But the disease has also first appeared in people in their 70s or 80s. Before the 1940s brought the general availability of antihistamines, hay fever sufferers could get little help from the pharmacy. Today allergic rhinitis can be controlled by more effective and much less dangerous drugs. Antihistamines, available both over the counter and by prescription, remain the most widely used agents to treat hay fever symptoms. They can be highly effective in controlling itching and sneezing, but do less well in clearing nasal congestion.
Antihistamines are most effective when used regularly rather than sporadically.
Their chief undesirable side effects are drowsiness and excessive drying of tissues. Nonprescription decongestants that shrink blood vessels in and around the nasal passages may help relieve nasal stuffiness. Decongestants are often sold in combination with antihistamines in the form of tablets, capsules, caplets and liquids. Others are sold as nose drops or sprays. Patients can get caught in a vicious circle of use, relapse, and more use.