Every patient is different. Some patients will only benefit from a sedating medication. Most patients, though, benefit from non-sedating medications. And it's hard to say which patient is going to prefer an over-the-counter medication or a prescription medication.
ANNOUNCER: But sometimes medications just aren't enough. In those cases, experts recommend immunotherapy, known as allergy shots.
GILLIAN SHEPHERD, MD: What is done with immunotherapy is to actually give you small injections of what you're allergic to, such as tree pollen. And by doing that on a regular basis, you basically manipulate the immune system and turn it off so it sees tree pollen and it just doesn't react, like a normal person.
ANNOUNCER: Untreated, allergies can make life miserable.
LYNETTE BASSIE: I don't want to get out of the bed with the way I feel from my allergies. Then I would have to. Sometimes it stopped me from doing things I really want to do, like being outside, enjoying the day.
STEPHANIE GURLAND: It's kind of a thing where you wake up and you feel terrible the minute you get up in the morning. You just are so groggy and uncomfortable.
BETH CORN, MD: Very often, an adult patient will come in and they will complain about their allergies to the point that they were sitting in a meeting and the whole meeting was focused on them, because they were constantly clearing their throat and blowing their nose, sneezing. This can be very disruptive and very embarrassing.
ANNOUNCER: The good news is that today springtime doesn't have to be seen through the haze of an allergy attack.
BETH CORN, MD: So if you know that you have allergies, don't wait until the thick of the season to come in and start getting treated. Come in early in the season or even two weeks before the season starts so that you can be loaded up with medications so that the allergens will not be as detrimental.
LYNETTE BASSIE: I do think there is help out there for allergy, people that suffer with allergy, because I've been there. It's working, the medication is working.
