The keys to successful allergy management are understanding how allergies affect you and working with your doctor to develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Whether your allergies only bother you at certain times of the year, crop up unexpectedly, or are a constant bother, you can find relief from your symptoms.
But an allergy management program is only as good as the effort you put into it. While a doctor may diagnose and treat your allergies, it's up to you to learn how to manage your symptoms on a daily basis. To do this, you'll need to work with your doctor to learn about your allergies and take steps to help keep allergy symptoms at bay.
Partnering with Your Doctor
Because allergies are often a chronic (meaning long-lasting) condition, establishing a partnership with your doctor should be a vital part of your treatment.
To properly diagnose and treat your allergies, your doctor will first need to determine what triggers your symptoms and how these symptoms affect you. You can do your part by paying careful attention to your symptoms and keeping track of how, where, and when they flare up.
Once your symptoms have been diagnosed as allergies, your doctor may recommend that you avoid the things that trigger your condition. This may not always be easy, particularly if your triggers include allergens such as house dust mites or pollen – substances that are sometimes difficult to avoid. If you're not sure how to steer clear of your triggers, you may want to ask your doctor for suggestions.
You may also want to discuss your treatment plan with your doctor to ensure that it makes sense for your lifestyle. If you have questions or concerns about how to manage your symptoms or are unsure about medications that have been prescribed for your allergies, don't hesitate to discuss these issues with your doctor.
Understanding Your Medications and How to Use Them
In many cases, a doctor may prescribe medications to help keep allergy symptoms under control. It's important to take your medications exactly as prescribed and to ask your doctor questions about anything you don't understand. Learning more about your medicine – how it works, how to take it, and why it may help to control your allergies – is a good way for you to take a more active role in your treatment.
Learn About Your Medications
If you are prescribed an allergy medication, you may want to learn about the medicine, as well as any others used to treat the condition. There are a lot of different allergy medications delivered in many different forms. No one type of medication is right for everyone, so your doctor may work with you to determine what option is best for you.
You may want to ask your doctor or pharmacist how your medications work, how soon you may experience symptom relief, and what side effects they may have. This may help you to know what to expect once you begin taking the medication.
There are several treatments including decongestants, antihistamines, and intranasal corticosteroids. Intranasal corticosteroids are often used for the treatment of inflammation or swelling of nasal passages that may occur as the result of an allergic condition. Intranasal corticosteroids should not be confused with the anabolic steroids sometimes used (or misused) by athletes to improve performance.
Make sure you understand exactly how and when to take your prescription allergy medications. Even if you feel that your allergies are under control, you should continue to take your medication exactly as prescribed until your doctor tells you otherwise.
Certain allergy medications may sometimes need to be taken for a few days or weeks before you begin to feel their effects, so don't give up if you don't experience immediate relief from your symptoms. If you're concerned that your medication isn't working properly, or if you experience any unusual side effects, talk to your doctor about whether your medication is right for you. Be sure to let your doctor know if you are taking any other types of medication – either prescription or over-the-counter. Different types of medicine may interact, causing unwanted side effects, or may counteract one another.
Tips for Remembering to Take Medications
If you are taking more than one type of medication, or if you are having trouble remembering when to take your medication, you may want to try the following tips:
- Establish a routine. Take your medicine at the same time every day, such as at mealtime or after brushing your teeth. Try to link the idea of taking medication with a daily activity to establish a pattern of compliance
- Keep a medication diary. Make a note of when you are supposed to take medications and any special instructions you need to remember. Each time you take your medicine you can check it off in your diary so you'll know if you've missed a dose. Be sure to follow the instructions for nasal sprays carefully. Some require that you discard the bottle before it is empty
- Don't wait to get refills. Sometimes the containers that hold allergy medicine are opaque, and you may not realize it's time to get your prescription refilled until you have already run out of medicine. Try to refill prescriptions one week before they run out to avoid having to miss a dose. If you're going on vacation, ask your doctor to write you an extra prescription to pack in your carry-on bag in case your luggage gets lost
- Create reminders. To help you remember to take your medication, you may want to place it where you will be able to easily see it – on your desk, kitchen table, or next to your toothbrush. Or try putting a reminder note on your bathroom mirror, refrigerator, computer, or television
- Set an alarm. You can set your watch or a clock at home to alert you when it is time to take medication
