Why Over the Counter Treatments Don’t Work
For some mild allergy sufferers, over-the-counter treatments can be effective. However, many allergy patients find that these treatments either don’t work at all or quit working over time. It is usually a good idea to see an allergist for treatment rather than assuming you have allergies and treating yourself. Here’s what you need to know.
Excessive Congestion
If you have a lot of congestion, your allergy medicine may not be working because allergies are not the problem. When most people with allergies get such symptoms, they assume it is the allergy causing it. However, often excessive congestion and nasal issues can be the result of other medical conditions, such as nasal polyps that need to be treated.
Building Up a Tolerance
Sometimes your body can build up a tolerance to a medication, especially if you take it daily for a number of years. For this reason, the allergy medicine that used to work may no longer be a viable form of treatment. When this happens, you may be able to switch to another OTC product, but it is much better to see an allergist to get options.
Potential Asthma
If you use over-the-counter medications for allergies but you still have difficulty with shortness of breath and coughing, you could have asthma. Sometimes asthma does not show until the late teens or adulthood. If you consistently have trouble breathing or getting short of breath, you need to see an allergist right away.
If you have these or other symptoms and you need help finding the right allergy treatment, we can help. We can examine you and do allergy testing if you have not yet been officially diagnosed. We can recommend cheaper OTC options, or we can prescribe higher strength treatment options from your pharmacy. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.