How to choose an allergy medication

Key takeaways

• Seasonal allergies can cause many different symptoms, affecting your eyes, nose, and skin. Different medications can be targeted toward different symptoms and affected areas.
• When choosing a medication, you can think about your specific symptoms to see which medication is best. You can also consider your budget and personal preferences.
• In some cases, you may be able to combine treatments, as long as you make sure the medications are from different drug classes.

Overview

Seasonal allergies can be very annoying and uncomfortable to live with, but there are many different medications available to manage your symptoms. There are over-the-counter and prescription-only options, and different kinds may be better for different symptoms.

To choose the best allergy medication for you, you can consider factors like your symptoms, budget, and your overall preferences. As we enter allergy season, getting to know your medication options is a good way to be prepared for what the season will bring.

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Match your medication to your symptoms

Allergies can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including:

• congestion
• a runny nose
• sneezing
• an itchy nose, skin, or throat
• watery eyes
• itchy eyes

Some allergy drugs are better suited to treating specific symptoms, so this can help you decide which kind of medication to look for.

Allergy medications for congestion

The main medications to treat allergy-related congestion are corticosteroid nasal sprays. These work by reducing the swelling in the linings of your nose and sinuses, which opens up your airways and makes it easier to breathe. They usually get to work quickly, but it may be a few days before you see the full effect.

Common examples of these include:

• fluticasone (Xhance)
• mometasone (Nasonex)
• budesonide (Rhinocort)

You might also try nasal decongestants like oxymetazoline (Vicks Sinex), but these can only be used for 7 days at a time, as your nose can get used to the medications. This may lead to worsening congestion.

For sneezing and itching

Antihistamines are typically the first-line medications for allergies. This is because your body releases histamine when it encounters an allergen, and this is what causes your symptoms. Antihistamines stop the production of histamine.

A common concern with antihistamines is that they may cause drowsiness. However, newer, second-generation antihistamines are less likely to cause this effect.

Common nondrowsy antihistamines include:

• cetirizine (Zyrtec)
• levocetirizine (Xyzal)
• fexofenadine (Allegra)
• loratadine (Claritin)

These are typically available OTC. A prescription-only option is desloratadine (Clarinex).

For eye-related symptoms

Eye-related allergy symptoms can often be treated with eye drops. The most effective eye drops for allergies will combine antihistamines, which can quickly treat your symptoms, and mast cell stabilizers, which can prevent the release of chemicals that cause allergic reactions, lowering the risk of your symptoms coming back.

Some common examples of these are:

• olopatadine (Pataday)
• alcaftadine (Lastacaft)
• bepotastine (Bepreve)

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Think about the type of medication

Medications to treat allergies can come in many different forms, including eye drops, nasal sprays, and oral tablets. Your preferences can be taken into account when choosing a medication. For example, some people may not like to use eye drops. In these cases, oral antihistamines may be a better option.

The type of medication may also have an effect on the effectiveness of your treatment. Some 2024 research finds that nasal spray forms of medications may be more effective than oral versions, with no higher risk of side effects.

Consider costs

Another factor when choosing allergy medications is the potential costs.

Many allergy medications are available OTC, and these may be slightly cheaper than prescription options. They’re not often covered by insurance and won’t count toward your deductible, but they tend to be eligible costs for flexible spending accounts (FSAs) or health savings accounts (HSAs).

You can also make sure you look for generic drugs instead of branded counterparts. Generics contain the exact same active ingredient as branded forms, but they tend to be cheaper because the manufacturers don’t have to recover research and development costs.

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Other considerations

You can speak with a healthcare professional to help you decide which medication is right for you. Some medications, for example, might cause uncomfortable side effects, which may make you want to switch to another option.

Some medications may also work faster than others for symptom relief. When you’re taking OTC medications, it may be a good idea to try different options until you find a treatment regimen that works for you.

Can different medications be combined?

You can combine different types of allergy medications, and this may help to strengthen your treatment. For example, some 2024/2025 guidelines now recommend the use of a combination nasal spray containing azelastine hydrochloride and fluticasone propionate (Dymista).

Azelastine is an antihistamine, while fluticasone is a steroid. Combining these two types of treatment has been shown to have a better effect than either drug alone.

You can also take two types of allergy medications together, such as Flonase and Zyrtec, as long as the two drugs are from different drug classes.

Make sure to never combine two of the same medication type, such as two antihistamines. This can increase the risk of severe side effects or even lead to overdose.

Summary

As we enter allergy season, the number of allergy medications on the market can be overwhelming. However, you can take into account your individual situation when choosing a treatment. For example, you can think about your own symptoms, preferences, and budget to help you decide.

You can also reach out to a doctor or pharmacist for advice when choosing a medication. They can help guide you to an option that feels right for you.

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Disclaimer: While Optum Perks strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses.