What to do if allergy pills do not help. Tells the doctor

MD, allergist-immunologist, expert of UniProf Academy of Physicians

What to do if allergy pills do not help? What can you replace them with?

There are a lot of allergy medications on the market today. Often, patients who face allergic reactions do not go to the doctor every time during an exacerbation. Instead, they follow to the pharmacy, where they purchase a familiar drug. But what if the pills do not block the action of the allergen?

Antihistamines are designed to achieve a single goal: to prevent the release of allergic substances into the blood (histamine, bradykinin) that trigger a reaction. There are also cell membrane stabilizers, which are used in more severe cases. They are used to prevent the development of clinical reactions.

Is it dangerous to choose anti-allergenic drugs by yourself

When we talk about seasonal allergies, allergies to dust, wool, pollen – drugs are 100% safe. Incorrectly selected medication in such a case can not harm. Since all drugs of this group (antihistamines) are designed to achieve a single goal – not to allow allergic substances to enter the blood and trigger a reaction.

If the allergy is food allergy and serious (Quincke’s edema, asthma attacks, etc.), in this case it is necessary to work with a doctor to select a blocker drug.

Why allergy pills may not work

First, the drug may not be properly matched. One medication may work for one person and another for another.

Secondly, there may be a neglected “old” allergy, a serious exacerbation, in which case only complete isolation from the allergen and cell membrane stabilizers (they should not be taken on their own – only when prescribed by a doctor) can help.

Why go to an allergist

If the patient comes to the pharmacy with a complaint of runny nose, itching and watery eyes, the pharmacist will offer a drug of the first, described above, group. And in most cases it will be safe and most likely to be suitable. If the drug does not fit, does not help, does not relieve symptoms – you should consult an allergist.

Why do you need to go to an allergist in such a case? Experienced clinical specialists can assume which of the groups of drugs will help a particular patient more effectively. But if a person who is accustomed to using one group of drugs, encounters an exacerbation of the reaction, and the drug does not work, it is necessary to choose a variant from another group. And vice versa.

Interestingly, for everyone, depending on the allergen, the diet will be different. For example, if you are allergic to birch pollen, you will react to apple and carrots. Why? These plants are not related, but the antigens that these allergens produce are roughly similar in their surfaces, causing the immune system to recognize them as the same. These reactions are called cross-reactions.

Minimize interaction with the allergen

If possible, get rid of it. Only isolation will help to fight the symptoms 100%. It is also worth recalling that any allergy is a special case of an immunodeficiency state.

Allergic reactions are triggered by:

• a decrease in the production of cells responsible for fighting allergies;
• a decrease in the level of immunoglobulin A, which is produced in the walls of the small intestine;
• a decrease in the normal microflora in the intestine, which is responsible for mucosal immunity.

Therefore, to fight allergies, it is necessary to improve the immune system.