Allergic rhinitis: mechanisms and management.

Allergic rhinitis is a multifactorial disease that often requires a multimodal treatment program. Most medications, studied individually, demonstrate only a 50% reduction of specific symptoms. Antihistaminics, including the newer generation of nonsedative agents, decongestants, cromolyn sodium, topical synthetic corticosteroids, and orally administered delta-1 steroids, are the commonly prescribed medications used alone or in various combinations. Cromolyn sodium, with its novel mechanism of action and remarkable safety record, is ideally suitable for preventing symptoms resulting from allergic challenge and for substantially reducing symptoms after exposure.