Treating allergies & asthma.

There are nearly as many medications out there to treat allergies and asthma as there are allergens. The chart below provides information on some of the most commonly used over-the-counter and prescribed medications.

Type of Medication                   Brand/Generic          Available
                                     Name                   as ...

Antihistamines.                      Counter the effects of histamine.
                                     Best for allergies.
Long-acting antihistamines tablets,  Allegra                Prescription
liquid. Take longer to kick in but   (fexofenadine),        and over-
less likely to make you drowsy than  Claritin (loratadine)  the-counter
short-acting antihistamines.         Clarinex
                                     (desloratadine),
                                     Zyrtec (cetirizine)
Short-acting antihistamines          Benadryl               Prescription
tablets, liquid. Work quickly but    (diphenhydramine),     and over-
may have side effects including      Chlor-Trimeton,        the-counter
drowsiness.                          (chlorpheniramine),
                                     Atarax (hydroxyzine
                                     HCL)
Antihistamine nasal spray. Works     Astelin (azelastine)   Prescription
fast but with more side effects
than long-acting oral
antihistamines.

Mucus thinners/decongestants.        Reduce swelling and congestion.
                                     Best for allergies.
Tablets, liquids, drops              GuaifedPD, EntexLA,    Over-the-
                                     DuraVENT, Exgest LA,   counter
                                     Respaire
                                     (guaifenesin/
                                     pseudoephedrine)
                                     Sinuvent
                                     (guaifenesin),
                                     Sudafed
                                     (pseudoephedrine/
                                     phenylephrine HCL)

Mast cell stabilizers.               Prevent the release of histamine
                                     from mast cells. Best for
                                     allergies.
Nasal sprays                         Nasalcrom (cromolyn    Over-the-
                                     sodium)                counter
Nebulizer (for asthma)               Intal (cromolyn        Prescription
                                     sodium)

Corticosteroids.                     Reduce the inflammatory reactions
                                     that mark allergies and asthma.
Nasal. Primarily used for            Flonase                Prescription
allergies.                           (fluticasone),
                                     Nasacort
                                     (triamcinolone),
                                     Nasalide
                                     (flunisolide),
                                     Nasonex (mometasone),
                                     Rhinocort
                                     (budesonide),
                                     Vancenase DS or
                                     Vancenase Pockethaler
                                     (beclomethasone)
Inhaled. Primarily used for asthma.  AeroBid                Prescription
                                     (flunisolide),
                                     Azmacort
                                     (triamcinolone),
                                     Flovent (fluticasone
                                     propionate),
                                     Pulmicort Turbohaler
                                     or Respules,
                                     (budesonide), Qvar
                                     (beclomethasone)
                                     Vanceril, Vanceril DS
                                     (beclomethasone),
                                     Asthmanex
                                     (mometasone)
Oral corticosteroids. Only used for  Prednisone, Medrol     Prescription
asthma.                              (methylprednisolone).

Bronchodilators.                     Keep the large and small airways of
                                     the lungs open. Prescribed for
                                     asthma.
Short-acting, B-2 agonists. Also     Proventil HFA and      Prescription
called "rescue medication." Used to  Ventolin HFA
avert an asthma attack. If used      (albuterol), Xopenex
several times a week, your asthma    (levalbuterol)
is not being controlled well. Comes
in inhaled and nebulized forms.      Primatene Mist         Over-the-
                                                            counter
Long-acting. Not to be started in    Serevent Diskus        Prescription
the midst of an attack.              (salmeterol
                                     xinafoate), Foradil
                                     (formoterol), and
                                     Advair (combination
                                     of fluticasone and
                                     salmeterol).

Theophylline.                        Relaxes bronchial airways.
                                     Prescribed for asthma but rarely
                                     used today.
Tablets, capsules, liquid            Numerous brand names,  Prescription
                                     including Constant-T,
                                     Resbid, Slo-bid
                                     Elixophyllin,
                                     Slo-Phyllin.

Leukotriene modifiers.               Inhibit release of leukotriene
                                     molecules from inflammatory cells.
                                     Primarily for asthma, sometimes
                                     allergies.
Tablets                              Accolate               Prescription
                                     (zafirlukast),
                                     Singulair
                                     (montelukast), Zyflo
                                     (zileuton)

Anticholinergics.                    Block the effects of chemicals that
                                     stimulate mucus production.
                                     Primarily for allergies, sometimes
                                     asthma.
Nasal spray                          Atrovent .03% or .06%  Prescription
                                     (ipratropium bromide)
Inhaled                              Atrovent (ipratropium  Prescription
                                     bromide)
In combination with antihistamine    Chlorpheniramine,      Prescription
                                     Methscopolamine, and
                                     Phenylephrine
                                     combined (numerous
                                     brand names).

Anti-IgE.                            Blocks the IgE antibody that
                                     stimulates an allergic reaction.
                                     Primarily used for allergic asthma.
Injection                            Xolair (omalizumab)    Prescription

Immunotherapy shots.                 A series of shots given over
                                     several years that gradually
                                     increases your tolerance to a
                                     specific allergen.