Several types of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications treat allergy symptoms. When it comes to relieving the symptoms of seasonal allergies, such as sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes, OTC medications are most often used.
The most common OTC medications to treat seasonal allergies are antihistamines and corticosteroids. These allergy meds come in many forms, including pills, capsules, dissolvable tablets, liquids, nasal sprays and eye drops. Each has its benefits and drawbacks and some may work better than others, depending on the triggers and symptoms.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines stop cells in the body from being affected by histamine, a chemical released by the body’s immune system in response to an allergen. Histamine is what causes symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Oral antihistamines, as well as those administered as nasal sprays and eye drops, are effective at easing many allergy symptoms but some may cause drowsiness, especially first-generation antihistamines. First-generation antihistamines include drugs like:
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Brompheniramine (Children’s Dimetapp Cold)
- Doxylamine (Nyquil)
- Dimenhydrinte (Dramamine)
However, newer antihistamines, often referred to as second- or third-generation antihistamines, are less likely to make you drowsy because they do not cross the blood-brain barrier like first-generation antihistamines. They’re also safer for long-term use because they have less effect on your heart and interact better with other medications. Additionally, the newer antihistamines typically last up to 24 hours and can be more effective at treating seasonal allergy symptoms.
These newer antihistamines are now the most commonly used OTC options for treating seasonal allergies. They include drugs like:
- Loratadine (Claritin)
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
- Fexofenadine (Allegra)
- Levocetirizine (Xyzal)
- Desloratadine (Clarinex)
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids work by suppressing the inflammation caused by your immune system in the presence of allergens.
The most common OTC allergy medications that use this type of drug come in the form of nasal sprays. They include:
- Fluticasone propionate (Flonase)
- Mometasone (Nasonex)
- Triamcinolone (Nasacort)
Corticosteroids may also be used by prescription in oral form or as inhalers. These are designed to treat more severe allergy symptoms but may have risks when taken over the long term.
Which allergy medicine should you take?
When choosing an allergy medicine, it’s important to consider factors such as:
- What type of medicine is it? Is it an antihistamine or a corticosteroid? If it’s an antihistamine, is it a newer type that doesn’t cause drowsiness?
- How well does it work for your symptoms? Some people find that one medication (or combination of medications) works better for them than others, so you may need to experiment a bit to see what is most effective for you.
- What side effects does the medicine have? It’s important to weigh the benefits of any medicine with any side effects or risks, especially if you have health conditions or take other medications.
The good news is that many people find relief from seasonal allergy symptoms using OTC medications. If your symptoms are more severe or don’t respond to OTC medications, talk to your doctor about whether prescription allergy medications or other treatments are right for you.
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Date Last Reviewed: August 15, 2024
Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor
Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD
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