Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are the first line of defense for many people with allergies. Antihistamines, such as Benadryl or Zyrtec, are especially common; one poll shows that half of all people with allergies use antihistamines.
If you use OTC medications to manage your allergies, have you noticed they aren’t working as well anymore? Let’s discuss why that might occur.
Have I Built Up a Tolerance to Allergy Meds?
Some medications become less effective over time because your body builds up a tolerance to them. This happens when a person takes the same medication or substance repeatedly and consistently, and the body adapts to its presence.
You may wonder if this is the case with your OTC allergy medications, especially antihistamines, which work best when taken daily. The good news is that people very rarely develop a tolerance to allergy medications.
Why Did My Allergy Meds Stop Working?
As it’s unlikely that you’ve developed a tolerance, there must be some change, either in your environment or in your allergies, that caused your allergy medications to be less effective in treating your symptoms. Some possibilities include:
- Worsening air quality, which introduces additional irritants into your airways on top of the substances triggering your allergies
- New plants or trees in your yard, which introduce new pollen types
- You’ve developed a new allergy
- Your existing allergies have gotten worse
- High stress levels, which has been observed to affect and worsen allergic reactions
What Can I Do to Find Relief?
For many people, when their allergy meds stop working, they also experience worsening symptoms, such as the development of chronic or severe symptoms they didn’t have before. When this happens, it’s time to find another form of allergy relief.
If this applies to you, your first step is to seek out an allergist. They will help you confirm your allergies and their severity, as well as develop a long-term allergy treatment plan. This could include:
- Environmental changes, such as using HEPA filters and using allergen-blocking coverings on your bed and furniture
- Prescription medications, such as stronger antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, Leukotriene modifiers or an inhaler
- Allergy shots or drops, which desensitize your immune system to the allergens that trigger your allergic reaction
Your first step is a consultation with an allergist and an allergy test. Contact us at California Sinus Centers today to learn more and get started! We want you to get the relief you need, and if OTC medications aren’t cutting it anymore, we’re here to help you.