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There
are nearly as many medications out there to treat allergies and asthma as
there are allergens. The chart below provides information on some of the
most commonly used over-the-counter and prescribed medications.
|
Type
of Medication
|
Brand/Generic
Name
|
Available
as. . .
|
| Antihistamines. | Counter the effects of histamine. Best for allergies. | |
| Long-acting antihistamines tablets, liquid. Take longer to kick in but less likely to make you drowsy than short-acting antihistamines. | Allegra
(fexofenadine), Claritin (loratadine) Clarinex (desloratadine), Zyrtec (cetirizine) |
Prescription and over-the-counter |
| Short-acting antihistamines tablets, liquid. Work quickly but may have side effects including drowsiness. | Benadryl
(diphenhydramine), Chlor-Trimeton, (chlorpheniramine), Atarax (hydroxyzine HCL) |
Prescription and over-the-counter |
| Antihistamine
nasal spray. Works fast but with more side effects than long-acting oral antihistamines. |
Astelin (azelastine) | Prescription |
| Mucus thinners/decongestants. | Reduce swelling and congestion. Best for allergies. | |
| Tablets, liquids, drops | GuaifedPD,
EntexLA, DuraVENT,Exgest LA, Respaire (guaifenesin/pseudoephedrine) Sinuvent (guaifenesin), Sudafed (pseudoephedrine/phenylephrine HCL) |
Over-the-counter |
| Mast cell stabilizers. | Prevent the release of histamine from mast cells. Best for allergies. | |
| Nasal sprays | Nasalcrom (cromolyn sodium) | Over-the-counter |
| Nebulizer (for asthma) | Intal (cromolyn sodium) | Prescription |
| Corticosteroids. | Reduce the inflammatory reactions that mark allergies and asthma. | |
| Nasal. Primarily used for allergies. | Flonase
(fluticasone), Nasacort (triamcinolone), Nasalide (flunisolide), Nasonex (mometasone), Rhinocort (budesonide), Vancenase DS or Vancenase Pockethaler (beclomethasone) |
Prescription |
| Inhaled. Primarily used for asthma. | AeroBid
(flunisolide), Azmacort (triamcinolone), Flovent (fluticasone propionate), Pulmicort Turbohaler or Respules, (budesonide), Qvar (beclomethasone) Vanceril, Vanceril DS (beclomethasone), Asthmanex (mometasone) |
Prescription |
| Oral corticosteroids. Only used for asthma. | Prednisone, Medrol (methylprednisolone). | Prescription |
| Bronchodilators. | Keep the large and small airways of the lungs open. Prescribed for asthma. | |
| Short-acting,
B-2 agonists. Also called "rescue medication." Used to avert
an asthma attack. If used several times a week, your asthma is not being controlled well. Comes in inhaled and nebulized forms. |
Proventil
HFA and Ventolin HFA (albuterol), Xopenex (levalbuterol) |
Prescription |
| Primatene Mist | Over-the-counter | |
| Long-acting.
Not to be started in the midst of an attack. |
Serevent
Diskus (salmeterol xinafoate), Foradil (formoterol), and Advair (combination of fluticasone and salmeterol). |
Prescription |
| Theophylline. | Relaxes bronchial airways. Prescribed for asthma but rarely used today. | |
| Tablets, capsules, liquid | Numerous
brand names, including Constant-T, Resbid, Slo-bid Elixophyllin, Slo-Phyllin. |
Prescription |
| Leukotriene modifiers. | Inhibit release of leukotriene molecules from inflammatory cells. Primarily for asthma, sometimes allergies. | |
| Tablets | Accolate
(zafirlukast), Singulair (montelukast), Zyflo (zileuton) |
Prescription |
| Anticholinergics. | Block the effects of chemicals that stimulate mucus production. Primarily for allergies, sometimes asthma. | |
| Nasal spray | Atrovent .03% or .06% (ipratropium bromide) | Prescription |
| Inhaled | Atrovent (ipratropium bromide) | Prescription |
| In combination with antihistamine | Chlorpheniramine, Methscopolamine, and Phenylephrine combined (numerous brand names). | Prescription |
| Anti-IgE. | Blocks the IgE antibody that stimulates an allergic reaction. Primarily used for allergic asthma. | |
| Injection | Xolair (omalizumab) | Prescription |
| Immunotherapy shots. | A series of shots given over several years that gradually increases your tolerance to a specific allergen. | |
.....
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