Often, asthma and allergies go hand in hand. Exposure to dust, dander, pollen and other allergens leads to the release of histamine and other mediators of the allergic response. This causes the sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes and other symptoms of allergies. It also may trigger spasm of the airways and an asthma attack. Advancements in identifying and treating this series of events has led to improvement in therapy for allergies and asthma.
Non-sedating Antihistamines
A new generation of antihistamines with less risk of sedation has improved the treatment of allergy symptoms. Desloratadine, fexofenadine, loratadine, cetirizine and levocetirizine fall under this category on Family Practice Notebook.com. In addition to causing less somnolence than previous antihistamine drugs, the second-generation medicines tend to work longer and are usually administered once daily.
Leukotriene Inhibitors
Leukotrienes are chemicals released in the body in response to a trigger, a reaction similar to histamine release in response to allergen exposure. These chemicals cause airway spasm and allergic symptoms such as increased mucus production, according to American Family Physician. Zafirlukast, zileuton and montelukast are the three drugs in this class that block the production or action of leukotrienes. The oral administration of these drugs makes them exciting alternatives to the usual inhaled medications used for asthma. Another advantage is their low side effect profile.
Long-Acting Beta Agonists
These inhaled medications, salmeterol and formoterol, offer distinct advantages over shorter-acting medicines such as albuterol for asthma. Although their onset of action is somewhat delayed, their length of action is increased, making twice-a-day dosing practical. However, they should not be used for rescue use for these same reasons, Family Practice Notebook says.
Immunotherapy
Advancements in understanding the biology behind allergies and asthma have led to improved testing for and treatment of these conditions. If specific triggers can be identified, a specific desensitization strategy can be formulated. Immunoglobulin E, or IgE, is an antibody produced by the human immune system as part of the allergic response. Specific subtypes of IgE levels can now be measured in the blood, helping to identify what triggered production of that particular antibody, notes American Family Physician. This information can then be used to guide immunotherapy, or allergy shots. This consists of injecting a tiny amount of the substance the person is allergic to into her body in order to expose her immune system to the trigger. Gradually increasing amounts of the substance over time leads to a desensitization, and usually, improvement of symptoms.
References
- FamilyPracticeNotebook.com: Non-Sedating Antihistamines
- "American Family Physician"; Leukotriene Inhibitors in the Treatment of Allergy and Asthma; Dean Scow, M.D., Gary Luttermoser, M.D., and Keith Scott Dickerson, M.D.; January 2007
- FamilyPracticeNotebook.com: Long Acting Beta-2 Agonist
- "American Family Physician"; The Role of Allergens in Asthma; Thomas Platts-Mills, M.D., Donald Leung, M.D., and Michael Schatz, M.D.; September 2007
