Itchy, watery eyes, and non-stop sneezing are a few frustrating symptoms that come with allergic rhinitis which tends to love those pretty sunny days when your child wants to do nothing else but play outside.
Fortunately, medications are available in your local pharmacy without the need of prescription from your doctor.
Fortunately, medications are available in your local pharmacy without the need of prescription from your doctor.
When to see a doctor:
If your child is less than 12 years old
Your child has asthma that is uncontrolled
Symptoms of infections are present such as fever, chills, and fatigue
Your child has asthma that is uncontrolled
Symptoms of infections are present such as fever, chills, and fatigue
So many options, what OTC Medication can I use, how much, and how often?
OTC Medications should be initiated after other measures have been tried including avoidance of triggers and saline drops or nasal spray.
Intranasal corticosteroids can be used for children greater than 4 years old
- Fluticasone (Children's Flonase, Flonase Sensimist)
- Children's Flonase (50mcg/spray) can be used for children 4 years of age or greater
- Flonase Sensimist can be used for children 2 years old or greater
- 4 - 11 years old:
- 1 spray per nostril
- Do not use for longer than 2 months, unless instructed by a healthcare provider
- Total daily dose: 100mcg/day once daily
- Greater than 12 years old:
- 2 sprays per nostril once daily for 1 week
- Then, can increase to 1 to 2 sprays per nostril
- Total daily dose: 200mcg/day
- Do not use for more than 6 months, unless instructed by a healthcare provider
- Administration
- Before the first use or after not using it for 7 days or more, prime the pump by pressing on the applicator 6 times until a fine spray appears
- Shake well prior to each use
- Blow nose to clear nostrils
- Insert the applicator into the nostril while closing the closing the other nostril by pressing on it
- Inhale and press the pump at the same time to release the spray
- Discard after the appropriate number of uses as labeled on the bottle
- Before the first use or after not using it for 7 days or more, prime the pump by pressing on the applicator 6 times until a fine spray appears
Second generation antihistamines for children greater than or equal to 2 years of age
Second generation antihistamines for children greater than or equal to 2 years of age
- Claritin (loratadine)
- Claritin Children's OTC
- 2 - 5 years old: 5 mg once daily
- 6 years old or greater: 10 mg once daily or 5 mg twice daily
- Administration:
- Can take without regards to food
- Zyrtec (cetirizine)
- Zyrtec Allergy Children's OTC
- 6 to 12 months old: 2.5 mg once daily
- 12 to 23 months: 2.5 mg once daily initially, THEN may increase to 2.5 mg twice daily
- Administration:
- Can take without regards to food
- Allegra (fexofenadine)
- Allegra Allergy Children's OTC
- 2 to 11 years old: 30 mg twice daily (oral suspension or orally disintegrating tablet)
- 12 years old and greater:
- Tablets: 60 mg twice daily
- Extended release: 180 mg once daily
- Administration:
- For suspensions - Shake well before each use, take with water, avoid taking with fruit juices
- For orally disintegrating tablets - handle without hands, place tablet on tongue, take on an empty stomach, do not chew or split
- Xyzal (levocetirizine)
- 2 to 5 years old:
- 1.25 mg once daily in the evening
- Give no more than 1.25 mg per day
- 6 to 11 years old:
- 2.5 mg once daily in the evening
- Give no more than 2.5 mg per day
- 12 years old or greater:
- 5 mg once daily in the evening
- Administration:
- Can take without regards to food
- 2 to 5 years old: