Program Description
Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects up to 30% of adults and 40% of children annually in the United States. Despite widespread therapy availability, AR is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated. Core symptoms—such as nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and ocular irritation—severely impact sleep quality, daytime functioning, and overall quality of life. With an array of products available, pharmacists must be knowledgeable about the nuances of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic options as treatment-related sedation or inadequate symptom control from inappropriate treatment selection contributes to disease burden. Because AR is primarily managed with OTC therapies, patients rely on pharmacists for guidance on product selection and instruction. This article outlines stepwise, symptom-driven approaches to treatment selection for allergic rhinitis, examining first-line oral antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids, nonpharmacologic strategies, and second-generation antihistamines to minimize sedation. After engaging with this article, pharmacists will be equipped to guide evidence-based OTC decision-making for patients with allergic rhinitis, focusing on enhancing symptom-based assessments to precisely match therapies to patient-specific symptoms. Strategies to optimize patient counseling, including setting realistic expectations for onset of action, proper intranasal administration, and highlighting the functional risks of sedating options will also be addressed.
Target
audience: Community
Pharmacist
Type of activity: Application
Release date: August 31, 2026
Expiration date: August 31, 2027
Learner
level: Foundational
Time to complete
activity: 2.0
hours
Fee: Free
Educational
Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate allergic rhinitis symptoms from other conditions with similar symptoms
- Explain the guideline recommendations and evidence supporting the use of nondrowsy treatments for AR to resolve symptoms, improve sleep quality, and increase productivity related to wakefulness
- Manage individualized care plans for patients using allergic rhinitis OTC medications through appropriate selection, counseling, and adherence support to achieve optimal outcomes
Jason Zupec, PharmD, BCACP
Clinical Associate Professor
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Saint Joseph’s University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 2.0 contact hours (0.20 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-26-253-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through August 31, 2027.
Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit
To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, view the activity in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.
Faculty
Jason Zupec, PharmD, BCACP, has the following relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose:
Curaleaf Holdings
The following contributors have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose:
Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff— Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Jason Christidhis, PharmD; Sarah Viruet; and Brianna Winters have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
Pharmacy Times® Editorial Staff— Aislinn Antrim
Any relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.
At least one anonymous peer reviewer was used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewer has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
Educational Disclaimer
Continuing professional education activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved by the labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.
For questions about this internet CPE activity, please contact:
[email protected]
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