Allergy remedies: what are they?

Allergy remedies have existed since ancient times, beginning with the time of Hippocrates. It was his observations of unusual swelling in patients of noble origin that laid the foundation for studying the body's reaction to certain types of food. Hippocrates successfully treated his patients with similar symptoms - itching, swelling, with banal fasting and even spoke quite aggressively about food products with the following phrase: "A person is born healthy, but all diseases come to him with food."

History has preserved a lot of reliable information about famous allergy sufferers of the past. Even before the famous Greek doctor, Hippocrates, allergies were mentioned in Egyptian scrolls, which described the death of a pharaoh, apparently from anaphylactic shock. Death was provoked by an insect bite. The Ebers Papyrus contains a detailed description of the symptoms of asthma of allergic etiology, Richard III Plantagenet suffered from an allergic reaction to simple strawberries all his life. All his treatment consisted of refusing such a delicacy. Previously, what resembled today's allergies in symptoms was called idiosyncrasy and was treated in a simple way - eliminating contact with the causative agent of the reaction. By the way, idiosyncrasy was suffered mainly by rich and noble people. Those who ate simple food rich in fiber, natural vitamins and microelements, either did not seek medical help or did not even know what an allergy was. In any case, history is silent about such cases, as well as about medicines for the poor.

Modern medical science has learned to identify antigens that cause allergic reactions, therefore, there are also allergy remedies. It should be noted that the allergen is not always determined accurately, in such cases symptomatic therapy is prescribed, that is, one that alleviates the patient's condition and minimizes all signs of allergy at least for a certain period of time. The action of antihistamines is based on their ability to block the substance that causes an inflammatory reaction - histamine. These drugs do not treat, but only temporarily neutralize receptors. Histamine can activate two types of receptors and the choice of therapy directly depends on their type. H1 receptor provokes swelling, redness, itching, shortness of breath. If histamine comes into contact with the H2 receptor, a person develops a gastric reaction - heartburn, excessive secretion of gastric juice. Histamine often provokes asthma attacks and even anaphylactic shock, which is a serious threat not only to human health, but also to his life.

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Allergy Remedies: Drug Categories

Allergy medications can be divided into two categories: medications that act on H1 receptors and medications against H2 receptors. Medications called H2-histamine blockers are aimed at inhibiting the secretion of hydrochloric acid dependent on histamine. The most popular are antihistamine H1 medications. Among them are diphenhydramine (one of the very first antihistamines), cetirizine, allergodil, loratadine, claritin and many other H1-histamine blockers. Inhibition of H1 receptors makes it possible to avoid bronchospasm, reduces the risk of hyperemia, reduces swelling, and eliminates skin itching. Indications for prescribing H1-histamine blockers can be all diseases accompanied by all allergic reactions of type I - from urticaria to anaphylactic shock. Antihistamines that inhibit H1 receptors are also prescribed for rhinitis of allergic etiology, angioedema, eczema, reactions to donor blood transfusions, and allergies to medications. The sedative properties of these drugs allow them to be used as sleeping pills, for nausea and vomiting, and kinetosis (seasickness). Some drugs in this group can have a mild anesthetic effect (diphenhydramine and promethazine). An overdose of antihistamines that inhibit H1 receptors is fraught with serious consequences, including seizures. Signs of an overdose may include excessive drowsiness, dry mouth, muscle dystonia, and, individually, increased excitability and insomnia. Also common symptoms of an overdose are bowel disorders, tachycardia, and increased intraocular pressure. In severe cases, intoxication causes hallucinations and even coma. This is why, despite the active advertising promotion of some antihistamines, they should be taken only as prescribed by an allergist, and the dosage and regimen should be followed.

Anti-allergy drugs that block H1 receptors come in different generations – 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation, which indicates the constant improvement of anti-allergy pharmacological drugs. With each new generation, the drugs become safer and have a minimum of contraindications.

The drugs are divided according to the method of application:

1. Oral H-histamine blockers. Symptomatic treatment drugs that effectively relieve the first symptoms of an allergic reaction, but are ineffective in cases of bronchial spasm or a sharp drop in blood pressure. The drugs begin to act fairly quickly, the effect occurs after 10-15 minutes, the main effect after an hour. Blocking of H1 receptors lasts from 4 to 6 hours.
2. Intranasal drugs. As symptomatic therapy for allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, these drugs are quite effective. Often used in combination with oral drugs.
3. External preparations, ointments. As a rule, these are glucocorticoids that relieve itching, eliminate swelling, and hyperemia.

Anti-allergy medications, in addition to the above-mentioned drugs, can also be homeopathic. Also, in the anti-allergy complex, sorbent drugs, physiotherapeutic procedures and phytotherapy can be prescribed. Everything depends on the form of the disease, individual characteristics, concomitant pathologies. The main thing is to consult an allergist in a timely manner, then the allergy can not only be stopped, but also prevented.