Customers say it works great for animal allergies, calling it a “lifesaver” and say it even helps with hives. These ingredients are in other drugs, too. At the same time, notes one reviewer, it doesn't feel funny or irritating inside your nose post-spray. It’s designed to act fast (within an hour of you taking it), and provide relief for approximately 24 hours. Many say after trying multiple OTC allergy medications, this is the only one they’ve found to be effective. This medicine claims bragging rights as the number one allergist-recommended brand of OTC oral antihistamines for both indoor and outdoor allergies. H1 receptors are associated with human tissue involving capillaries, and H2 receptors predominate in the lining of the stomach. Antihistamines block histamine, a symptom-causing chemical released by your immune system during an allergic reaction. For indoor and outdoor allergies alike, this antihistamine treats the most common allergy symptoms, from a runny nose and watery eyes to sneezing and an itchy throat. When crawling into bed and sleeping your allergy-filled days away isn’t an option, you want a medicine that’s not going to make you drowsy. The PM … Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process Pills and liquids. Oral antihistamines are the most commonly prescribed allergy medication. Beware of Antihistamines and Sleep Aids Diphenhydramine hydrochloride -- the active ingredient in many antihistamines and OTC sleep aids -- can be risky for elderly people, Schwab stresses. Formerly only available as a prescription, customers say these drops work well, and the price is hard to beat. We attempt to clarify the differences among these drugs by providing side-by-side comparisons of some of the best antihistamines available (below).What is an antihistamine? For indoor and outdoor allergies alike, this antihistamine treats the most common allergy symptoms, from a runny nose and watery eyes to sneezing and an itchy throat. They are now being developed in order to eliminate the possibility of cardiac toxicity. They promise relief from symptoms associated with more than 200 common allergens too, so no matter if it’s dust, mold, pets, or pollen that bothers you, these tablets are likely to help. Second generation antihistamines such as loratadine and cetirizine were developed in the early 1980s, and they provided a distinct benefit in that they did not cause the antihistamine side-effects of sedation, among others. These tablets melt in your mouth with no water needed, which means they’re easy to take on the go, and they work quickly, dissolving three times faster than other tablets on the market. Just one dose is needed per day so you don't have to wrestle with finicky children too much either. Unfortunately, kids aren’t spared from allergies, so when they hit you want to help them feel better as quickly and as safely as possible. These eye drops from Naphcon promise to ease the itch as well as the redness that’s often caused by ragweed, pollen, grass, animals, and more. Oral antihistamines are available over-the-counter and by prescription.
Customers say this prescription-strength Zyrtec helps alleviate that pain by providing effective relief from common allergy symptoms. This antihistamine is made without any dyes or sugar, so parents feel good giving it to their kids. Note that this formula is for adults and children ages 12 and older, but Allegra also makes products for children as well. One of the first of these, fexofenadine, was approved in July of 1996, and more third generation antihistamines are under development. Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. However, histamine is actually a neurotransmitter which helps nerve cells communicate, thus allowing our brains to work properly.