The seven most common options
| Medicine | Generic | Type | Drowsiness (label) | How often | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zyrtec | cetirizine | Oral antihistamine (pill) | May cause drowsiness | Once a day | 6+ |
| Claritin | loratadine | Oral antihistamine (pill) | Labeled non-drowsy | Once a day | 6+ |
| Allegra | fexofenadine | Oral antihistamine (pill) | No drowsiness warning | Once a day (180 mg) or twice a day (60 mg) | 12+ |
| Xyzal | levocetirizine | Oral antihistamine (pill) | May cause drowsiness | Once a day, in the evening | 6+ |
| Benadryl | diphenhydramine | Oral antihistamine (pill), older type | Marked drowsiness | Every 4 to 6 hours | 6+ |
| Flonase | fluticasone propionate | Steroid nasal spray | No drowsiness warning | Once a day | 4+ |
| Nasacort | triamcinolone acetonide | Steroid nasal spray | No drowsiness warning | Once a day | 2+ |
Start with your main symptom
- Stuffy nose (congestion): of these, only the steroid nasal sprays, Flonase and Nasacort, list nasal congestion among their uses. Their labels say full relief takes several days to a week of daily use.
- Sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes: every antihistamine here lists these. Flonase also lists itchy, watery eyes.
Then think about drowsiness
- No drowsiness warning: Allegra, Flonase, Nasacort.
- Labeled non-drowsy when taken as directed: Claritin.
- "Drowsiness may occur": Zyrtec, Xyzal (taken in the evening).
- "Marked drowsiness": Benadryl.
Check the age on the label
Labels set the youngest age for each product. See allergy medicine for kids.
Generic is the same medicine
Store brands list their active ingredient on the label. Cetirizine is Zyrtec's, loratadine is Claritin's, fexofenadine is Allegra's, levocetirizine is Xyzal's, diphenhydramine is Benadryl's, fluticasone propionate is Flonase's and triamcinolone is Nasacort's.
Not sure? Try the allergy medicine finder or ask a pharmacist. This site summarizes labels and is not medical advice.
