Allergies Common Treatments The Best Medications to Treat Allergies Treating Both the Cause and Symptoms By Daniel More, MD Daniel More, MD, is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist with a background in internal medicine. Learn about our editorial process Daniel More, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Corinne Savides Happel, MD on August 22, 2020 linkedin Corinne Savides Happel, MD, is a board-certified allergist and immunologist with a focus on allergic skin disorders, asthma, and other immune disorders. Learn about our Medical Review Board Corinne Savides Happel, MD Updated on September 17, 2020 Print There are several different classes of drugs used to treat allergy symptoms. The most common include antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays, and antileukotrienes such as Singulair (montelukast). Each of these medications has a different mechanism of action. Some may be used to treat acute symptoms while others aim to achieve longer-lasting relief. The choice depends largely on the types of symptoms you have as well as their severity. Karl Tapales / Getty Images Steroid Nasal Sprays Nasal sprays are most effective for treating symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Inhaled corticosteroid drugs open the nasal passages so that you can breathe easier. They are also effective in treating non-allergic rhinitis and may even benefit people with eye allergies. Some of the more commonly prescribed steroid nasal sprays include: Beconase AQ (beclomethasone)Flonase (fluticasone)Nasacort AQ (triamcinolone)Nasarel (flunisolide)Nasonex (mometasone)Rhinocort Aqua (budesonide) While effective, nasal sprays do not treat the underlying allergy but rather alleviate the nasal symptoms. Persons with allergic rhinitis tend to get the best response if they use the spray on a daily basis. Moreover, they would need to use the spray for around two weeks before they achieve the full effect. Side effects may include headaches, sore throat, cough, nasal dryness, nausea, and muscle or joint pain. These are just some of the things you will need to consider before starting treatment. If you are not the type who can adhere to daily treatment, you may need to explore other options such as antihistamines. Oral Antihistamines Oral antihistamines are an effective way to treat all forms of mild to moderate allergy. This class of drug suppresses histamine, the chemical produced by the immune system that triggers allergy symptoms. Older-generation drugs such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) are used less commonly today because of their sedating effect. Newer-generation drugs largely avoid this and include: Allegra (fexofenadine)Claritin and Alavert (loratadine)Clarinex (desloratadine)Zyrtec (cetirizine) Antihistamines work quickly, usually within an hour or so, and can be used on an as-needed basis. Side effects may include dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, restlessness (mostly in children), difficulty urinating, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. Side effects tend to be mild (particularly in newer generation antihistamines) and resolve within an hour or two. If you are prone to experiencing breathing problems during an allergy attack, you should be evaluated by a physician to determine whether you need a rescue inhaler or other medications to help with breathing. Antileukotrienes Antileukotrienes are allergy medications that work similarly to antihistamines but, rather than blocking histamine, block inflammatory compounds known as leukotrienes. The antileukotriene drugs currently approved in the U.S. are: Accolate (zafirlukast)Singulair (montelukast)Zyflo CR (zileuton) Antileukotrienes can be used to treat both asthma and allergy but in some cases do not suffice on their own. As such, they are usually prescribed in combination with other drugs such as antihistamines or oral steroids. While antileukotrienes may be effective in alleviating congestion, they are less helpful in easing nasal symptoms. Side effects may include headaches, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, toothache, fatigue, sore throat, hoarseness, cough, and mild rash. Singulair also comes with a black box warning due to the fact that it may have dangerous psychiatric side effects. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Kuna P, Jurkiewicz D, Czarnecka-Operacz MM. The role and choice criteria of antihistamines in allergy management - expert opinion. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2016;33(6):397–410. doi:10.5114/pdia.2016.63942 Trangsrud AJ, Whitaker AL, Small RE. Intranasal Corticosteroids for Allergic Rhinitis. Pharmacotherapy. 2002;22(11):1458-1467. doi:10.1592/phco.22.16.1458.33692 Randall KL, Hawkins CA. Antihistamines and allergy. Aust Prescr. 2018;41(2):41–45. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2018.013 Church DS, Church MK. Pharmacology of antihistamines. World Allergy Organ J. 2011;4(3 Suppl):S22–S27. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181f385d9 Korenblat PE. The role of antileukotrienes in the treatment of asthma. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2001;86(6):31-39. doi:10.1016/s1081-1206(10)62309-5 Additional Reading Scott, P. and Peters-Golden, M. "Antileukotriene Agents for the Treatment of Lung Disease." Amer J Respir and Clin Care Med. 2013; 188(5):538-44. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201301-0023PP. Wheatley, L. and Togias, A. "Allergic Rhinitis." N Engl J Med. 2015; 372:456-63. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMcp1412282.