Allergic rhinitis or seasonal allergy, peaks in the autumn because of ragweed pollen in the air. Symptoms include swelling and redness of sinus passages, mucus membranes and the eyes. Sneezing, watery eyes and fluid build-up in the nasal tissues are all part of the fun. Severe reactions may warrant consultation with a doctor, but there is non-prescription help that can minimize the suffering for most people.

Some call it hay fever, though it doesn’t have so much to do with hay as with weed pollen and mold spores.

More formally, it’s allergic rhinitis or just seasonal allergy. The season peaks in the autumn, mostly because of ragweed pollen that wafts on the breeze to reactive nostrils throughout the region.

Seasonal allergy, depending on the degree of reaction, can make one fairly miserable with symptoms including swelling and redness of sinus passages, mucus membranes and the eyes. Sneezing, watery eyes and fluid build-up in the nasal tissues are all part of the fun.

The allergy to these natural conditions can hardly be avoided. Severe reactions may warrant consultation with a doctor, but there is non-prescription help that can minimize the suffering for most people.

“What we recommend is either Claritin or Zyrtec, both of which are available over the counter without a prescription now,” said Marina Bondurant, pharmacist at West Towne Pharmacy in Paducah.

Bondurant said the two antihistamines are the top options without prescription in blocking the condition that leads to sneezing, itching and teary eyes and runny nose from allergic triggers.

Someone who routinely suffers seasonal allergy problems can simply take a tablet of Claritin or Zyrtec daily during the most troublesome times of the year to minimize symptoms, Bondurant said.

Nannette Harris, a pharmacist at Paducah’s G&O Pharmacy, said Claritin and Zyrtec can be taken on an ongoing basis by people who have persistent allergy problems.

“There are people who take them long term,” Harris said. “The main thing is that you not take more than one every 24 hours.

“For some people, when they start having allergy problems, they might need to take Claritin or Zyrtec for a week to 10 days, and for someone else it might be a couple of months,” Harris said.

Terry Sullivan, pharmacist at Walgreens in Metropolis, Ill., said the two newer antihistamines are inexpensive have the advantage of not causing drowsiness as does Benadryl, which once was the first antihistamine choice.

However, Sullivan said Benadryl still is good option for allergy relief if Claritin or Zyrtec use don’t alleviate nasal drainage — and if an allergy sufferer can tolerate the potential drowsiness that comes with it.

Sullivan said unmitigated stuffiness of nose and sinuses might call for Sudafed, a decongestant. He said Sudafed suffers negative association because it is used illegally to make methamphetamine, the reason it remains available without prescription but is kept behind counters and must be requested.

“It’s still an effective medicine, but you shouldn’t use it if you have high blood pressure,” he said.

Contact Steve Vantreese, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8684.