Spring allergy season has arrived! If you're like many allergy sufferers, you are preparing to spend the coming days with itchy eyes and a runny nose. Hopefully, you have a good treatment plan in place that includes medications and protocols recommended by your allergy doctor. And hopefully, the myths below have not led you to inadequate allergy treatment tactics.
Myth: There's no reason to get a prescription; just use over-the-counter medications.
Some patients think it's unnecessary to see an allergy specialist and seek treatment for their allergies since over-the-counter medications exist. Taking OTC medications is a good short-term solution, and many of these are effective for mild allergies. However, if you have moderate to severe allergies, it is worth going to the doctor and getting a prescription. The prescription versions of allergy medications are often stronger, and there are also some your doctor can prescribe that are not available OTC. Plus, based on your symptoms and health, your doctor can recommend a medication that's best suited for you — which is better than playing a guessing game in the pharmacy aisles.
Myth: If you go to the doctor, they'll just recommend unsafe allergy shots.
First of all, allergists do not recommend allergy shots as the first line of treatment. They generally try to treat allergies with antihistamines and corticosteroids first. Only when these measures do not bring relief do they then recommend allergy shots. This is less because allergy shots are risky, and more because they are time-consuming and expensive. You'll have to get a shot once a week for a while, and then once a month for much longer after that. There is a small risk of a severe allergic reaction to the shots, but you'll be in the doctor's office when the shot is administered, so they can provide care in the unlikely event that this happens.
Myth: You'll grow out of your allergies if you just ignore them.
Sadly, simply trying to persevere through your allergy symptoms won't make your allergies go away. Occasionally people do grow out of them, but it doesn't seem to have much to do with whether you treat them or not. What is more common is for allergies to become more severe over time. That is a good reason to get treatment for your allergies now before they get worse.
With these myths busted, you are ready to treat your allergies effectively this spring. Contact a company that provides allergy treatments for more information.