Various treatment methods and allergy drug options

Natural allergy treatment

How to deal with allergies naturally?

Allergies don't go away completely, so you have to be prepared for reactions that can arise at any time. Even so, there are various drugs and treatment methods that can help you live a healthy life even if you have allergies.

Treatment also depends on the type and purpose. There are medications that are intended to prevent allergic recurrence, relieve symptoms, or treat dangerous reactions such as anaphylaxis.

Before plunging into medical treatment, you may be advised to treat allergies naturally first. Natural methods are also recommended for patients who cannot take allergy medications, for example because they have drug allergies or cannot stand the side effects.

This is why you should consult your doctor before taking any type of allergy medication. Allergy medications can cause allergic reactions in some people. Allergic reactions usually present in the form of dizziness, excess mucus discharge, a rash, and previous allergic symptoms that have gotten worse.

In certain cases, drug allergies can even cause severe reactions such as shortness of breath, asthma attacks, and a drastic drop in blood pressure. The best way to prevent this reaction is to identify what allergy medication is actually causing it.

If you have chosen a natural way to treat allergies, here are some methods you can try.

1. Make the house clean from mites and dust

Mites and dust are common allergens. You can treat allergies naturally without medication by making sure your home is free from dust mites and mites. Here are some ways you can do it.

• Clean upholstered furniture regularly by washing or wearing vacuum cleaner .
• Clean the surface of the furniture with a damp cloth to prevent dust from flying any further.
• Clean the corner of the house with vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter.
• Use vinyl or wood floor coverings, not carpet.
• Using synthetic pillows and blankets.

2. Avoiding airborne allergens from the environment

Smoke, pollen, and pollution are some examples of airborne allergens from the environment. As much as possible, avoid traveling when the weather is dry and windy as these conditions can spread dust, smoke and pollen further.

If forced to travel, wear glasses wrap around to protect all parts of the eye. Avoid areas with lots of grass such as parks or fields. As soon as you go home, immediately take a shower, wash your hair, and change all your clothes.

3. Control pet hair and feces

If you are allergic to pets, you can treat allergies naturally by controlling their fur and droppings. Trim their hair regularly, bathe them at least once every two weeks, and clean their cages and litter boxes.

Don't let pets into the room, especially on mattresses and pillows. Keep pets outside, or prepare a special room for them.

4. Changing diet

If a food is proven to trigger an allergic reaction in your body, stop consuming it. Don't test it by eating a small amount again or trying it over and over, as you may experience a severe allergic reaction.

Always pay attention to the label of the food packaging you buy. Your allergenic food may have another name on the list of ingredients. Remember these names and avoid them as much as possible.

5. Using natural ingredients

Apart from avoiding allergy triggers and making lifestyle changes, you can also treat allergy symptoms with natural ingredients. The following are various ingredients that are believed to have the potential to treat allergies, but keep in mind that you may also experience allergies to these ingredients:

• aloe vera gel,
• Centella asiatica or gotu kola,
• coconut oil skin moisturizer,
• tea tree oil ,
• oatmeal ,
• oil peppermint , and
• probiotics and prebiotics.

6. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is believed to help reduce allergic reactions in the respiratory system including effects such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and sinusitis. This is conveyed in dozens of studies published in American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy .

Acupuncture also has the potential to relieve itching due to atopic dermatitis. It's not clear what makes acupuncture affect allergies, but the acupuncture's mechanisms involving the nervous system and hormones may have something to do with it.

7. Wash the nose

Nasal irrigation is useful for treating allergy symptoms in the respiratory system. As the name suggests, you will wash your nose to improve your breathing and flush out the mucus that builds up due to allergies.

You can use a tool called a neti pot as well as a special saline nose wash solution. Simply pour the solution from the neti pot into one nose and then draw it out of the other nostril. Do it regularly until the symptoms reduce.

Allergy medications with or without a doctor's prescription

Over-the-counter or prescription drugs

Allergy medicines in pharmacies are divided into over-the-counter drugs and drugs that require a doctor's prescription. Although they do not cure allergies, over-the-counter medications can help relieve recurrent allergy symptoms.

Meanwhile, drugs that require a doctor's prescription may have to be consumed in large quantities or cause certain side effects so that they are more limited.

The following is a list of the most commonly used types of drugs.

1. Antihistamines

Antihistamines work by inhibiting histamine production. Histamine is a chemical produced by the immune system to fight allergens that are actually harmless. These substances are what make your nose, eyes, and you swell so that they feel itchy.

Antihistamine drugs are divided into two, namely the first and second generations. The first generation of antihistamines is a very common allergy drug. However, the effect does not last long, so you need to drink it repeatedly until it heals.

Some people may need a higher dose for the effects to last longer. First generation antihistamines consist of:

• Diphenhydramine,
• Chlorpheniramine,
• Clemastine, and
• Promethazine.

One of the most common side effects of first-generation drugs is drowsiness. Over time, basically the first generation drugs are now no longer the first recommendation because they have many side effects.

The second generation of antihistamines was then developed to enhance the first generation whose effects were less durable. Second-generation drugs work faster and last longer because they directly target specific cells of the immune system.

Some examples of second-generation antihistamine allergy medications are:

• Cetirizine,
• Loratadine, and
• Fexofenadine.

2. Decongestants

Decongestants are drugs to treat specific symptoms in the nose. This drug works by reducing the swelling of the blood vessels in the airways. This swelling is what makes the nasal cells produce more mucus than usual.

Most types of decongestants are available as nasal sprays without a prescription. Common decongestants sold at pharmacies include:

• Oxymetazoline,
• Phenylephrine, and
• Pseudoephedrine.

Keep in mind that decongestant nasal sprays for allergies should not be used for more than three days. Long-term use can actually make your nose even more congested. This drug is only safe and effective when used as directed.

3. Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids (steroids) are drugs to reduce inflammation and swelling caused by an allergic reaction. This medication also helps prevent and relieve allergy symptoms in the form of nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and facial itching.

Steroids for allergies are available in the following variants and forms.

• Prednisolone and methylprednisolone in drinking pill and liquid form.
• Steroids in the form of inhaled drugs (inhaler) for allergy-related symptoms of asthma.
• Betamethasone in topical form for symptoms of itching and red rash on the skin.
• Fluorometholone in the form of eye drops to relieve red, watery eyes.
• Budesonide and fluticasone furoate for relief of nasal congestion, sneezing and colds.

Mild corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone, can be purchased without a prescription at a pharmacy. If symptoms do not improve after seven days of use, your doctor may prescribe a steroid cream that is stronger in content.

However, strong corticosteroids should be used with caution with reference to the dosage instructions and the correct dosage according to the prescription. The reason is, the side effects of this drug can make skin problems as they arise stretch marks .

4. Mast cell inhibitor / stabilizer

Mast cell stabilizer is a medicine to treat the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and red eyes. This medication is also sometimes used to relieve symptoms related to asthma, anaphylaxis, and eczema. Patients can take it for several days until symptoms improve.

Doctors usually just prescribe mast cell stabilizer when other drugs, such as antihistamines, don't work well. Medicines that fall into this group include:

• Olopatadine,
• Epinastine,
• Ketotifen, and
• Cromoglicic acid.

Drugs from the group mast cell stabilizer can cause side effects such as coughing, skin rash, and throat irritation. The eye drops may cause irritation, heat, or blurred vision after use.

5. Calamine lotion

Calamine is an allergy itch medication that works by producing a cold sensation when applied to inflamed skin. This drug is generally made from a mixture of zinc oxide, iron oxide, and inactive ingredients in the form of:

• calcium hydroxide,
• bentonite magma,
• purified water,
• glycerin, and
• anti-itch medications such as betamethasone, hydrocortisone, or prednisolone.

You can find this itch remedy at a pharmacy, but certain calamine lotions may need to be purchased by prescription. Use exactly as indicated on the packaging label or as directed by your doctor.

Do not use an amount that is too much, too little, or longer than your doctor recommends. There are almost no harmful side effects of calamine lotion, but stop using it immediately if your skin becomes irritated.

6. Leukotriene inhibitors

Apart from histamine, there are also leukotriene which causes allergic reactions. These chemicals narrow the airways and cause excess mucus production. As a result, symptoms of allergic rhinitis appear in the form of nasal congestion, shortness of breath, sneezing, and others.

Leukotriene inhibitors is a prescription drug that works by inhibiting the release of leukotriene in the body. This drug is useful for relieving allergy symptoms in the nose and relieving inflammation as is often experienced by asthma sufferers.

Some examples leukotriene inhibitors available namely:

• Montelukast,
• Zafirlukast, and
• Zileuton.

Leukotriene inhibitors has side effects such as headaches, stomach upset, and flu-like symptoms. However, leukotriene inhibitors can be the right allergy drug as long as it is consumed according to the dosage and recommendation.

Emergency medicine for severe allergic reactions

What types of allergy medications are used in an emergency?

In some cases, allergens can cause a sudden, severe allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock. This reaction should be treated with an emergency drug in the form of epinephrine.

Epinephrine is given via a syringe or automatic syringe (autoinjector). This medicine can be used alone when the allergy sufferer is still conscious or given by someone else if the sufferer begins to lose consciousness.

Anaphylaxis causes dangerous reactions such as narrowing of the airways, an increase in heart rate, and a sudden drop in blood pressure. Epinephrine works by reversing the various reactions as they were.

This emergency medicine works quickly, but the effects don't last long. So, if you experience severe anaphylactic shock and then get an epinephrine injection, you still have to go to the hospital immediately just in case the reaction symptoms recur.

Epinephrine is not available over the counter and is only prescribed by the doctor who examined your condition. Therefore, patients who are at risk of anaphylactic shock should carry epinephrine everywhere as a precaution.

Treatment of allergies with therapy

What are the types of therapy to treat allergies?

If medications are not effective enough and allergy symptoms are very difficult to treat, your doctor may recommend allergy therapy or immunotherapy. Immunotherapy aims to "train" the immune system to stop overreacting to allergens.

Before starting immunotherapy, you must first take an allergy test. This stage aims to find out what substances can trigger allergies in your body. There are two types of tests that are commonly performed, namely the skin prick test (skin prick) and blood tests.

From reading the initial test results, the doctor or laboratory technician continues the allergy treatment using one of the two methods below.

1.Subcutaneous allergy therapy (subcutaneous immunotherapy / SCIT)

After knowing the allergen and how severe the reaction is, the doctor will make a solution containing the allergen in small doses. The allergen is then injected into the outer layer of skin in the crease of your arm.

Usually, swelling and redness will appear on the area of ​​the skin that was injected. In rarer cases, there is also a reaction throughout the body (hives), a feeling of tightness, or wheezing. Your condition will be closely monitored to make sure there are no serious reactions.

Observations were made for at least 30 minutes. After it is confirmed that there is no dangerous reaction or anaphylaxis, the doctor will let you go home and give you a schedule for the next injection.

Over time, the concentration of the allergen that is injected will increase. This is so that the immune system "learns" that allergens do not pose any harm to the body. The immune system is also trained not to react strongly when allergens are present.

Therapy is carried out regularly 1-2 times a week for three to six months (sometimes longer). Given the possibility of a severe allergic reaction, you will be admitted to the hospital under the full supervision of an allergist.

After undergoing full treatment, the patient's allergic reactions will generally lessen. Allergy symptoms can appear at any time, but the severity is no longer as bad as before following therapy.

2.Sublingual allergy therapy (sublingual immunotherapy / SLIT)

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a newer method of therapy with the aim of treating allergies without injection. This therapy has the same principles as SCIT, namely introducing allergens to the patient's body to reduce allergic reactions.

The difference is, doctors do not inject the patient's skin with an allergen solution. The doctor will administer a small dose of the allergen in the form of tablets or drops under the patient's tongue. One drop of allergens can only be used to treat one type of allergen.

The doctor can either drop the allergen directly or have you place the tablet under your tongue. After a minute or two, you will be asked to swallow the allergen while the doctor observes the reaction.

This process will be repeated every day with a span of time for three days or a week in a row. The entire therapy session generally lasts 3-5 years to develop a strong immune system.

The length of treatment depends on the tablets you are using, the results of the examination by an allergist, and your body condition. Seasonal allergy sufferers may also experience different effects, depending on the weather, season, and surroundings.

In most cases, this treatment is effective in reducing the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and asthma, especially those triggered by dust mites, pets, and pollen. SLIT has also been shown to be effective against eczema and has the potential to treat food allergies.

There are various types of treatment for allergies. Although allergies cannot be completely cured, medication and therapy can help relieve symptoms and reduce their severity.

If the treatment you are taking doesn't work or your allergic reaction gets worse, discuss this with your doctor immediately. The doctor will help determine the most suitable treatment with minimal risk of side effects.