Stallergenes - Symptomatic treatment

Prescribed as first line therapy by the attending physician, symptomatic treatments have the goal of reducing the severity of symptoms and countering the inflammation caused by the allergy.

The use of all of these medicines is currently very well controlled and standardised by consensus decisions of international experts, in particular in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. However, in spite of their proven efficacy for treating allergic symptoms, these therapies do not treat the cause of the allergy. Thus, they do not affect the natural history of the disease (in other words, they do not cure the disease). Their effects last as long as you continue taking them without bringing any long-term benefit.

Here are the main pharmacological classes of drug used in the treatment of allergy (although this is by no means an exhaustive list)

H1 antihistamines	These medicines antagonize the effects of histamine, a substance that induces inflammation (called a "mediator") and which is released during the allergic reaction. They can be used to treat many of the symptoms of allergy: rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis, chronic urticaria, angioedema (apart from anaphylactic shock).
Corticosteroids	Any contact between a sensitised individual and an allergen will result in an inflammatory process. Corticosteroids are currently the most potent anti-inflammatory drugs. They are prescribed in different forms: as short-term therapy (less than a week) taken orally, or as inhalation therapy over longer periods (asthma). Their use in treating allergies is widespread: asthma, rhinitis, urticaria, eczema.
Sodium cromoglicate (cromolyn sodium)	Also called a mast cell stabilizer,sodium cromoglicate inhibits mast cell degranulation during an allergic reaction. Used in treating asthma, it prevents the release of inflammatory mediators like histamine.
Leukotriene receptor antagonists	The leukotrienes, like histamine, are substances that are involved in the inflammatory process produced during the allergic reaction (they are called allergic mediators). As their name suggests, leukotriene receptor antagonists counter the effects induced by these mediators. They are currently used in treating asthma.
Beta-2 agonists	These are substances used in asthma that have "bronchodilator" properties (they dilate the bronchial tubes or, at least, stop them from closing up too much). Depending on their duration of action, they are used to treat an attack (short-acting) or as long-term therapy to prevent attacks (long-acting).
Theophyllines	Medicines that have been used in the long-term treatment of asthma for many years. They are bronchodilators.
Vasoconstrictors	These nasal solutions have a decongestant effect that can relieve the feeling of having a "blocked nose"in allergic rhinitis. They should only be used for short courses (three to five days) to avoid the occurrence of side effects.
Anticholinergics	These medicines are used to treat asthma for their bronchodilator properties and are used to treat rhinitis for their beneficial effect on mucus hypersecretion from the nose (feeling of having a "runny nose").

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