#BEST OVER THE COUNTER ALLERGY MEDICINE HOW TO#

It’s short-acting and very sedating, which can impact your day-to-day work and your ability to operate machinery (like your car). Loratadine (Claritin®, Alavart®, Allerclear®, Wal-itin®, Loradamed®).ĭiphenhydramine, commonly known as Benadryl®, is also an antihistamine, but it isn’t recommended for everyday allergies.Fexofenadine (Allegra®, Aller-ease®, Aller-Fex®, Wal-Fex®).Cetirizine (Zyrtec®, Aller-Tec®, Wall-Zyr®).Though you may know them by their brand names, the generic versions tackle the same problems: Antihistamines, then, are medications that block some of the effects of histamine.Īllergists recommend long-acting, non-sedating antihistamines - ones that won’t make you sleepy - for everyday use. It can also cause your blood vessels to be more permeable (leaky), which causes stuffiness. Histamine is the main chemical responsible for the itching associated with allergies. “When your body encounters something you’re allergic to (known as an allergen), these mast cells are triggered to release their contents, which then cause allergy symptoms.” “Histamine is stored in immune cells called mast cells,” Dr. It’s also involved in local immune responses. This important chemical plays a part in regulating many of your body’s physiologic functions. To understand antihistamines, it’s good to first know what histamine is.

Aronica breaks down what they are, what each of them does, how often you can take them and more. There are two categories of over-the-counter medications commonly used to treat allergies: antihistamines and decongestants.ĭr. Antihistamines and decongestants explained

#BEST OVER THE COUNTER ALLERGY MEDICINE HOW TO#

He explains the differences between the various kinds of over-the-counter allergy medications and how to decide which one (or more) is right for you. PolicyĪllergist Mark Aronica, MD, to the rescue.

We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

Best over the counter allergy medicine