OVER THE COUNTER ALLERGY MEDICATIONS
Many of you know the symptoms: sneezing, runny nose, allergy cough, itchy eyes. These are so irritating and so disruptive to your day. Dr. Tamayev is here to help determine what is causing your allergies and how best to treat them and even prevent them in the future. However, for quick relief, you may turn to over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medications before you can make it in for an appointment. Your allergist can help determine the cause of your allergic reactions by doing the appropriate allergy tests.
BASIC INFORMATION REGARDING OTC MEDICATIONS
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Many OTC medications were originally available by prescription only.
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Just because a medication is OTC does not make it safer than a prescription.
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Just because a medication requires a prescription does not make it more effective than an OTC product.
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It is helpful to know the generic drug names in the table below, so that you can recognize each ingredient in different brand-name products and in multi-symptom products.
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The active ingredients in brand-name and generic versions of a product are chemically the same, with the same efficacy and side effects.
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Once you have determined the OTC ingredients that work best for you, you may be able to save money buying the generic version.
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Post-Nasal Drip: Potential causes of post-nasal drip are infection, allergies, or an abnormality in your nasal structures. Antihistamine decongestants are the most common over-the-counter treatment for this symptom. Unfortunately, post-nasal drip is difficult to treat, and it is therefore recommended to make an appointment with Dr. Tamayev.
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Cough lasting two weeks or less: If you don’t have any underlying medical conditions (such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis) or any other symptoms (like a fever), a short-lived cough is most likely the result of a cold. We would recommend a cough suppressant (like dextromethorphan) and a decongestant (like pseudoephedrine) to dry any post-nasal drip. If you are experiencing particularly bad post-nasal drip, you can add an over-the-counter antihistamine for further help. However, since antihistamines can make you sleepy, you might consider only using the antihistamine at night. If your cough persists, it may be an allergic cough and you may want to see Dr. Tamayev.
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Cough lasting more than two weeks: If your cough lasts for more than two weeks, it is highly recommended that you see an allergist, an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) Doctor, or a pulmonologist (lung specialist). Often, a chronic cough is related to at least one of the three causes listed below, and requires the help of a specialist:
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Heartburn (Gastroesophageal Reflux)
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Itchy, red, runny eyes: Many OTC medications treat eye allergy symptoms with an antihistamine (pheniramine) and a topical decongestant (naphazoline, oxymetazoline). Chronic use may result in rebound redness when you stop the medication. See Dr. Tamayev if your eye allergies persist.
COST
Cost is obviously another factor in deciding what medications to take. Even though prescription medications may be more expensive, many are covered by your prescription plan meaning that the cost to you may be less than an OTC.
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Also, you might think that you can save time and money by self-medicating rather than going to an allergy doctor. However, that time may be lost because of sick days away from work and reduced productivity.
VERY IMPORTANT
Please stop taking any antihistamines at least 48 hours before your appointment with you allergist, as they will prevent your allergist from accurately determining what allergens affect you.
SUMMARY
It is important to remember that most over the counter medications were once prescription medications. If the symptoms persist for more than a week, get worse or change, you should contact Dr. Tamayev to be evaluated for allergy and sinus problems. Identifying the underlying causes and focusing treatment on these causes will allow Dr. T to come up with a natural and personalized approach to treating your allergy and sinus problems and help make you better, faster and with less side effects. Remember, faster diagnosis means faster relief.
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If you have tried over the counter medications and continue to have symptoms, or if you want help deciding which OTC medications to use, Dr. Tamayev can help. Dr. T can show you what to use to find relief for your asthma, ENT (ear, nose, and throat) symptoms, skin conditions, and respiratory allergies. Dr. T has access to the newest treatment and testing, and sees pediatric and adult patients from all over New York City. Schedule an appointment today by using the button below!
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