Relieves red, irritated, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and runny nose caused by hay fever, allergies, or the common cold.

Relieves cough caused by minor throat or airway irritation.

Prevent and treat motion sickness.

Insomnia. (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep).

Treatment of hives or allergic reactions. (May prevent hives compared to others.)

Diphenhydramine HCl 25 mg / tablet

Diphenhydramine HCl 12.5 mg / 5ml liquid

1 hour

6 to 8 hours

Good for cough and cold symptoms compared to second generation antihistamines like loratadine, cetrizine, fexofenadrine.

Nighttime cough and runny nose.

Better for allergy symptoms in class.

Fast reversal of allergic reactions due to histamine release.

Drowsiness

Dry mouth and throat

Increased heart rate

Slow reaction time. (Even if you are not drowsy, reaction time will be slower than usual.)

Excitability in children.

Not for children less than 6 years old.

After drowsiness effect wears off, reaction time may still be slower than normal. Note this while driving the next morning after taking it for sleep or other things. Give more than enough distance with cars ahead to prevent an accident.

Retail Pharmacy Price:
Benadryl: $9.79 / 48 ct

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Benadryl®

Relieves red, itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; itchy nose or throat; and runny nose caused by allergies, hay fever, and the common cold.

Chlorpheniramine maleate 4 mg

Chlorpheniramine maleate 12 mg ER

Within 1 hour

Up to 6 hours for regular

12 hours for extended release

Less drowsy compared to diphenhydramine

Good for itchy, watery eyes related allergy.

Potentiates the cough suppressing effect of Dextromethophan.

Good for cold symptoms if you want to avoid diphenhydramine.

Possible anti-anxiety effects.

Dry mouth.

Some drowsiness.

Decreased coordination, thinking and reaction times.

Not for children younger than 4 years old.

Chew gum to help with the side effect of a dry mouth.

Take with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.

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Chlor-trimeton: $12.99 / 24 ct

Chlor-Trimethon®

Relieve sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes, nose or throat due to allergy.

Treat itching and redness caused by hives.
*(Does not prevent hives or other allergic skin reactions.)

Loratadine 10 mg tablets

Loratadine 5mg/5ml syrup

Loratadine rapidly disintegrating tablets 10 mg

Loratadine 5mg chewable tablets.

3 hours

24 hours

Least sedating in class.

Can be used for children as young as 2 yrs old.

Sugar free syrup for children

• Difficulty Sleeping (especially with D).
• Headache or stomach pain in some people.
• Dry mouth
• Possible nervousness.

If starting out, buy a pack of 5 tabs. If it works, come back for more. If not try another antihistamine until you find what works for you. This way, you don't waste your money.

If you've used it for a while and is no longer working, switch to cetirizine or fexofenadine.

May chew gum to help with dry mouth symptoms.

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Claritin: $35.99 / 70 ct

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Claritin®, Antivert®, Store brands.

For sneezing; runny nose; itchy, red, watery eyes; and itchy nose or throat.

Itching and redness caused by hives.

*** (Does not prevent hives or other allergic skin reactions.) 

Cetirizine 5mg, 10 mg tablets

Cetirizine chewable tablets 5mg, 10 mg.

Cetirizine syrup 5mg/5ml.

1 hour.

24 hrs for 10 mg dose, 12 hrs for 5 mg.

10 mg is more effective than 5 mg
For instance for Cetirizine + D, better to buy Cetirizine 10mg and pseudoephedrine separate. Combination contain 5mg Cetirizine.

Good for children as young as 6 months old.

Faster acting in class.

Duration is a little longer in class.

Good alternative if Loratidine is no longer working for you.

Drowsiness in about 20% of people.

Dry mouth in about 5% of people

Buy a pack of 5 tabs to start with. If it works, then come back for more.

Take dose at bedtime in case it makes you drowsy.

Take before exposure to allergen for best results.

May chew gum to help with dry mouth symptoms.

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Zyrtec: $32.99 / 70 ct

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Zyrtec®, Store brands.

Relieves runny nose; sneezing; red, itchy, or watery eyes; or itching of the nose, throat, or roof of the mouth in adults and children 2 years of age and older.

Relieves hives, itching and rash in adults and children 6 months of age and older.

(Does not prevent hives or other allergic skin reactions.)

Fexofenadine HCL 30, 60 180 mg tablets

Fexofenadine HCL 30 mg meltable tablets.

Fexofenadine HCL 30mg/5ml syrup.

1 hour

12 (60mg) or 24 hours (180mg).

Non drowsy at recommended doses.

Faster acting compared to loratadine.

Approved for hives in children as young as 6 months.

May provide better relief from watery eyes symptoms compared to others.

Do not take with orange, apple or grape juice. Give about 3 to 4 hours in-between. (Absorption reduced by up to 40%).

Do not take closely in time with Aluminium and Mg containing antacids. (Absorption reduced by up to 41%).

Most common side effect is headache.

If starting out, get the 5 count tablets. If it works, come back for more.

Must take with water for maximum effect.

Prefer this if your eyes are also very watery.

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Allegra: $39.99 / 70 ct

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Allegra®

It blocks multiple allergy causing inflammatory substances produced by the body.

For relief of:
Nasal congestion, Runny nose, Sneezing, Itchy nose, Itchy eyes, Watery eyes.

Fluticasone propionate 50 mcg in each spray

Full effectiveness is usually achieved after 3 or 4 days of continuous use.

Average 24 hour control of symptoms.

Indicated for eye allergy relief. More like prevention rather than cure. So don't expect eye allergy relief if you already have the itchy eyes. But it may help prevent it if you are prone to allergy symptoms of itchy eyes. Advantage over nasacort®.

Blocks other allergy causing substances in the body. Unlike antihistamines that only block histamine.

Need time for full effect. This varies among individuals. About 3 to 5 days.

May cause dry or irritated nose or throat.

May cause frequent nose bleeds and possibly bad tastes or smell in some people.

May cause headaches if you are prone to headaches.

Some people may not like the smell. Kind of flowery. But don't worry, it goes away fast.

Use steroidal nasal sprays if your allergy symptoms also include nasal congestion. If it is just runny nose and sneezing, stick with antihistamines.

Good choice if allergy symptoms include nasal congestion and you cannot take a decongestant-antihistamine combination like Claritin D (as in high blood pressure).

You don't have to use antihistamines like Claritin® or Allergra® with this nasal spray. There is no benefit or proven advantage in combining both. But if switching from an antihistamine to this, we recommend continuing the antihistamine for about 3 to 5 days until the full effect of the nasal spray kicks in.

Thinking of using this in a child? Do not use for more than 2 months in an allergy season. You risk slowing the growth of the child. Must not use for a child less than 4 years old.

Use every day during the allergy season. But not for longer than 6 months at a time.

Do not use for cold symptoms. Not effective.

Retail Pharmacy Price:
$29.99 / 120 ct

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Temporarily relieve these symptoms of hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies:
Nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose.

Fluticasone propionate (glucocorticoid) 50 mcg

Inactive:
0.02% w/w benzalkonium chloride, dextrose, microcrystalline cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose sodium, 0.25% w/w phenylethyl alcohol, polysorbate 80, purified water.

3 to 5 days 

24 hrs

Indicated for eye allergy relief. More like prevention rather than cure. In other words, don't expect relief if you already have the itchy eyes. But it may help with prevention if you are prone to itchy eyes allergy symptoms. Advantage over nasacort.

Blocks other allergy causing substances in the body unlike antihistamines that only block histamine.

Need some time for full effect. This varies among individuals. About 3 to 5 days.

May cause dry or irritated nose or throat.

May cause frequent nose bleeds and possibly bad tastes or smell in some people.

May cause headaches if you are prone to headaches.

Some people may not like the smell.

Ask doctor or pharmacist before using if you are taking:
a steroid medicine for asthma, allergies or skin rash, ketoconazole.

Good choice if allergy symptoms include nasal congestion and you cannot take a decongestant-antihistamine combination

You don't have to use antihistamines tablets like claritin or allergra with this nasal spray. There is no benefit or proven advantage in combining both. But if switching from an claritin tablets to this, we recommend continuing the antihistamine for about 3 to 5 days until the full effect of the nasal spray kicks in.

Thinking of using this in a child? Do not use for more than 2 months in an allergy season. You risk slowing the growth of the child. Must not use for a child less than 4 years old.

Use every day during the allergy season. But not for longer than 6 months at a time.

Do not use for cold symptoms. Not effective.

Retail store price:
$21.99 / 120 ct.

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Blocks more of the body's chemical responses to indoor and outdoor allergens compared to antihistamines, thereby reducing inflammation.

Triamcinolone acetonide 55 mcg in each spray.

Expect full benefit in about 3 days to a week of continued use.

24 hour relief.

Blocks other allergy causing substances in the body unlike antihistamines that only block histamine.

Unscented and alcohol free. Advantage over Flonase®.

Labeled for use in a child as young as 2 years old. But check with pediatrician before using in a child. It can slow growth rate if used frequently.

If Flonase is no longer working for you, switch to Nasacort®. You will notice a difference.

May cause nose bleeds in some people.

Need some time for full effect. This varies among individuals. About 4 to 7 days.

Use steroidal nasal sprays if your allergy symptoms also include nasal congestion. If it is just runny nose and sneezing, stick with antihistamines.

Good choice if allergy symptoms include nasal congestion and you cannot take a decongestant-antihistamine combo. (If you have high blood pressure for example).

No need to use antihistamines like Claritin or Allergra with this nasal spray. There is no benefit or proven advantage in combining both. If switching from an antihistamine to this, we recommend continuing the antihistamine for about a week until the full effect of the nasal spray kicks in.

Thinking of using this in a child?
Do not use for more than 2 months in an allergy season. You risk slowing the growth of the child. Must not use for a child less than 2 years old.

Use every day during the allergy season. But not for longer than 6 months at a time.

Do not use for cold symptoms. Not effective.

Retail Pharmacy Price:
$21.99 / 120 sprays

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Neither an antihistamine nor a decongestant nor a corticosteroid. It prevents allergens from reaching the mast cells, so fewer histamines are released.

Use before exposure to many common allergens to prevent the onset of nasal allergy attacks and build protection against future symptoms as long as you continue to use it as directed.

Cromolyn sodium 5.2 mg in each spray.

Must be started 1-2 weeks before pollen season and continued daily to prevent symptoms.

Average 6 to 8 hours.

Good alternative if you cannot use nasal steroids.

Need to use an average of 4 times a day.

A few headaches the first few days. It should go away.

 More for prevention. Must use 1 to 2 weeks before allergy triggers for good effect.

Retail Pharmacy Price:
$20.99 / 200 sprays

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Temporarily relieves these symptoms of hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies:
Nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose.

Budesonide (glucocorticoid) 32 mcg.

Inactive:
carboxylmethyl cellulose sodium, dextrose anhydrous, disodium edetate, hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment), microcrystalline cellulose, polysorbate 80, potassium sorbate, purified water.

3 to 5 days

18 - 24 hrs

 Alcohol and scent free.

May take longer to kick in compared to the other nasal sprays.

Not for children less than 6 years old.

It may take up to 2 weeks of daily use to feel the most symptom relief.

Do not use for the common cold.

Retail Pharmacy Price:
$23.99 / 120 spray

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