Products
Anti-allergy medications are available in numerous dosage forms. These include tablets, capsules, solutions, suspensions, nasal sprays, eye drops, inhalation preparations, and injectables.
Structure and properties
Antiallergic drugs do not have a uniform chemical structure. However, several groups within the class can be identified (see below).
Effects
Antiallergic drugs have antiallergic, antiinflammatory, immunosuppressive, antihistamine, and mast cell-stabilizing properties. For example, their effects are based on antagonism at histamine receptors, abrogation of the action of other mediators, binding to nuclear receptors, and agonism at adrenoceptors.
Indications
For the treatment of allergic diseases. These include, for example:
- Hay fever, allergic rhinitis.
- Allergic conjunctivitis
- Food allergies, e.g. kiwi allergy, celery allergy, peanut allergy.
- Dust mite allergy
- Anaphylaxis
- Allergic urticaria (hives)
- Metal allergy, nickel allergy
- Atopic dermatitis
- Insect bites
Dosage
According to the professional information. Antiallergic drugs are administered both topically (topical) and systemically (oral, parenteral).
Active ingredients
For more information, see the drug groups. Antihistamines:
- Are antagonists at the histamine H1 receptor, thus reversing the effects of histamine. They can be administered topically or systemically. 2nd generation agents, such as cetirizine, loratadine, and fexofenadine, are better tolerated than older drugs and need to be taken only once daily because they have a long duration of action. Antihistamine eye drops and antihistamine nasal sprays are also available.
Mast cell stabilizers:
- Such as cromoglicic acid and ketotifen inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators. They are administered perorally, inhalation and topically.
Glucocorticoids:
- Such as prednisolone are used systemically only in severe conditions such as severe asthma or anaphylaxis. Dermocorticoids, asthma sprays and glucocorticoid eye drops are available for local treatment and are better tolerated.
Sympathomimetics:
- Epinephrine is the first-line agent for a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Beta2 sympathomimetics are inhaled for bronchodilatation. Sympathomimetics are also used topically, as decongestant nasal sprays and in the form of eye drops.
Leukotriene antagonists:
- Such as montelukast are approved for the treatment of hay fever in addition to asthma. They cancel the effects of pro-inflammatory leukotrienes.
Herbal medicines:
- Extracts of butterbur are approved in many countries for the symptomatic treatment of hay fever. Furthermore, many remedies from alternative medicine are used for allergy therapy, for example, Ribes nigrum mouth spray.
Anti-IgE antibodies:
- Omalizumab binds IgE antibodies and is approved for the treatment of severe allergic asthma.
Immunotherapy (allergens):
- In specific immunotherapy or hyposensitization, allergens are administered subcutaneously and sublingually, among other methods. Unlike all other agents, immunotherapy is not only effective against the symptoms, but causally and can bring about a complete or partial cure.
