You May Want To Skip Allergy Meds That Has Decongestant In Their Ingredient List

Zyrtec, a.k.a. cetirizine hydrochloride, consistently offers up relief in the form of a tiny, easy-to-swallow pill. The tablets work fast and keep on delivering all day. Just note: It’s important to take it every day in order for the medication to be as effective as possible.

Both Dr. Li and Dr. Parikh say that Allegra—or its generic form, fexofenadine—is a winner. Allegra is an antihistamine that helps tackle symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and an itchy nose or throat.

Flonase is a steroid nasal spray that helps keep your body from overreacting to allergens like pollen. Just use one or two sprays in each nostril daily. Dr. Li recommends combining it with Allegra for maximum benefit.

Unfortunately, kids aren’t spared from allergies. Dr. Parikh says an OTC medication like Claritin for Kids works great. It’s not a bad idea to check in with your child’s pediatrician first, though, just to make sure it won’t interact with any other medications they may be taking.

Nasacort offers 24-hour relief from those pesky allergy symptoms. It’s also non-drowsy, scent-free, and alcohol-free—and Dr. Parikh is a fan.

Xyzal, a.k.a. levocetirizine, “is the best prescription-strength oral antihistamine,” Dr. Li says. It starts working within an hour to give you fast relief from allergy symptoms.

It can be tough to get to sleep when your allergy symptoms are really bad. Benadryl can give you relief and help you conk out. “Generally, the most popular antihistamine for sleep aid is diphenhydramine—Benadryl—which is the active ingredient in many nighttime formulations of cold and cough remedies,” Dr. Li says.

More than 2,000 Amazon reviewers swear by this medicine for natural allergy relief. RhinAllergy uses ingredients like histaminum hydrochloricum and ambrosia to help you get relief. Just keep in mind that homeopathic medications aren’t regulated by the FDA the same way other medications are.

Claritin provides relief of symptoms that can be triggered by more than 200 different allergens, including pets, pollen, dust, and mold. The antihistamine stops the cascade of symptoms that can be triggered by allergens.

Flonase Sensimist is a steroid nasal spray that helps block six allergic substances to relieve a runny nose. “The benefit of a nasal steroid is that it is not a systemic medication,” says Dr. Chaudhry. Since the whole body is not being affected, this 24-hour relief nasal mist has fewer side effects and gets right to the problem, she explains.

Allegra Gelcaps, a type 1 histamine blocker, works best for skin symptoms, according to Dr. Chaudry. These fast- acting capsules offer 24-hour non-drowsy relief and start working within an hour to help control all itch receptors in the skin.