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Aerius 24-hour
Aerius 24-hour

24-hour, multi-symptom allergy relief for your tough symptoms.

  • Eyes: itchy, watery, red eyes
  • Nose: congestion, stuffiness, sneezing, runny, itchy nose
  • Ears: itchy ears
  • Palate: itchy palate
  • Throat: allergic cough, itchy throat
  • Skin: skin itch, hives
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Aerius Dual 12
Aerius Dual 12

Multi-symptom allergy relief of your tough symptoms plus a decongestant for dual action power against for nasal congestion.
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Aerius Kid's Syrup
Aerius Kid's Syrup

AERIUS® Kids' Syrup delivers relief from seasonal allergy symptoms in an easy-to-swallow liquid, so kids can get the same relief as adults.
Treating allergies

Treating allergies

Do you suffer from seasonal or perennial (year round) allergic rhinitis? If so, your main concern is probably finding ways to prevent, relieve and, if possible, eliminate your allergy symptoms!

Prevention

To prevent allergy symptoms, you should try to avoid contact with your allergens. Here are a few tips to reduce the intensity of your symptoms.

Dust mites and dust 

  • Get rid of dust-attracting furnishings, such as stuffed chairs and carpeting
  • Use dust-mite covers on mattresses
  • Wash floors frequently
  • Reduce the humidity level
  • Install a high-performance air filter

Pollen, grasses and herbaceous plants

  • Keep doors and windows closed
  • Avoid mowing the lawn and do not go to places where your allergen can be found (parks, woods)
  • Do not dry your clothes on the line
  • Wear sunglasses when outdoors

Indoor/outdoor moulds

  • Keep doors and windows closed for two days after a heavy rainfall
  • Rid your lawn of dead leaves, grass clippings and other plant debris
  • Remove indoor plants
  • Make sure there are no water leaks in your home
  • Keep the humidity level in your home at no more than 40 to 45%

Pets

  • Keep pets out of your bedroom
  • Install the litter in a low-traffic area away from air vents
  • Bathe your pets every week
  • Avoid carpeting
  • Install a high-performance air filter

Medication for allergic rhinitis 

Antihistamines are a godsend for many people, who use them to treat either perennial (year round) allergic rhinitis or seasonal allergic rhinitis. They target the mechanism that causes allergies and reduce allergic symptoms as a whole. They generally alleviate sneezing, itchiness, runny nose and teary, prickly eyes.

But when it comes to antihistamines, is there a difference between the first, second and third generations of over-the-counter products?

  • First-generation antihistamines were the first to be introduced on the market. They include chlorphenamine (Chlor-Tripolon®), diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) and triprolidine (Actifed®). They are known to cause drowsiness, dry mouth and dry eyes.
  • Second-generation antihistamines include cetirizine (Reactine®), fexofenadine (Allegra®) and loratadine (Claritin®). They ease moderate allergy symptoms.
  • Some consider desloratadine (Aerius®) to be part of a new, third generation of antihistamines. It is used to alleviate moderate to severe symptoms (itchy ears and roof of the mouth) and nasal congestion (even if it does not contain a decongestant).

For optimal results, it is best to take antihistamines every day during the entire allergy period. If you wish to combine it with a decongestant to relieve your stuffy nose, make sure the antihistamine you use does not already contain one. (Some products combine an antihistamine and a decongestant, and you must avoid taking a double dose).

If over-the-counter products do not ease your allergy symptoms, your doctor can recommend other prescription medications.

Curing allergies with desensitization

Desensitization, or specific immunotherapy, is the only cure for allergies. Conducted under the supervision of a medical specialist (an allergist), it involves injections of allergenic extracts in gradually increasing amounts prepared on the basis of the person’s allergy profile.

Perseverance is needed when undergoing this treatment: it lasts three to five years and requires frequent visits to the doctor’s office. But patience has its rewards. In fact, 60 to 80 percent of people who follow a desensitization therapy to completion find that their seasonal allergies are significantly reduced or disappear altogether. In addition, the benefits are often noted as early as the first year of treatment.

Pharmacy services

You may need to try a few products before you find the antihistamine that will work best for you. At any time, feel free to ask your pharmacist for advice. He or she is always available to help you make the right choice.

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