"The treatments depend on the frequency and severity of the condition," Sanico said.
Mild and intermittent allergy symptoms can be treated with avoidance and medications. More severe or year-round conditions can be treated with nasal steroid sprays. Shots are recommended for people who want long-term relief from their severe reactions such as asthma, have multiple year-round allergies or live with a pet that causes symptoms. (It's the pet's saliva or even urine that can cause allergic reactions, Sanico said, so don't buy a "hypoallergenic" animal or shave the animal for a cure.)
Charles Trunk Jr., a 31-year-old from Baldwin, has been getting shots for about a year and a half for his allergies to pollen, grass and dust mites. A lifelong sufferer, he was tired of taking Benadryl, an antihistamine given to him by his pharmacist parents. And after twice-a-week shots for months and now once every two weeks, he's looking forward to less severe symptoms.
"I have a house with a yard and like to be out there," he said. "So, I come here at lunchtime. I think it's helping. We'll see how April and May go."
Drugs are commonly the first stop for many people, so the American Pharmacists Association recently surveyed members to identify their most recommended over-the-counter medications.
Allergy medicines were among the most asked about by pharmacy shoppers, and the antihistamine Claritin, closely followed by Zyrtec, were among the top drugs recommended. These new generation drugs typically do not make the takers as sleepy as older drugs such as Benadryl. Among decongestants, the most recommended was Sudafed.
Other options with fewer side effects than drugs are acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, said Jeff Gould, a specialist in both at the Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine & Digestive Center.
He prescribes an herbal combination that works like shots and builds immunity to allergens while patients are well. During the season, he offers another combination to treat symptoms. He does not recommend patients mix their own herbs, because some can have dangerous interactions with common pharmaceuticals, such as blood thinners.
"Allergies are hyperactive reactions to allergens," he said. "Instead of treating symptoms, we like to treat the imbalance in your body that causes the hyperactive response. If we treat you when you don't have symptoms, next year you're better."
