Using Your HSA for Natural Allergy Relief vs. OTC Allergy Medication

Key takeaways:

Natural allergy relief options include nasal irrigation devices and humidifiers. Over-the-counter allergy medicines include antihistamines, nasal sprays, and decongestants.
One option isn’t necessarily better than the other for allergy relief. It depends on your symptoms and preferences.
Many common allergy treatments are HSA eligible, and you can usually combine natural and over-the-counter products.

Allergies are uncomfortable (at best). Whether you’re dealing with a runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, sneezing, or a slew of other symptoms, you just want relief.

The good news is that many allergy remedies, both natural and over-the-counter, are HSA eligible. Understanding your options can help you find effective relief while making the most of your HSA dollars.

Do I Have Allergies or a Cold?

Your first step to breathing easier is to figure out whether you’re actually dealing with allergies—or a cold.

It’s not always easy to tell the difference. They share many of the same (not-so-fun) symptoms, such as:

A stuffy or runny nose
Sneezing
Fatigue
A cough

Here are a couple clues to help you solve the mystery:

Allergy symptoms can last as long as you’re exposed to the allergen. That could be up to 6 weeks during pollen seasons. Colds, on the other hand, typically last about 2 weeks.
Allergies often cause itchy, watery eyes while colds are less likely to.
Colds usually go away on their own. Allergy symptoms can continue until they’re treated.

If allergies are the culprit, you can start comparing treatment options.

Which Natural Allergy Options Are HSA Eligible?

We’ll start with natural allergy relief. You might be interested in these options if:

You’re already taking several medications and don’t want to add another one.
Traditional remedies have worked for you in the past.
You’re worried about side effects from allergy medications, such as drowsiness.

These solutions can calm down symptoms. But there are a couple things to keep in mind about them.

Nasal Saline Irrigation and Sprays

Nasal irrigation involves pushing or spraying saline (salt) water through your nasal passages to flush out mucus, debris, and allergens. Doing so can help relieve congestion and other allergy symptoms.

Irrigation devices include neti pots, squeeze bottles, and rubber nasal bulbs. These devices are safe and effective when used correctly and cleaned regularly.

For nasal irrigation devices, the FDA recommends using distilled, filtered, or boiled water that’s then cooled. Untreated tap water contains bacteria that can cause infections.

HSA eligible nasal irrigation devices and sprays include:

Personal Steam Inhalers

A personal steam inhaler emits water vapor or steam directly into the nasal passage. This can help relieve dry and irritated nasal passages from allergies.

The warm, moist air helps open up congested sinuses, making it easier to breathe and flush out allergens like pollen or dust that get trapped in the nasal cavity.

Like nasal irrigation devices, you’ll need to clean your steam inhaler regularly. Mist from dirty units can worsen allergy symptoms.

HSA eligible steam inhalers include:

Crane 2-in-1 Warm Mist Humidifier and Steam Inhaler

Sublingual Immunotherapy

Sublingual immunotherapy is an alternative treatment to allergy shots that gives you small doses of the allergen affecting you (usually tablets or drops under your tongue). This increases your immunity to the allergen and makes symptoms less intense.

Sublingual immunotherapy is HSA eligible. But the first step is to confirm your allergy with skin or blood tests (these tests are also HSA eligible). Talk to your doctor about whether sublingual immunotherapy can work for you.

Which Over-the-Counter Allergy Medications Are HSA Eligible?

Now it’s time for the other side of the coin. Over-the-counter medications are generally more well known (maybe you can recall a commercial with someone breathing in deeply after taking one). They’re known for working quickly but can come with side effects.

Oral Antihistamines

Antihistamines relieve allergies by blocking the action of histamine—a chemical your immune system releases that’s responsible for allergy symptoms.

There are two types of antihistamines that treat allergy symptoms: first generation and second generation. First-generation antihistamines can be effective but tend to have more side effects, such as drowsiness. They can also interact with several other medications, such as opioids and antidepressants.

An HSA eligible example of these medications include Benadryl (diphenhydramine HCL). Due to their sedating effects, it’s best to take these types of medications at night, or when you don’t need to do tasks that require focus or motor skills, such as working, driving, or operating heavy machinery.

Second-generation antihistamines cause fewer side effects and interact with fewer medications.

HSA eligible examples include:

Claritin (loratadine)
Allegra (fexofenadine)
Zyrtec (cetirizine)
Xyzal (levocetirizine dihydrochloride)

Decongestants

Decongestants can help improve nasal and sinus congestion. But you shouldn’t take the decongestant nasal sprays for a long period of time because they can cause rebound congestion when you stop using them.

These decongestants may not be appropriate if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, glaucoma or hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid).

HSA eligible decongestants include:

Afrin (oxymetazoline)

Nasal Sprays

Corticosteroid nasal sprays can offer relief from nasal congestion, stuffy nose, and runny nose—particularly from hay fever (pollen). They reduce swelling and mucus in nasal passages.

These medications may take up to 2 weeks to be fully effective. But experts consider them a top choice for reducing symptoms.

In some cases, nasal sprays can cause an unpleasant taste, nasal irritation, and nosebleeds.

HSA eligible nasal sprays include:

Flonase Sensimist (fluticasone furoate)
Flonase Allergy Relief (fluticasone propionate)
Nasacort Allergy 24HR (triamcinolone)

Can You Prevent Allergies?

You can’t stop your body from developing allergies. But you can take steps to combat allergies you already have.

Avoid exposure to your allergen. For example, if you have a pollen or mold allergy, try to spend less time outdoors when counts are high.
Start taking medications before allergy season starts. As mentioned earlier, some medications, such as Flonase, can take some time to work. So it’s best to begin taking them before you think you’ll be exposed to the allergen.
Shower before you go to bed. This removes allergens such as pollen from your body and keeps them off your bedding.
Wash your bedding, clothes, and any fabric furniture regularly. This keeps allergens from hanging around and prevents you from constantly breathing them in.
Keep an eye on mold and mildew buildup. They’re particularly fond of bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms.
Maintain air circulation at home. It prevents buildup of allergens in the air.
Use a HEPA air filter. These filters are designed to capture particles from allergy-causing substances such as mold, dust, dust mites, and pet dander. They are HSA eligible but may require a letter of medical necessity for reimbursement.

In Summary: Natural or OTC Allergy Relief?

There’s no right answer. It depends on your preference and symptoms.

Natural options avoid some of the side effects of over-the-counter medications. But they may not work as well if you have persistent or severe allergies. Over-the-counter medications can consistently help with symptoms. But they may interact with other medications you’re taking or aggravate medical conditions.

If you’re not sure where to start, your healthcare provider is a great resource. The good news is that there are plenty of options to fight that nagging sneezing and stuffiness—and your HSA can help.

FAQs

Can I take over-the-counter allergy medication and use natural remedies together?

Yes, it should be safe to combine over-the-counter and natural allergy treatments. But it’s best to check with your healthcare provider to make sure there aren’t any interactions.

Are all allergy products HSA eligible?

Many over-the-counter allergy treatments are HSA eligible. However, eligibility can vary by product, and some items may require a letter of medical necessity from a healthcare provider.

HSA Store® takes the guesswork out of eligibility by only offering reimbursable allergy products. You can check whether an allergy treatment (or any healthcare product) is reimbursable with our Eligibility List.