What are non-prescription allergy medications? And the others ? Handy list.

There are several medications available to treat allergy symptoms. Some taken orally in the form of tabletsothers as a nasal spray (drop in the nose), in eye drops (in the eyes), on the skin (in ointment), in auto-injector pens (adrenaline) or in homeopathy. There are prescription drugs and without prescription. Several treatments induce a drowsiness and should therefore be taken with caution. Others are prohibited before the age of 6. You always have to be careful with allergy medications. List and advice on how to treat your allergy.

What allergy medications are sold without a prescription?

The allergy medications available in pharmacies without a prescription are as follows:

• Medicines containing cetirizine : Alairgix allergy®, Drill allergy cetirizine®, Humex allergy cetirizine®, Reactine®, Zyrtecsec®, advice forms of cetirizine.
• Medicines containing loratadine : Humex allergy loratadine®, advice forms of loratadine.
• homeopathic medicines : Rhinallergy®, Lergypax®, Prelinium®.
• Polaramine® tablets
• Periactin®
• Certain anti-allergic eye drops : Allergiflash®, Allergocomod®, Cromabak®, Cromadoses®, Cromedil®, Cromofree®, Cromoptic®, Humex 2% eye drops®, Levofree® (bottle), Levophta®, Multicrom® 2%, Naabak®, Naaxia®, Ophtacalm® , Ophtacalmfree®, Opticron®.
• Some nasal spray solutions : Alairgix®, Cromorhinol®, Humex hay fever®.

What medicines to take in case of respiratory allergy?

Respiratory allergy manifests itself in the form allergic asthma or allergic rhinitis caused by allergens such as dust mites and pollen. The drugs indicated in allergic asthma are inhaled corticosteroids as maintenance therapy and short-term bronchodilators of action in crisis treatment (Ventolin®, Bricanyl®) to relieve respiratory symptoms. Oral antihistaminese are used to treat allergy. Moreover, in case of severe allergic asthma, the injectable monoclonal antibody Xolair® will be prescribed. Medications for allergic rhinitis are identical to those used in the treatment of pollen allergy or dust mite allergy depending on the allergen involved.

What are the drugs that treat pollen allergy?

Pollen allergy also called “seasonal allergy” is manifested mainly by rhinitis and conjunctivitis. To treat it, several drugs are available:

• THE oral antihistamines to treat allergy : Aerius® (desloratadine) and generics, Bilaska®, specialties based on cetirizineWystamm® (rupatadine) and generics, specialties based on loratadineKestin® (ebastine) and generics, Inorial®, Xyzall® (levocetirizine) and generics, Mizollen®, Telfast® 120 mg, Periactin®, Polaramine®, Primalan® and Zaditen®.
• THE pollen extracts to desensitize the allergic person : Grazax® and Oralair® (for grasses), Itulazax® (for birch).
• THE anti allergic eye drops to relieve conjunctivitis : Allergiflash®, Levofree®, Levophta®, Allergocomod®, Cromabak®, Cromadoses®, Cromedil®, Cromofree®, Cromoptic®, Humex 2% collyre®, Multicrom® 2%, Ophtacalm®, Ophtacalmfree®, Opticron®, Naabak® , Naaxia®, Allergodil®, Ketazed®, Monoketo®, Zagrapa, Zalerg®, Opatanol® and Purivist®.
• THE nasal solutions to relieve rhinitis : Alairgix®, Cromorhinol®, Allergodil®, Alonest®, Atrovent®, Nasonex® (mometasone) and generics, Avamys®, Fixorinox®, Flixonase®, Beconase®, Rhinomaxil®, Rinoclénil®, Humex hay fever®, Nasacort® , Pivalone® (tixocortol) and generics, Dymista®.
• THE homeopathic medicines : Lergypax®, Rhinallergy® and Prelinium®.

What are the drugs that treat dust mite allergy?

Dust mite allergy, also called “perennial allergy”, is mainly manifested by rhinitis and conjunctivitis. Several drugs are available to treat it:

• THE oral antihistamines to treat allergy : Aerius® (desloratadine) and generics, Bilaska®, specialties based on cetirizine (ex: Reactine®, Humex allergie®), Wystamm® (rupatadine) and generics, specialties based on loratadine (ex: Humex allergie®), Kestin ® (ebastine) and generics, Inorial®, Xyzall® (levocetirizine) and generics, Mizollen®, Periactine®, Polaramine®, Primalan® and Zaditen®.
• THE dust mite extracts to desensitize the allergic person : Acarizax®, Orylmyte®.
• Lergypax® (homeopathic medicine).
• THE anti allergic eye drops to relieve conjunctivitis : Allergiflash®, Levofree®, Levophta®, Allergocomod®, Cromabak®, Cromadoses®, Cromedil®, Cromofree®, Cromoptic®, Humex 2% collyre®, Multicrom® 2%, Ophtacalm®, Ophtacalmfree®, Opticron®, Naabak® , Naaxia®, Allergodil®.
• THE nasal solutions to relieve rhinitis : Alairgix®, Cromorhinol®, Allergodil®, Alonest®, Atrovent®, Nasonex® (mometasone) and generics, Avamys®, Flixonase®, Beconase®, Rhinomaxil®, Rinoclénil®, Nasacort®, Pivalone® (tixocortol) and generics, Dymista®.

What are the drugs that treat a skin allergy (eczema, urticaria)?

Skin allergy is manifested by urticaria and eczema. The drugs marketed to treat this allergy are:

• THE oral antihistamines that treat hives : Aerius® (desloratadine) and generics, Bilaska®, Kestin® (ebastine) and generics, Inorial®, Xyzall® (levocetirizine) and generics, Mizollen®, Periactine®, Polaramine®, Primalan®, Wystamm® (rupatadine) and generics .
• THE injectable antihistamines that treat hives : Phenergan® and Polaramine®.
• THE antihistamines that treat itching : Atarax® (hydroxyzine) and its generics
• THE local treatments (cream, ointment) based on cortisone to treat contact eczema which is characterized by skin inflammation, triggered by contact with an allergen with the skin: Betneval®, Diprosone®, Efficort®, Epitopic®, Flixovate®, Locapred®, Locatop®, Locoid®, Nerisone®, Tridesonit®.

What are food allergy medications?

In the event of a severe food allergic reaction, emergency treatment is based on injection of adrenaline with an auto-injector pen such as Anapen®, Epipen®, Emerade® or Jext®. Moderate allergic symptoms can be treated with antihistamines oral (e.g. cetirizine, loratadine, desloratadine, etc.).

10 precautions to follow if you take anti-allergy medication

1. Whatever its form, an antiallergic drug should not never be administered in case of allergy known to one of its components.
2. Medicines presented in the form of tablets are contraindicated in children under 6 years old.
3. Certain oral antihistamines (Atarax®, Periactine®, Polaramine®, Primalan®) induce drowsiness to be taken into account by people driving a vehicle or using machinery. Moreover, they are contraindicated in case of risk of angle-closure glaucoma and urinary retention.
4. Sublingual tablets containing allergen extracts should be placed under the tongue and then swallowed after complete dissolution. The first administration is to be carried out under medical supervision for 30 minutes.
5. Any intake of drinks or food should be avoided within 5 minutes of ingesting the drug.
6. The self-administration of adrenaline takes place at the level of the antero-lateral aspect of the thigh by the intramuscular route, and not in the gluteal muscle. Injection into a vein could cause cerebral hemorrhage.
7. The drug Xolair® must be stored in the refrigerator and its administration is carried out only by subcutaneous route.
8. Concerning the anti allergic eye dropsthey can lead to temporary visual discomfort. The driving of a vehicle or the use of a machine must then be postponed until the recovery of normal vision. In case of suspected allergy to an eye drop manifested by redness and burning, it is recommended to replace it with an eye drop without preservative.
9. The use of a nasal solution containing corticosteroids (Pivalone®, Nasacort®, Rhinomaxil®, etc.) is contraindicated in case of nosebleed or viral infection located in the mouth, nose or eyes.
10. THE cortisone creams or ointments should not be used in case of bacterial or viral infections and on acne lesions. A thin layer application is recommended to avoid thinning of the skin. Never in the long term without medical advice.

Sources:
– Public drug database
-ANSM