Even if they avoid allergy triggers scrupulously, however, many allergic people will still need medication. Fortunately, allergy medications have come a long way since the days of the drowsy antihistamines that made it difficult to work or think and impossible to drive a car. New nonsedating antihistamines, such as Claritin and Allegra, are effective for many. If allergy symptoms are severe and persist even with medications, immunotherapy may bring relief; in this treatment, your immune system is gradually desensitivized to the allergen by a series of injections of the allergen over a period of years. Your doctor can help you determine which allergy treatment is right for you. Allergies can change over time; allergies may disappear or you may develop new ones, especially if you're exposed to allergens when the body's defenses are lowered or weakened, such as after a viral infection or during pregnancy. If you're an allergic person, aging will decrease your allergies. People suffer most from allergies in their teens through their thirties. As your immune system ages, its ability to react strongly to allergens weakens, and allergy symptoms decrease. So as we sniffle and weep and pop yet another antihistamine, we can comfort ourselves with the knowledge that we will experience real relief from our allergies sooner or later. No wonder they call them "the golden years"!