Allergies are bad enough, but what on earth do you do when your allergy medication stops working? It can be difficult to figure out what to do next, especially if the medication has always worked to successfully reduce your allergy symptoms. If you are having trouble finding a medication that treats your allergies, here is some information that may help.
Has your environment changed? There are many factors that trigger allergies. Those same factors may impact the effectiveness of your allergy medication. To determine why your medication is no longer working, ask yourself the following questions:
l Am I living, working or playing in different places than I usually do?
l Is there a new pet in the home?
l Did I recently move to a different part of the country?
l Did I recently start a new job?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, then it is possible that you are near new allergens that your old medication can’t treat effectively. A change in the air around you, more pollution, warmer weather and/or different indigenous plants can trigger your allergies. Eating new foods, or food grown in different soil can also trigger allergies. It’s important to analyze what is different in your daily life and consider whether or not those factors are contributing to worsening allergies.
The weather may have changed.
Pollen is better or worse depending upon the weather. Warmer weather tends to help the plants that create pollen grow faster and earlier in the season. Windy spring or fall days spread the pollen around and help it sneak through window and doors. Taking your allergy medication before the season begins may give you added protection. You may find that the medication is working when you give it a head start.
Your allergies may have changed.
Allergies can change as we age. You may have had allergies to pollen when you were younger but now you don’t notice it as much. However, those allergies may have been replaced with allergies to dust or pets. You may have developed food allergies that you never had before. Take notice of what triggers your allergies so you can discuss it with an allergist.
It may not be allergies.
The symptoms that are no longer being addressed by your allergy medication may not be allergies at all. Some of the symptoms of an allergy attack; sneezing, runny nose, and coughing can be caused by many other things. You may have polyps in the lining of your nose or other conditions that are causing the symptoms. It’s important to schedule a visit with one of our allergists to determine why the medication you are currently taking is not working.
Make a list.
You can help the physician to diagnose what is causing your symptoms if you make a list of triggers. Take note of what makes your symptoms worse. List the medications you have been taking; the ones that worked and the ones that didn’t. List the things that have changed in your environment. Describe your symptoms before and after the medication stopped working. Doctors are detectives when it comes to gathering information in order to diagnose what is making you ill. The more information they have the better diagnoses they can make.
Visit an allergist.
If your allergy medication is no longer working you need to visit a specialist. An allergist at AG Urgent Carecan run a series of tests to determine exactly what you are allergic to. A treatment plan will reduce the symptoms and help your body to fight allergies over the long term. You will feel better, have more allergies and use fewer tissues!
