Which Allergy Medicine is Right for You?

You’re not the only one who thinks this allergy season has been worse than before.

New data suggests that the allergy season is getting longer and pollen levels are steadily increasing. Pollen rates continue to skyrocket, rising 21 percent nationwide from 1990 to 2018, according to a 2021 study by the journal PNAS.

Some cities in the US are doing worse than others. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Reno, Nevada are experiencing longer allergy seasons compared to previous decades.

The extended season means many Americans are turning to over-the-counter medications to treat their allergies more often than before.

However, many of these drugs have side effects that can affect a person’s daily life. In some cases, overuse can even be dangerous.

Here is DailyMail.com’s guide to which OTC allergy medication is best for you

In some parts of America, the pollen season is getting longer each year as a warmer climate leads to an increased amount of particulate matter in the air

According to new data from Climate Central, the length of time people have to suffer has increased every spring.

The allergy season has increased by an average of 15 days in 200 cities over the past 50 years.

In some locations there is also more time between the last frost of each spring and the first frost of each fall.

While Reno topped the list of cities with longer “frost-free” periods, seasons in over 30 other areas also lengthened by more than a month.

The hardest hit are Bend, Oregon, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, where allergy seasons increased by 83 and 73 days, respectively.

Prolonged pollen exposure can have significant health effects for those affected by seasonal hay fever, which affects about 26 percent of adults and 19 percent of children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As more people suffer from allergies for a long time, many are overwhelmed with the question of which over-the-counter medications to use.

Benadryl

How it works: Benadryl has one active ingredient, diphenhydramine, which is an antihistamine.

This means it blocks histamine, a natural chemical in the body that causes allergy symptoms like sneezing, itching, and a runny nose.

Various forms are used to treat allergies, itchy skin, the common cold, and hay fever.

To form: The drug is available in tablets, liquid gelcaps, chewable tablets, syrups, and topical medicines.

Side effects: One of the most common symptoms is drowsiness, followed by dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, chest congestion, headache, muscle weakness and nervousness.

Driven: When taken in large doses, Benadryl can cause serious health problems. The Food and Drug Administration warned against taking a higher-than-recommended dose of the drug.

“Taking higher than recommended doses of the over-the-counter allergy drug diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can cause serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death,” the agency said. The FDA also recommends not using Benadryl in children under the age of two because of the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Effectiveness: For allergies, it is best for adults to take one or two capsules every four to six hours.

Benadryl is only recommended for short-term use as continued use can lead to permanent health problems such as dementia, memory problems, anxiety and dependency.

Claritin

How it works: Claritin contains loratadine and pseudoephedrine sulfate. Loratadine is an antihistamine, while pseudoephedrine sulfate acts as a decongestant.

Decongestants provide short-term relief from a stuffy or stuffy nose, also known as rhinitis.

Claritin is used to treat allergy symptoms and the redness and itching associated with hives.

To form: The drug is available in tablets, liquid gelcaps, chewable tablets and syrups.

Side Effects: The most common side effects are headache, dry mouth, nosebleeds, sore throat or mouth sores, trouble sleeping, nervousness, weakness, stomach pain, diarrhea and itchy eyes.

Driven: Experts recommend not to exceed the specified dosage of Claritin. Overdose symptoms include a fast or pounding heartbeat, drowsiness, headache, and unusual body movements.

Additionally, a 2016 study in the journal Case Reports in Hepatology found that loratadine can cause liver damage in very rare cases.

Effectiveness: Adults and children should not take more than one tablet per day. Claritin can be taken at any time of the day as it is a non-drowsy drug. It can also be used every day for long-term allergy relief.

Allegra

How it works: The active ingredient in Allegra is fexofenadine, an antihistamine. It is used to treat allergy symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and sore throat. Some forms can also relieve the symptoms of hives.

To form: Allegra is available in 12-hour tablets, 24-hour tablets, 24-hour softgels, dissolving tablets, and syrups.

Side effects: Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle or back pain, drowsiness, and headache.

Driven: Rare but serious side effects include hives, trouble breathing, swelling, fever, chills, body aches, and flu-like symptoms.

Because fexofenadine is eliminated via the kidneys, patients with renal failure may be at greater risk of toxic reactions.

In addition, doctors warn against taking Allegra at the same time as magnesium or aluminum antacids, as this can interfere with the absorption of the drug.

Taking the drug with fruit juices can also lead to a weakening of the active ingredients.

Effectiveness: Adults and children over 12 years of age should only take one tablet daily with a glass of water. The drug is not recommended for children under the age of 12. Allegra can be taken daily.

Zyrtec

How it works: The active ingredient in Zyrtec is cetirizine HCL, an antihistamine. The drug is used to treat allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, and nasal congestion.

To form: Zyrtec is available in tablets, chewable tablets, syrups, liquid gels, and dissolving tablets.

Side effects: Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, flushing, sweating, numbness, tingling, burning pain, decreased sense of taste, headache, upset stomach, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, and sore throat.

Driven: Serious side effects include fast or irregular heartbeats, hyperactivity, extreme restlessness, extreme weakness, tremors, confusion, vision changes, or trouble urinating.

Effectiveness: Adults and children over the age of six should only take one tablet per day. Children under the age of six or adults over the age of 65 should consult their doctor before taking Zyrtec. This drug can be taken every day.

Sudafed

How it works: Depending on the form, Sudafed uses either the active ingredient pseudoephedrine HCL or phenylephrine, both of which are decongestants.

The drug is used to treat nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies, or hay fever. Some forms can also be used to relieve headaches.

To form: Sudafed is available in tablets and syrup. However, these products are subject to limitations in some areas.

While special rules apply to the purchase of Sudafed PE, products containing pseudoephedrine are at risk of abuse. Therefore, you may need to purchase Sudafed at the pharmacy and show appropriate identification.

Side effects: The most commonly reported side effects are weakness, dizziness, restlessness, headache, nausea and insomnia.

Driven: Rare but serious effects include rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, hallucinations, psychosis, chest pain, increased blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

One of the main problems with the drug is that it can become habitual.

This is because some forms contain pseudoephedrine, which acts like a stimulant. This increases heart rate, blood sugar, energy and blood pressure.

Effectiveness: Adults and children 12 years and older can safely take two tablets every four to six hours, but no more than eight in a 24-hour period. Long-term use can lead to dependency. Therefore, try to take them for less than a week.