Dust mite allergy medication: what helps, what each one does, and why symptoms keep coming back

Antihistamines, nasal sprays, eye drops and inhalers can all ease dust mite allergy symptoms. None of them remove the dust mites. If you are taking something every morning and still waking up blocked, that is the reason, and it is fixable.

The main options

Your pharmacist can help you choose, and check what is safe alongside any other medicines you take, if you are pregnant, or for children.

Which works best for dust mite allergy?

Dust mite allergy mostly shows up as a blocked nose in the morning, so a steroid nasal spray used every day is often more effective than antihistamine tablets alone. Antihistamines are good for sneezing and itching. Sprays usually take a few days of regular use to reach full effect, so they work best taken daily rather than only when symptoms flare. If you have asthma symptoms at night, speak to your GP: an inhaler is the right treatment, not an antihistamine.

Why the symptoms keep coming back

Medication blocks your body's reaction to the allergen. It does nothing to the allergen itself. Every night you lie on a mattress and pillow that can hold hundreds of thousands of dust mites, and you breathe their droppings for eight hours. Stop the tablets and the symptoms return, because the exposure never stopped.

That is why the NHS and allergy specialists recommend reducing exposure alongside medication. The most effective way to do that is to seal the bed:

1. Encase your mattress, pillows and duvet in zip-sealed covers that block the allergen, not just the mite.
2. Wash bedding weekly at 60°C.
3. Keep bedroom humidity below 50% with daily airing or a dehumidifier.

Many customers tell us they use less medication once their bed is sealed. Always speak to your GP or pharmacist before reducing anything you have been prescribed.

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Questions people ask

What is the best antihistamine for dust mite allergy?

Non-drowsy options such as cetirizine, loratadine and fexofenadine are commonly used. People respond differently, so it can be worth trying another if one does not help. Ask your pharmacist which suits you.

Can I take antihistamines every day?

Many people do for long periods, but check with your pharmacist or GP, particularly if you take other medicines.

Is there a cure for dust mite allergy?

Immunotherapy can reduce the allergy over several years. Otherwise the most effective approach is cutting exposure, mainly by sealing the bed, plus medication for symptoms.

Read next: Dust mite allergy treatments, ranked · Dust mite immunotherapy

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Always speak to your GP or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any treatment, especially for asthma or a child. Questions about which products to choose? Call Richard on 0330 122 1646.