Allergy season has a sucky way of happening at the exact same time you want to be outside 24/7. So, when spring and fall come, you're left dealing with a bunch of unpleasant symptoms that can make you want to ride out the rest of the season in an allergen-free bubble.
Unfortunately, that's not really an option. What you can do is stock up on over-the-counter allergy medicines to get relief from your stuffy nose and watery eyes. But…have you seen all the options out there lately?
The good news is that there are plenty of meds to choose from. The bad? That makes it hard to even know where to start. Sure, you can just pick a random option and hope it does the trick, but that can end up costing you time and money—two things you don't exactly have a lot of when you want to feel better ASAP.
FWIW, OTC allergy medicines are "very effective" and "as effective as most prescription medicines," says Evan Li, MD, assistant professor of medicine, immunology, allergy and rheumatology at the Baylor College of Medicine. Actually, many of them used to be prescription meds, points out Purvi Parikh, MD, an allergist with Allergy & Asthma Network.
Basically, it's possible to find something OTC that's just as good as what your doctor would prescribe. Here's how to find the OTC allergy medicine that's right for you.
What should I look for in an OTC allergy medication?
There are certain ingredients that you should look for when you're reading labels. If you're shopping for an OTC allergy medication in pill form, you want to "look for ingredients that indicate there are antihistamines," Dr. Li says. Here's a list of active ingredients to search for:
- cetrizine
- levocetrizine
- fexofenadine
- diphenhydramine
- lortadine
For nasal sprays, you'll want to look for steroids. "These are generally the most effective nasal sprays and do not cause rebound nasal congestion," Dr. Li says. (Rebound nasal congestion or rebound rhinitis, in case you're not familiar with it, is when the lining inside your nose becomes inflamed after using certain medications like decongestants for too long.) Instead, Dr. Li recommends keeping an eye out for these ingredients:
- fluticasone
- mometasone
- triamcinolone
Pro tip, per Dr. Parikh: "Avoid anything with decongestants, because they can make symptoms worse and have side effects." If you feel like you really need to use a decongestant, it's important not to do it for more than three days in a row. Otherwise, you run the risk of rebound congestion, Dr. Li says.
So, what should you get? Everyone and their needs are a little different, but allergists say these OTC allergy medicines tend to be best.
1 Best Overall
Zyrtec 24 Hour Allergy Relief Tablets Zyrtec, aka cetirizine hydrochloride, consistently offers up relief in the form of a tiny, easy-to-swallow pill. The tablets work fast and keep on delivering all day. Just note: It's important to take it every day in order for the medication to be as effective as possible.
2 Best Non-Drowsy
Allegra Adult 24 Hour Allergy Tablets Both Dr. Li and Dr. Parikh say that Allegra—or its generic form, fexofenadine—is a winner. Allegra is an antihistamine that helps tackle symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, and an itchy nose or throat.
3 Best for Pollen Allergies
Flonase Allergy Relief Nasal Spray Flonase is a steroid nasal spray that helps keep your body from overreacting to allergens like pollen. Just use one or two sprays in each nostril daily. Dr. Li recommends combining it with Allegra for maximum benefits.
4 Best for Kids
Claritin 24 Hour Allergy Chewables for Kids Unfortunately, kids aren't spared from allergy season. Dr. Parikh says an OTC medication like Claritin for kids works great. It's not a bad idea to check in with your child's pediatrician first, though, just to make sure it won't interact with any other medications they may be taking.
5 Best Allergy Nasal Spray
Nasacort Allergy 24HR Nasal Spray for Adults Nasacort offers 24-hour relief from those pesky allergy symptoms. It's also non-drowsy, scent-free, and alcohol-free—and Dr. Parikh is a fan.
6 Best Prescription Strength
Xyzal Allergy Tablet Xyzal, aka levocetirizine, "is the best prescription strength oral antihistamine," Dr. Li says. It starts working within an hour to give you fast relief from allergy symptoms.
7 Best Allergy Eye Drops
Zaditor Antihistamine Eye Drops Struggling with itchy, watery eyes? Just one drop of Zaditor will provide up to 12 hours of relief. Dr. Parikh is a fan.
8 Best for Nighttime
Benadryl Ultratabs Antihistamine Allergy Relief Tablets It can be tough to get to sleep when your allergy symptoms are really bad. Benadryl can give you relief and help you to conk out. "Generally the most popular antihistamine for sleep aid is diphenhydramine—Benadryl—which is the active ingredient in many nighttime formulations of cold and cough remedies," Dr. Li says.
9 Best Natural Allergy Medicine
Boiron Rhinallergy Homeopathic Medicine for Allergy Relief More than 2,000 Amazon reviewers swear by this medicine for natural allergy relief. RhinAllergy uses ingredients like histaminum hydrochloricum and ambrosia to help you get relief. Just keep in mind that homeopathic medications aren't regulated by the FDA the same way as other medications.
10 Best for Pet Allergies
Claritin 24 Hour Allergy Medicine Claritin (generic name: loratadine) provides relief of symptoms that can be triggered by more than 200 different allergens, including pets, pollen, dust and mold. The antihistamine stops the cascade of symptoms that can be triggered by allergens.
Korin Miller Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men's Health, Women's Health, Self, Glamour, and more.
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