, the animal protein that causes an allergic reaction. The dose is gradually increased, usually during a three- to six-month period. Maintenance shots are needed every four weeks for three to five years. Immunotherapy is usually used when other simple treatments are not satisfactory.
  • Nasal lavage is the use of a saltwater (saline) rinse for your nasal passages. Your doctor may suggest a saline rinse to help lessen congestion, sneezing and postnasal drip. You can purchase over-the-counter saline sprays or nasal lavage kits with devices, such as bulb syringes, to administer a rinse. You can make your own solution with 1/8 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of table salt in 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of distilled or purified water. Mix the ingredients together and store the solution at room temperature, and remix another batch after a week. Lavage your nose daily.
Lifestyle and home remedies Tests and diagnosis
References
  1. Platts-Mills, TAE. Indoor allergens. In: Adkinson NF, et al. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05659-5..00033-4--cesec40&isbn=978-0-323-05659-5&sid=1049616576&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05659-5..00033-4--cesec41&uniqId=217729073-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05659-5..00033-4--cesec41. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  2. 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/217729073-4/1049619087/1608/434.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50142-0--cesec3_3369. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  3. Balkissoon RC, et al. Disorders of the upper airways. In: Mason RJ, et al. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine, 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00043-2--s0015&isbn=978-1-4160-4710-0&sid=1049622658&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00043-2--s0055&uniqId=217729073-5#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00043-2--s0055. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  4. DeShazo RD, et al. Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (rhinosinusitis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  5. DeShazo RD, et al. Clinical manifestations and epidemiology of allergic rhinitis (rhinosinusitis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  6. DeShazo RD, et al. Pharmacotherapy of allergic rhinitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  7. Managing indoor allergen culprits. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/elements/2009/12/1209_elements.pdf. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  8. Battling pet allergies. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/just4kids/pet_allergies.asp. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  9. Ferguson BJ. Environmental controls of allergies. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2008;41:411.
  10. Tips to remember: Allergy testing. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatisallergytesting.stm. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  11. Tips to remember: Allergy shots. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatareallergyshots.stm. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  12. Wegienka GR, et al. Pet ownership is good for the soul, but is it good for the immune system? American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/jaci/content.asp?contentid=9995. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  13. Pet allergy. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.acaai.org/patients/resources/allergies/Pages/pet-allergy.aspx. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  14. Pet allergies. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=16&cont=63. Accessed Sept. 15, 2010.
  15. Li JT (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 16, 2010.
DS00859 Nov. 17, 2010

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