My doctor ordered me to take antihistamine for one week but I am not yet relieved of my allergic rhinitis after a week's treatment. How long do I still have to take the medication or do I have to stop the medication?
My doctor ordered me to take antihistamine for one week but I am not yet relieved of my allergic rhinitis after a week's treatment. How long do I still have to take the medication or do I have to stop the medication?
Hi there,
Thanks for asking this question! The first thing you need to understand is that allergic rhinitis (which is just a fancy way of saying nasal allergies) is a chronic condition. That means it can't be cured per se. If you have seasonal allergic rhinitis, then you may experience a reduction in symptoms during the winter, colder months. But if you have the year-round type, then chances are the only time you won't have symptoms is when you're taking your medicine regularly, unless you can manage to totally eliminate all triggers from your environment, which is highly unlikely.
If you want to feel good with allergies, then you'll need to keep taking your antihistamine continuously, or at least as long as your triggers are around.
Sorry I can't give you better news. Another option is to consult with an allergist about allergy shots. This treatment can -- over time -- reduce your sensitivity to your triggers and reduce your need for medication.
To your health,
Kathi
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Hi! Thanks for answering my question.