Should you crank up your early allergy strategies this year?

Even if one is isolating because of the pandemic and mostly staying indoors, it will still be helpful to take allergy medications early in order to ward off spring symptoms. Doctors recommend using two drugs about three or four weeks before symptoms typically occur. One is a steroid nasal spray to fight inflammation, such as fluticasone propionate (Flonase). The other is an antihistamine to counteract histamine, a body chemical involved in allergic reactions, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) or fexofenadine (Allegra). Once allergy season is under way, it may help to add nasal saline rinses and antihistamine eye drops to the regimen.