I love April, it’s my favorite month of the year. Green grass, budding leaves and flowers, warmer days and nights, gardening, golf, cookouts, and a return to life out of doors.

However, there is a downside. Pollen. Since I was 13 years old, I have suffered from spring seasonal allergies, and for years I learned to deal with all the allergy related symptoms that come along with this season. I remember hunting for Easter eggs, in between blowing my nose and scratching my eyes. I no longer wear contact lenses due to the difficulties I had growing up with spring allergies.

Over the years I developed a spring medication routine, and with the move of many highly effective, non-sedating antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays to Over-the-Counter availability, the routine has become much easier.

Beginning in March each year, I take a once daily OTC non-sedating antihistamine and use an OTC steroid nasal spray. This combination not only reduces histamine production, which causes all the runny nose and sneezing, but decreases sinus inflammation to shorten the duration of symptoms. There are also several OTC antihistamine eye drops that work very well for itchy, watery, and gritty eyes, and I have used them periodically as well.

Most years, I am now able to coast through spring almost symptom free. Come by the store and tell us about your seasonal allergy symptoms—we’ll be glad to talk to you about what options are available to help you ENJOY SPRING AGAIN!

Jim Hiatt, RPh