Prescription allergy medications

• Corticosteroids. These medications resemble certain hormones naturally produced by the body. They work by decreasing inflammation in the nasal passages that are caused by an allergic reaction. For this reason, they are often used to treat the most severe seasonal allergy symptoms. They can be inhaled, taken in pill form, or used as eye drops. However, long-term use can have significant side effects. Learn more about corticosteroids.
  
  
• Leukotriene modifiers. Leukotrienes are chemical messengers in the body that encourage inflammation. Leukotriene modifiers intercept that message. They are usually prescribed to treat asthma, but can also be taken regularly to prevent seasonal allergy symptoms, especially in combination with antihistamines. Like corticosteroids, they may have significant side effects. Learn more about leukotriene modifiers.

Medical treatment

• Immunotherapy (allergy shots). If you have chronic allergies and neither avoidance nor medications provide much help, your doctor may recommend immunotherapy. This involves a series of shots, usually given by an allergist. The shots expose you to an increasing amount of your specific allergy trigger (allergen) over time until your immune system becomes more tolerant to it. You may be required to get shots once or twice a week, and the therapy may last for up to a year or more. Learn more about allergy shots.