How to Choose an Over-the-Counter Allergy Medicine?

Allergy symptoms such as itchy and watery eyes, nasal congestion, runny nose and sneezing can be relieved by over-the- counter allergy medicines. There are a number of allergy medicines available without prescription. They include Zyrtec, Allegra, Benadryl and Claritin -- to name a few. Because of the many choices available, selecting the right one may be overwhelming for some. The good news is, they all tend to be effective but vary in dosing, side effects and interactions.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine your allergy type. Do you experience allergy symptoms all year or at different times of the year? If you deal with symptoms year-round, you have perennial allergies. If you only notice allergy symptoms during spring or fall, you have seasonal allergies. Zyrtec--brand name for cetirizine-- is effective at treating both seasonal and perennial allergies. Whereas Allegra (fexofenadine) and Claritin (loratadine) are most effective for the treatment of seasonal allergies.

• 2

  Consider side effects. Some allergy medicines tend to cause more undesirable side effects than others. Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Dimetapp (brompheniramine), and Chlor-trimeton (chlorpheniramine) will make you drowsy and should be avoided if you need to drive or operate machinery. These medicines may also make it difficult for you to remain alert if you need to work or go to school. On the other hand, Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are less sedating, which makes them more attractive to users.

• 3

  Consider onset of symptom relief and dosing frequency. Benadryl, Dimetapp and Chlortrimeton must be taken 3 to 4 times a day every 4 to 6 hours. Claritin, Zyrtec and Allegra only have to be administered once a day. Allegra and Zyrtec can also be taken twice a day at 12 hour intervals. Zyrtec starts to relieve your symptoms as fast as 15 to 30 minutes whereas the others take 1 to 3 hours to kick in. With diphenhydramine, brompheniramine and chlorpheniramine you can expect relief for 4 to 7 hours. Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra offer symptom relief for 12

  to 24 hours.

• 4

  Pick an antihistamine with a decongestant if you have an excess of nasal congestion. Many over-the-counter antihistamines have a combination version that contains the decongestant, pseudoephedrine. These products are usually kept behind the counter in the pharmacy. To purchase, you must present your ID to pharmacy staff and be at least 18 years old.