Can I use over-the-counter medicines to treat my house dust mite allergy?

Over-the-counter medicines (OTCs), like antihistamines (an-ti-HISS-ta-meens), are a good way to start treating your allergies. But many people find that they don’t get enough relief with OTCs. This may be because OTCs only treat your symptoms. If OTCs don’t seem to be doing enough to help your symptoms, it might be time to step up your treatment.

An allergy doctor, allergist, or ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor can prescribe treatment that may help more than OTC medicines do. Some of these still only treat symptoms. But others can actually change the way your body responds to allergens. This is called “allergy immunotherapy” (im-yuh-noh-thAIR-uh-pee). There is allergy immunotherapy made just for house dust mite allergy.

Allergy immunotherapy is almost always prescribed by an allergy doctor, allergist, or ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor.

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Learn more about allergy immunotherapy, and how it may be able to help you with your house dust mite allergy >

What is ODACTRA?

How does ODACTRA work?

What if I also have seasonal allergies?

What is ODACTRA?

ODACTRA is a prescription medicine used for sublingual (under the tongue) immunotherapy to treat house dust mite allergies that can cause sneezing, runny or itchy nose, stuffy or congested nose, or itchy and watery eyes. ODACTRA may be prescribed for persons 12 through 65 years of age who are allergic to house dust mites. ODACTRA is NOT a medication that gives immediate relief for symptoms of house dust mite allergy.

Selected Important Safety Information about ODACTRA

What is the most important information I should know about ODACTRA?
  • ODACTRA can cause severe allergic reactions that may be life-threatening. If any of these symptoms occur, stop taking ODACTRA and immediately seek medical care:
    • Trouble breathing
    • Throat tightness or swelling
    • Trouble swallowing or speaking
    • Dizziness or fainting
    • Rapid or weak heartbeat
    • Severe stomach cramps or pain, vomiting, or diarrhea
    • Severe flushing or itching of the skin
  • For home administration of ODACTRA, your doctor should prescribe auto-injectable epinephrine, a medicine you can inject if you or your child have a severe allergic reaction after taking ODACTRA. Your doctor will train and instruct you on the proper use of auto-injectable epinephrine.
  • If you forget to take ODACTRA, do not take two tablets. Take the next tablet at your normal scheduled time the next day. If you miss more than one tablet of ODACTRA, contact your doctor before restarting.
  • Do not take ODACTRA if:
    • You have severe, unstable or uncontrolled asthma
    • You had a severe allergic reaction in the past that included any of these symptoms: trouble breathing, dizziness or fainting, rapid or weak heartbeat
    • You have ever had difficulty with breathing due to swelling of the throat or upper airway after using any sublingual immunotherapy before
    • You have ever been diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis
    • You are allergic to any of the inactive ingredients contained in ODACTRA. The inactive ingredients contained in ODACTRA are: gelatin, mannitol, and sodium hydroxide.
  • Your doctor may decide that ODACTRA is not the best treatment if:
    • You have asthma, depending on how severe it is
    • You suffer from lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
    • You suffer from heart disease such as coronary artery disease, an irregular heart rhythm, or you have hypertension that is not well controlled
    • You are pregnant, plan to become pregnant during the time you will be taking ODACTRA, or are breast-feeding
    • You are unable or unwilling to administer auto-injectable epinephrine to treat a severe allergic reaction to ODACTRA
    • You are taking certain medicines that enhance the likelihood of a severe reaction, or interfere with the treatment of a severe reaction. These medicines include:
      • Beta blockers and alpha-blockers (prescribed for high blood pressure)
      • Cardiac glycosides (prescribed for heart failure or problems with heart rhythm)
      • Diuretics (prescribed for heart conditions and high blood pressure)
      • Ergot alkaloids (prescribed for migraine headache)
      • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants (prescribed for depression)
      • Thyroid hormone (prescribed for low thyroid activity)
  • If you are receiving allergy shots or other immunotherapy under the tongue. Use of more than one of these types of medicines together may increase the likelihood of a severe allergic reaction.
  • Stop taking ODACTRA and contact your doctor if you have any mouth surgery procedures (such as tooth removal), develop any mouth infections, ulcers or cuts in the mouth or throat, or have heartburn, difficulty swallowing, pain with swallowing, chest pain that does not go away or worsens, asthma or any other breathing condition that worsens, or any type of serious allergic reaction.
  • The most commonly reported side effects were throat irritation/tickle, itching in the mouth or ears, swelling of the back of the mouth, lips or tongue, tongue pain, nausea, throat swelling, stomach pain, tongue ulcer/sore on the tongue, and mouth ulcer/sore in the mouth, diarrhea, and food tastes different. These side effects, by themselves, were not dangerous or life-threatening. Typically, these common side effects begin within the first week of starting ODACTRA and may reoccur for up to two weeks. These common side effects experienced after taking the first tablet typically last up to one hour.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide, for additional Important Safety Information.
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Selected Important Safety Information about ODACTRA

What is the most important information I should know about ODACTRA?
ODACTRA can cause severe allergic reactions that may be life-threatening. If any of these symptoms occur, stop taking ODACTRA and immediately seek medical care:
  • Trouble breathing

What is ODACTRA?

ODACTRA is a prescription medicine used for sublingual (under the tongue) immunotherapy to treat house dust mite allergies that can cause sneezing, runny or itchy nose, stuffy or congested nose, or itchy and watery eyes. ODACTRA may be prescribed for persons 12 through 65 years of age who are allergic to house dust mites. ODACTRA is NOT a medication that gives immediate relief for symptoms of house dust mite allergy.

Selected Important Safety Information about ODACTRA

What is the most important information I should know about ODACTRA?
  • ODACTRA can cause severe allergic reactions that may be life-threatening. If any of these symptoms occur, stop taking ODACTRA and immediately seek medical care:
    • Trouble breathing
    • Throat tightness or swelling
    • Trouble swallowing or speaking
    • Dizziness or fainting
    • Rapid or weak heartbeat
    • Severe stomach cramps or pain, vomiting, or diarrhea
    • Severe flushing or itching of the skin
  • For home administration of ODACTRA, your doctor should prescribe auto-injectable epinephrine, a medicine you can inject if you or your child have a severe allergic reaction after taking ODACTRA. Your doctor will train and instruct you on the proper use of auto-injectable epinephrine.
  • If you forget to take ODACTRA, do not take two tablets. Take the next tablet at your normal scheduled time the next day. If you miss more than one tablet of ODACTRA, contact your doctor before restarting.
  • Do not take ODACTRA if:
    • You have severe, unstable or uncontrolled asthma
    • You had a severe allergic reaction in the past that included any of these symptoms: trouble breathing, dizziness or fainting, rapid or weak heartbeat
    • You have ever had difficulty with breathing due to swelling of the throat or upper airway after using any sublingual immunotherapy before
    • You have ever been diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis
    • You are allergic to any of the inactive ingredients contained in ODACTRA. The inactive ingredients contained in ODACTRA are: gelatin, mannitol, and sodium hydroxide.
  • Your doctor may decide that ODACTRA is not the best treatment if:
    • You have asthma, depending on how severe it is
    • You suffer from lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
    • You suffer from heart disease such as coronary artery disease, an irregular heart rhythm, or you have hypertension that is not well controlled
    • You are pregnant, plan to become pregnant during the time you will be taking ODACTRA, or are breast-feeding
    • You are unable or unwilling to administer auto-injectable epinephrine to treat a severe allergic reaction to ODACTRA
    • You are taking certain medicines that enhance the likelihood of a severe reaction, or interfere with the treatment of a severe reaction. These medicines include:
      • Beta blockers and alpha-blockers (prescribed for high blood pressure)
      • Cardiac glycosides (prescribed for heart failure or problems with heart rhythm)
      • Diuretics (prescribed for heart conditions and high blood pressure)
      • Ergot alkaloids (prescribed for migraine headache)
      • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants (prescribed for depression)
      • Thyroid hormone (prescribed for low thyroid activity)
  • If you are receiving allergy shots or other immunotherapy under the tongue. Use of more than one of these types of medicines together may increase the likelihood of a severe allergic reaction.
  • Stop taking ODACTRA and contact your doctor if you have any mouth surgery procedures (such as tooth removal), develop any mouth infections, ulcers or cuts in the mouth or throat, or have heartburn, difficulty swallowing, pain with swallowing, chest pain that does not go away or worsens, asthma or any other breathing condition that worsens, or any type of serious allergic reaction.
  • The most commonly reported side effects were throat irritation/tickle, itching in the mouth or ears, swelling of the back of the mouth, lips or tongue, tongue pain, nausea, throat swelling, stomach pain, tongue ulcer/sore on the tongue, and mouth ulcer/sore in the mouth, diarrhea, and food tastes different. These side effects, by themselves, were not dangerous or life-threatening. Typically, these common side effects begin within the first week of starting ODACTRA and may reoccur for up to two weeks. These common side effects experienced after taking the first tablet typically last up to one hour.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide, for additional Important Safety Information.