Stuffy, runny nose from allergies? Here’s the lowdown on effective — and safe — relief

It’s been a rainy year in most areas of Texas — great news for folks who enjoy feasting their eyes on roadsides transformed into dazzling wildflower panoramas. Horrible news, though, for seasonal allergy sufferers.

Even the Washington Post has taken note, including Texas in a recent article that described conditions as “wicked bad” in our part of the country. Needless to say, over-the-counter allergy meds are flying off drugstore shelves.

Unfortunately, it’s not always obvious which OTC medicines are safest or best for what ails us. Here are some basic pointers to help you make those calls.

For many people, that general hit-by-a-truck feeling starts with the nose — from some combination of sinus congestion, post-nasal drip and nasal irritation that leads to sneezing. The most common effect is nasal congestion. It’s associated with both the irritated sinuses of “sneezers” and the post-nasal drip that makes life miserable for “coughers.”

As most seasonal allergy sufferers have discovered, countless brands of OTC allergy medicines promise to unstuff your nose, but most are based on a handful of common decongestants:

• Oxymetazoline, used mostly in nasal sprays such as Afrin and in eye drops, is the basis for most all “long-lasting” decongestant sprays. It starts working in about two minutes and its extended (12-hour) effect makes it among the most popular non-prescription options. Negatives include a tendency to irritate some users’ sinuses and a risk of de- pendency when used for more than a few days in a row.

• Phenylephrine, also used in both decongestants and eye drops, works as fast as oxymetazoline but lasts only about a third as long. It also can cause dependency when used longer than recommended.

• Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed is one common brand name) works quickly and well in both spray and oral forms.