According to WebMD, you cannot become physically addicted to antihistamines. Physical addiction is typically characterized by tolerance, where the same dosage of the substance produces less effect. In fact, you can take the same level of dosage for years and will continue to get the same level of relief (from the same level of allergen) as you did when you first took antihistamines.

It may seem as if your antihistamines aren’t working as well once allergy season gets rolling. But is it possible that you are being exposed to a greater dosage of your allergen? After all, you can have higher and higher levels of pollen in the air as the peak timing for your allergen occurs.

If you are being exposed to more allergen, then it’s quite possible that you’d do better with your antihistamine if you take it before exposure. Antihistamine treatment is one area where the old saying, “an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure” definitely holds true. You may even find that a smaller dose of antihistamine will be more effective if you take it ahead of time.

For this strategy to work, make sure that you keep your home as clear of allergens as possible. This gives your body a chance to clear out the allergen at night, and allows you an opportunity to take your antihistamine in your allergy-free zone in the morning before you go out. If you want more tips on non-drug strategies to help you survive seasonal allergies, check out our article on managing seasonal allergies.