Which allergy medicine is right for you?

You are not alone in thinking this allergy season has been worse than before.

New data suggests that allergy seasons are getting longer and pollen levels are steadily rising.  Pollen rates are continuing to skyrocket, rising by 21 percent across the nation from 1990 to 2018, per a 2021 study from the journal PNAS.

Some cities in the US are feeling it worse than others. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Reno, Nevada are experiencing lengthened allergy seasons when compared to decades past.

The extended season means many Americans are reaching for over-the-counter medication to treat their allergies more of than before.

Many of these medications come with side effects that can disrupt a person’s daily life, though. In some cases, overuse can even be a danger.

Here is DailyMail.com’s guide to which OTC allergy medicine is best for you 

According to new data from Climate Central, the length of time people are suffering every spring has increased.

Allergy season has lengthened by 15 days on average across 200 cities over the past 50 years. 

Some locations are also experiencing more time between the last freeze of each spring and the first freeze of each fall. 

While Reno topped the list of cities experiencing longer ‘freeze-free’ periods, over 30 other areas also saw their seasons extend by over a month.

Among those worst hit is Bend, Oregon and Las Cruces, New Mexico, which each saw their allergy seasons lengthen by 83 days and 73 days, respectively.

An extended stint of pollen exposure can have significant health ramifications for those who are affected by seasonal hay fever, which hits roughly 26 percent of adults and 19 percent of children, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

As more people suffer from allergies for longer amounts of time, many are overwhelmed by which over-the-counter medications to use. 

Benadryl

How it works: Benadryl has one active ingredient, diphenhydramine, an antihistamine. 

This means that it blocks histamine, a natural chemical in the body that causes allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, itching, and runny nose. 

Different forms are used to treat allergies, itchy skin, the common cold, and hay fever. 

Forms: The medication comes in tablets, liquid gel capsules, chewable tablets, syrups, and topicals.

Side effects: One of the most common symptoms is drowsiness, followed by dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, chest congestion, headache, muscle weakness, and nervousness. 

Dangers: When taken in large doses, Benadryl can cause severe health problems. The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning against taking higher than the recommended dose of the medication. 

‘Taking higher than recommended doses of the common over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicine diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can lead to serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death,’ the agency said. The FDA also recommends that  Benadryl not be used in children under two years old due to risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 

Effectiveness: When used for allergies, it’s best for adults to take one or two capsules every four to six hours. 

Benadryl is only recommended for short-term use because lasting use could lead to lasting health problems, including dementia, memory problems, anxiety, and dependence. 

Claritin

How it works: Claritin contains loratadine and pseudoephedrine sulfate. Loratadine is an antihistamine, while pseudoephedrine sulfate is a decongestant. 

Decongestants provide short-term relief for a blocked or stuffy nose, also known as nasal decongestion. 

Claritin is used to treat allergy symptoms, as well as redness and itching from hives. 

Forms: The medication comes in tablets, liquid gel capsules, chewable tablets, and syrups.

Side effects: The most common side effects are headache, dry mouth, nosebleeds, sore throat or sores in the mouth, difficulty sleeping, nervousness, weakness, stomach pain, diarrhea, and itchy eyes. 

Dangers: Experts recommend not going over the listed dosage of Claritin. Symptoms of an overdose include a fast or pounding heartbeat, drowsiness, headache, and unusual body movements. 

Additionally, a 2016 study in the journal Case Reports in Hepatology found that loratadine could cause very rare instances of liver damage. 

Effectiveness: Adults and children should take no more than one tablet per day.  Claritin can be taken at any time of day, as is is a non-drowsy medication. It can also be used every day for long-term allergy relief. 

Allegra

How it works: Allegra’s active ingredient is fexofenadine, an antihistamine. It’s used to treat allergy symptoms, including runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, and sore throat. Some forms can also alleviate the symptoms of hives. 

Forms: Allegra comes in 12-hour tablets, 24-hour tablets, 24-hour gel caps, dissolving tablets, and syrups.

Side effects: Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle or back pain, drowsiness, and headaches. 

Dangers: Rare but severe side effects include hives, difficulty breathing, swelling, fever, chills, body aches, and flu-like symptoms. 

Because fexofenadine is eliminated by the kidney, patients with kidney failure may be at greater risk of experiencing toxic reactions. 

Additionally, doctors warn against taking Allegra at the same time as magnesium or aluminum antacids because this can affect how well the drug is absorbed. 

Taking the medication with fruit juices can also weaken the active ingredients. 

Effectiveness: Adults and children over the age of 12 should only take one tablet every day, along with a glass of water. The medication is not recommended for children under 12. Allegra can be taken every day. 

Zyrtec

How it works: Zyrtec’s active ingredient is cetirizine HCL, an antihistamine. The medication is used to treat allergy symptoms, including itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, and nasal decongestion. 

Forms: Zyrtec is available in tablets, chewable tablets, syrups, liquid gels, and dissolving tablets.

Side effects: Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, feeling hot, sweating, numbness, tingling, burning pain, decreased sense of taste, headache, upset stomach, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, and sore throat. 

Dangers: Serious side effects include rapid or irregular heartbeats, hyperactivity, severe restlessness, extreme weakness, tremors, confusion, change in vision, or trouble urinating. 

Effectiveness: Adults and children over the age of six should only take one tablet per day. Children under six years old or adults over 65 years old should ask their doctor before taking Zyrtec. This medication can be taken every day.

Sudafed

How it works: Depending on the form, Sudafed either uses the active ingredient pseudoephedrine HCL or phenylephrine, both decongestants. 

The medication is used to treat nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies, or hay fever. Some forms can also be used to relieve headaches.

Forms: Sudafed is available in tablets and in syrups. However, these products have restrictions in some areas. 

While Sudafed PE has specific rules for purchase, products containing pseudoephedrine carries a risk for misuse. Therefore, you may have to purchase Sudafed at the pharmacy counter and show proper identification. 

Side effects: The most commonly reported side effects are weakness, dizziness, restlessness, headaches, nausea, and insomnia. 

Dangers: Rare but serious effects are fast heart rate, trouble breathing, hallucinations, psychosis, chest pain, increased blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. 

One of the main concerns with the medication is it can be habit-forming. 

This is because some forms have pseudoephedrine, which acts like a stimulant. This increases heart rate, blood sugar, energy, and blood pressure. 

Effectiveness: Adults and children 12 years and older can safely take two tablets every four to six hours, not exceeding eight in 24 hours. Long-term use can cause dependence, so aim to take them for less than a week.