Allergy pills are designed to eliminate specific negative symptoms resulting from a reaction to a specific allergen. Many substances can act as irritants:
- plant pollen;
- food products;
- cosmetical tools;
- household chemicals;
- dust;
- pet hair;
- etc.
Allergy medications significantly alleviate the condition of people diagnosed with this pathology, improving their quality of life and allowing them to remain productive.
The principle of action of allergy remedies
The modern pharmacy market is represented by high-quality allergy medications (antihistamines, antihistamines).
There are 3 generations of allergy medications. What are the fundamental differences?
Some of the drugs are classified as homeopathic and hormone-containing drugs. The selection of medications is carried out by an allergist after collecting an anamnesis, external examination of the patient and conducting laboratory diagnostic tests (including allergy tests).
The mechanism of action of antihistamines is to block histamine receptors, which leads to the elimination of negative symptoms.
Reference.
Allergy in medicine is usually called the response of the human immune system to any irritating factor (allergen). Contact with an irritant and/or with many irritants leads to the active state of a biologically active component - histamine (an allergy mediator found in most tissues of the body). This biologically active substance is not dangerous to the body if its activity is not observed. In its active state, histamine leads to disruption of the functions of organs and systems - nervous, muscular, respiratory, digestive, etc.
As a result, the following symptoms may occur:
- Watery eyes, copious discharge from the sinuses.
- Impaired nasal breathing.
- Sneezing, coughing.
- Bronchospasm/breathing disorder.
- Activation of the process of secretion of gastric juice.
- Disturbance of the digestion process and stool (diarrhea).
- Dilatation of blood vessels.
- Edema.
- Skin rashes.
- Headaches, dizziness, fainting.
- Muscle spasms.
- Blood pressure surges.
- Arrhythmia.
- Dry mouth, voice changes.
- Chest/heart pain and more.
Attention!
The condition requires taking special antihistamines that eliminate the negative manifestations of the disease. Experts recommend using modern high-quality medicines to treat allergies of various origins and not experimenting with traditional recipes.
Popular questions and answers
Regarding the treatment of allergies and the use of antihistamines, we talked with a general practitioner, endoscopist, and head of the organizational and methodological office, Lydia Golubenko.
Why might allergies occur?
While we cannot say for sure what triggers the allergy. We can definitely say that hereditary predisposition plays a certain role: if parents suffer from allergies, the risks in children increase to 50 - 80%. In addition, the immune system suffers from external factors - poor ecology, various foreign substances that enter the body (dyes, preservatives, excess medications used without a doctor’s permission). One theory is the excessive cleanliness and almost sterile conditions that we create for our children after birth. This prevents the immune system from being exposed to infections and learning, so it overreacts to allergens.
What to do if you have an allergy?
The best decision is to go to the doctor. Under the guise of allergies, various infections, fungal skin infections and somatic diseases can occur. You need to do allergy tests, determine the specific substance that causes the reaction, and only then, together with the doctor, choose the optimal treatment. By the way, these will not always be medications; sometimes it’s enough just to remove the allergen from your life and the reactions will stop.
When is it necessary to call a doctor at home?
An allergy is not such a serious condition that you need to call a doctor at home. But there is one exception - acute anaphylactic reactions that develop from insect bites, taking certain medications or dangerous foods. These reactions develop sharply and quickly, swelling of the throat or shock occurs, and you need to immediately call an ambulance and take the person to the hospital, where dangerous reactions will be relieved. Experienced allergy sufferers generally carry with them everywhere a first aid kit with syringes and ampoules of medications that need to be administered immediately.
Is it possible to do the treatment yourself?
Although most antihistamines are sold in pharmacies without a prescription, you should not self-medicate. In addition to their indications for use, medications also have a number of side effects and contraindications that can only be assessed by a doctor. Therefore, antihistamines should be selected only with a specialist. Choosing the best allergy pills is not easy; it is important to take into account the type of allergy - food, skin, hay fever, as well as the age of the patient and any additional pathologies he has.
Any medications have side effects and contraindications. Our rating is a review and is not a guide to action. Before purchasing medications, consult your doctor.
Sources:
- Sidorovich O.I., Luss L.V. Food allergy principles of diagnosis and treatment // MS. 2016. No. 16. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/pischevaya-allergiya-printsipy-diagnostiki-i-lecheniya
- Campbell A., Michel FB, Bremard-oury C., Crampette L., Bousquet J. Review of allergy mechanisms // Difficult patient. 2013. No. 5. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/obzor-mehanizmov-allergii
- Minaeva N.V., Shiryaeva D.M. Hay fever and supporting information resources. RMJ. Medical Review. 2021;5(1):38-42. DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2021-5-1-38-42.
- Torshkhoeva Raisa Magometovna Allergies and antihistamines // PF. 2008. No. 3. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/allergiya-i-antigistaminnye-preparaty
What is the best allergy medicine?
In medicine there is no concept of “best” and “worst”. The drugs of each group have their own advantages, disadvantages and characteristic features. When prescribing them, many factors are taken into account, including the patient’s age, the presence or absence of concomitant diseases, as well as the degree and type of allergy. What suits one person may not only be of no benefit to another, but even harmful.
Important!
Allergic diseases can always be treated with medications. This can be taking tablets individually (monotherapy) or complex treatment. In this case, the allergy drug is part of a complex treatment that includes drugs belonging to other groups.
Suprastin: what helps
Suprastin is a drug that has long been a part of the lives of allergy sufferers and copes well with its functions, including:
- stopping allergic rhinitis;
- getting rid of hives;
- relief of skin itching;
- reducing the severity of the reaction to an insect bite.
An undeniable advantage of Suprastin is its safety in relation to pregnant women. Therefore, it is often prescribed to expectant mothers for seasonal rhinitis. One contraindication should be noted separately: Suprastin should not be taken by patients with glaucoma.
For laryngitis. bronchitis and tracheitis, the prescription of Suprastin must be accompanied by a mandatory condition - the patient must drink plenty of fluids daily. This is due to the fact that a side effect of the drug is drying out of the mucous membranes. Healthy people can easily put up with this, but patients with laryngitis or bronchitis must independently maintain the rheological properties of the sputum discharge so as not to get a complication in the form of pneumonia.
Complications of allergies in children
In the absence of competent measures, diseases and conditions that are difficult to treat may develop. Many of them significantly worsen the child’s health, reduce his quality of life and often lead to disability, these are:
- Chronic rhinitis.
- Persistent headaches.
- Deterioration of memory and concentration.
- Autoimmune disorders.
- Bronchial asthma, anaphylactic shock or asphyxia.
Allergies in children of any age require timely contact with a qualified specialist and constant monitoring. Only an experienced pediatric allergist can prescribe adequate treatment and provide competent medical supervision.
Causes of allergies
The cause of an allergy is an allergen. Science and medicine figured this out a long time ago. As for the reasons for increased sensitivity to a particular substance, there are many mysteries. For an unknown reason, excessive activation of immune cells (mast cells and basophils) occurs in response to the appearance of an allergen in the body. An inflammatory process is initiated, which can be mild (runny nose, lacrimation, itching) or life-threatening (anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema).
In developed countries, a constant increase in the number of allergy sufferers is recorded. The exact reason for this phenomenon has not yet been established. Today, the dominant theory in this sense is the hygienic theory¹. It was put forward by David Strachan in 1989. According to this hypothesis, excessive hygiene leads to an undertaxed immune system. As a result, the immune system begins to react to harmless antigens such as plant pollen or animal fur.
Remedies for allergies during pregnancy
Negative signs of allergies are not just the appearance of unpleasant symptoms, but a high probability of developing autoimmune disorders. This factor should be taken into account by women carrying a child. Therefore, if characteristic symptoms of the disease appear, you should consult a doctor and start taking the medications prescribed by the specialist.
Important!
It is prohibited to buy or take any
allergy medications
without consulting a doctor and undergoing examinations. Self-medication is not acceptable! This is especially true for pregnant women. It should also be taken into account that many drugs are prohibited during pregnancy.
Properly selected, high-quality, modern medicines cannot cause serious harm to the mother’s body and do not affect the development of the fetus. Such drugs, if necessary, are also prescribed to breastfeeding women.
Why are antihistamines needed?
The occurrence of allergies is caused by a violent reaction of the body to contact with certain substances called allergens. The impact of allergens on certain cells of the body provokes the active production of histamine. Histamine is a substance found inside mast cells. In a healthy person, histamine remains inside the cells and is not released. But when it comes to allergies, histamine is actively released, forming allergic inflammation.
Histamine release can manifest itself in different ways:
- swelling of soft tissues;
- cough;
- runny nose;
- lacrimation;
- decreased blood pressure;
- the appearance of a rash;
- bronchospasm.
Antihistamines were created not only to regulate the production of histamine by mast cells, but also to neutralize the volumes of the substance that have already been produced and create inflammation.
How to choose allergy medications?
Now there are a lot of different antihistamines. We offer both expensive original medicines and their more affordable popular analogues. When purchasing, you should follow the recommendations of your doctor and do not replace your own prescribed medication with a similar drug.
Selecting a medicine for allergies is the prerogative of an allergist. A specialist is able to accurately identify the allergen, identify the type and degree of the disease, and, based on all the data, select the best option for successfully blocking histamine receptors.
The main rule to follow
- this is an appeal to a trusted drug supplier. Only in this case can you avoid counterfeiting and not overpay for goods of dubious origin. The network of social pharmacies Stolichki guarantees the authenticity of medicines and offers a wide range of medicines at affordable prices.
Tavegil: who is it suitable for?
Tavegil belongs to the class of modern antiallergic drugs. It gives the first therapeutic effect within a short time after entering the gastrointestinal tract. Indications for the use of Tavegil may include:
- hay fever;
- eczema;
- itchy dermatitis, including urticaria;
- iridocyclitis;
- rhinitis of allergic etiology.
However, this drug should not be used with the following contraindications:
- asthma;
- any pathologies of the lungs and bronchioles;
- pyloric stenosis;
- glaucoma;
- thyrotoxicosis;
- hypertension;
- prostatic hyperplasia.
The use of Tavegil is also contraindicated for children under 6 years of age and pregnant women.
Make an appointment
The field of immunology - allergology is dynamic and constantly evolving - we are aware of the latest developments, and are among the first to introduce new treatment methods. Our own centralized clinical diagnostic laboratory allows us to obtain tests much faster with a minimal percentage of errors caused by human factors.
In the allergology departments of the clinics, consultations are conducted by specialists with 15 years of experience, candidates, doctors of medical sciences. Doctors take part in symposia and conferences, participate in clinical trials of new drugs, and are members of the European Society of Primary Immunodeficiencies. We provide emergency assistance, including cases of overdose.
The clinic offers a full range of tests, anti-shock measures, hospitalization with symptomatic and infusion therapy. Our branches are conveniently located and operate year-round without weekends or queues. To register, use the form on the website or call us. Doctors will tell you how to treat drug allergies correctly, even in difficult cases.
