Top 10 Best OTC (Over-the-Counter) Allergy Medicines

February 10, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Allergy Relief, Health 

Most people who are looking for allergy treatments are suffering from hay fever, which doctors call allergic rhinitis. Your nose itches and runs; you sneeze. Your nose may get congested. For some people, the itchiness is the worst. The congestion bothers others more than anything else. Your eyes may run and itch along with your nose. Or you might just have eye allergies.

 There are also skin allergies. Let’s say you are allergic to poison oak or poison ivy and you touch the plant. You will have an allergic reaction to it. Your skin will get red and itchy, or even worse.

Sometimes you need to see the doctor if you don’t know what is wrong with you or how serious it is.  If you know you have hay fever, you are in luck. Almost every kind of medicine used to treat hay fever is now available over the counter. Unfortunately, the over-the-counter medicines for eye allergies are not as effective, but there are some you can try. If your eyes really bother you, you can always try taking an antihistamine orally even if that is all the symptoms you have. The medicines available for skin allergy do help, but they are not as strong as prescription medications

 A lot of people with allergies also have asthma. There are absolutely no effective medications over-the-counter for asthma. Asthma can be serious. If you suspect you have asthma you need to see a doctor. Asthma causes trouble breathing – not from a clogged nose, but from the lungs. You may have a cough. You may make a sound when you breathe which is called wheezing. If you have any symptoms involving your breathing you must get medical treatment from a doctor.

You need to know that there is nothing special or different about inside as opposed to outside allergies. Some of the pharmaceutical companies run ads saying their medicine is better for indoor allergies than the other medication, or that it is better for outdoor allergies, or both. Your body does not know the difference. The allergic reaction is the same whether or not you are reacting to a cat inside or pollen outside.

You also need to know that the chemical that causes most of your symptoms is called histamine. When you react to something that you are allergic to, your cells release histamine, and then the itching and sneezing starts. Antihistamines stop histamine from bonding to certain cells. That prevents the cells from releasing a whole cascade of allergy-inducing chemicals.

So here are the top ten OTC medicines for allergy relief.

10. Crolom eye drops

These eye drops does not treat symptoms directly or immediately. The drops are used to prevent the allergies from happening. The medication stops cells in your eyes from releasing the chemicals that make them itch and run. So you have to use them on a daily basis, starting from before the time of year you usually get eye allergies. If you are already having symptoms, it will take a couple of weeks of use for you to know if this is going to help you. It is worth trying, because it is really completely safe. There are always long lists of possible side effects from anything, but this is as safe a medicine as you can find. It’s worth giving it a two to four week try.

9. NasalCrom

This used to be a prescription nose spray. It is made from the same medication as the Crolom eye drops and it works the same way. You need to spray it in your nose before allergy season starts, if possible. Again, you need to give it two to four weeks to really see if it is going to help you. There are generic formulations of Nasalcrom (cromolyn sodium nasal spray).

8. Ocean Sinus Irrigation

This is a modified salt water solution. It comes in a simple spray bottle (Ocean Nasal Spray) or a large canister that can actually spray a lot more in your nose and clean out your nose and sinuses. This is great if you have a lot of mucous and you feel it in the back of your throat, or you feel like you have to clear your throat a lot. It is also good if you have had a sinus infection – which people with allergies may have more often. It is also good if you have been out and around in a city with a lot of particulate dirt in the air. When that happens, you can sometimes see the dark particles in your mucous. That makes allergies worse. So flush everything out with salt water. The big spray canister does not have a generic, but you can buy it at Costco.

7. Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride

This used to be what Sudafed was made of. They still have it as Sudafed or other brands, but in many states you have to ask at the pharmacy counter and you have to show your driver’s license, and sign a list with your name and address. That is because pseudoephedrine can be used, and has been used, to make methamphetamine. So you can only buy a limited amount. This is the best decongestant without any question. What this will do is open up a plugged nose, as well as open up plugged Eustachian tubes. Those are the tubes between your nose and your ears that plug up when you go up in a plane or up a mountain. If your allergies are bothering you and an antihistamine is not enough to unplug everything, pseudoephedrine will take care of it. It comes in many generics, which will also be behind the pharmacy counter in many states. If you buy Sudafed off the shelf, you will now probably be getting Sudafed PE, phenylephrine hydrochloride, which cannot be used to make crystal meth but also does not work very well. Most of the combination pills use the phenylephrine so they don’t have to be behind the counter. If you are buying prescription Claritin and you need a decongestant too, Claritin D has pseudoephedrine. Go for the pseudoephedrine. You can ask the pharmacist for real Sudafed if you don’t remember the name.

6. Visine-A

These eye drops have two ingredients. One is naphazoline, which constricts the blood vessels on the surface of the eye. That helps get rid of the redness. The other is pheniramine maleate, an antihistamine which stops the histamine from causing tallergic symptoms. These drops are somewhat effective and fairly safe. They come in many brands which all have the same ingredients, including Naphcon-A and Opcon-A.
 
5. Cortaid

1% hydrocortisone is the active ingredient in most anti-itch creams. It does work. Prescription strengths usually work better, but this is better than nothing. Look for this with the least additives. Be careful not to buy cream with diphenyhydramine in it. It turns out that while diphenhydramine works great by mouth, if you put it on your skin you can develop an allergic reaction to it. So look for the hydrocortisone. It will help if you get something you are allergic to on your skin and you get an itchy rash. That could be poison oak or ivy, or it could be a chemical in makeup, shampoo, or toothpaste. If you know that you have skin allergies and you don’t have a prescription, this cream plus one of the antihistamines will help you.

4. Chlor-Trimeton (chlorpheneramine)
 
Chlorpheneramine is the generic for Chlor-Trimeton. It is very similar in most ways to diphenhydramine (number 3). It may work better for some individuals. So if you are looking for a fast-acting medicine that might make you a little sleepy and diphenhydramine doesn’t work, try chlorpheneramine. This also comes in all sorts of combinations, with a decongestant, with a pain reliever, in longer acting capsules. Be sure you know what you are taking.

3. Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
 
This is the generic name for Bendadryl, the most well-known antihistamine. It has been around a very long time, and it is an excellent antihistamine. However, it makes people very sleepy. It does go to work fast, but it only lasts 4 to 6 hours. It is excellent for a sudden allergy attack that was not expected, if you don’t have to drive. If you have allergies, you can carry this with you. Then, if you are allergic to cats, and you wind up visiting a friend with a cat and your allergies attack, you can take Benadryl and you will start to feel better in 30 minutes. It also works great for itchy skin rashes, like if you have been bitten by lots of mosquitoes on vacation, and you want to get a good night’s sleep. Diphenhydramine comes as a generic and in all sorts of forms.

2. Zyrtec (cetirizine)

This is the generic name for Zyrtec. It is a second-generation antihistamine like loratidine (see number 1). The television commercials make a big deal about this going to work 2 hours faster than Claritin.   It maybe goes to work a little faster. But most people need to take their antihistamines on a daily basis during certain times of the year, or maybe all year, depending on the allergy.  By day two, there is no difference in timing.  About 10% of people still get a little sleepy with cetirizine. That’s why it’s at number two. It is better for hives, but if you are having hives, you need to see your doctor. You can get generic  cetirizine at Costco, 365 pills (one a day) for about $16.

1. Claritin (loratidine)

This is the generic name for Claritin.  Loratidine is called a “second generation” antihistamine because it was developed many years after the “first generation” antihistamines. The main improvement in the second generation is that these medicines do not cause the extreme sleepiness you can get with the original ones. The other improvement is that they last 24 hours. Loratidine helps most people with allergies, with almost no side effects. Claritin is expensive. Generic loratidine is not. You can buy it at Costco – a bottle of 300 is about $12, and you won’t get a better deal than that on anything. If you want Claritin-D you can buy it, or you can buy generic loratidine and generic pseudoephedrine.

There are a lot of gimmicks and frills added to some of the brand name pills. For example, they come in a strip that dissolves in your mouth in case you need to take some and you don’t have any water. Or they are in a liquid gelcap, which may get into your system a little more quickly. None of that is really important. You are best off buying whatever generic works the best for you.

With allergies and antihistamines, sometimes you have to experiment. One person may get more relief with loratidine; another with cetirizine.  One person will feel much better after taking diphenhydramine; another does better with chlorpheneramine. Try a couple and you will probably find something that works.

A couple of words of caution are needed. There are a lot of combination pills for allergy. Please read the label of whatever you buy. If it says that it also treats sinus headaches or flu symptoms or anything else, it may have acetaminophen in it. That is generic for Tylenol. It is added to many medicines. It’s pretty safe except when you take too much. There can easily be 1000 mg. in a combination pill.  It’s not safe to take more than 4000 mg a day. Two Tylenol are 1000 mg. So if you are taking a combination allergy/cold pill and you don’t know that there is generic Tylenol in it and you take some of that a couple of times for a headache, you can overdose without realizing. That can cause liver failure, and it has happened to real people (only above 4000 mg. a day, and usually for quite a few days).

These recommendations are for generally healthy people who know that they are suffering from allergies. If you don’t know for sure, you need to see a doctor. If you have a lot of medical problems and take a lot of medicines, you should not add one of these without checking with your doctor or a pharmacist. Older people can have unexpected side effects from these medicines, such as difficulty urinating. That can happen to men with large prostate glands. Some doctors do not want their patients with high blood pressure to take a decongestant. If you are unsure, ask your doctor.

Once you know what you need to take, you can usually find it easily. The very strongest types of allergy medicines are only given by prescription. But many of the best are now over the counter.

Tags:

  • How Allergies Cause Acne

    Acne, like knee pain arthritis and male pattern baldness, is an ailment which affects people of a certain age. However, people who are suffering from acne can also be misinformed about the nature of condition. Some teens, for example, believe whatever their friends tell them without cross checking the information. As a result they become misinformed about what causes acne.

    So to help you avoid falling into this trap, here are few myths about acne that you need to watch out for.

    First off is food. Although eating plenty of greasy foods can certainly increase the amount of pimples on one’s face, food is not always the acne catalyst that people make it out to be. Sometimes, you could develop acne from eating certain types of food because you are allergic to them, and not necessarily because they are oily. So if you think you have an allergic reaction to particular type of food then eating it will likely increase your acne problems.

    Next, let’s talk about germs. The myth is that acne is caused by germs and so you should always wash your face. Well, that’s true up to a point. Cleaning up your face is good for unclogging your pores, which in turn will reduce your acne problems.

    However, if you were to wash your face a little too enthusiastically then it can also worsen your acne as your face will try to produce more and more oil. To prevent this problem, you should only wash your face twice per day and only with the use of mild soap.

    Another myth that you should know about is that teens are not the only ones who can get acne. Just as the elderly are not the only ones who have to worry about knee pain, people who are in their 20’s to 40’s can also develop what may be called adult acne.

    And finally, the “acne is contagious” meme is a myth. Oily skin and more importantly the blocking of one’s pores are the main reasons why people develop acne. Touching and close contact have nothing to do with it. Touching a person’s face with dirty hands may irritate the skin to have more acne but the act of touching – by itself – is harmless. It’s more likely that the main cause of acne is allergies.

  •  

    My Pains, My Chiropractor

    Having low back pains has made me very familiar with Chiropractors.  As a health care discipline and profession, it emphasizes diagnosis, treatment and prevention of medical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine thus I usually run to my Nashville chiropractor for my pains. 
    As the third largest health profession, behind medicine and dentistry, chiropractic care for low back pains became common. With their license, practitioners in the field are reliable enough given the education and training they obtained. 
    My Chiropractor has been taking care of me for ages now and without his help, I would not be able to function properly nor write this blog post without pain. So, if you even need chiropractic care, do your research because getting a good chiropractor may just be your saving grace too. 

    The Unexpected Benefits of a Good Colon Cleanse!

    Why are so many people looking for the perfect colon cleanse? Given all of our unhealthy diets and unhealthy lifestyles, colon cleansing is a great way to regulate and improve the function of the colon. A regular colon cleanse is also helpful in preventing constipation. A good colon cleanser, coupled with a healthy diet rich in fibers gets rid of undigested waste as well as the hardened fecal mater that is blocking the passageway of the colon. Waste has no problem passing through the intestinal organs, preventing constipation.

    There are many benefits associated with colon cleansers, but perhaps one that people do not expect is the significant weight loss that may come with it. The average colon weighs at about 4 pounds, but it has the amazing ability to store up to 30 pounds of fecal matter. Once the colon is rid of this, it is only natural for a person's weight to go down too!

    Effective Sleep Aid Remedies

    As more and more people experience trouble sleeping, the search for effective sleep aid remedies grows along with it too. From warm milk to prescription sleeping pills, most insomniacs are borderline desperate to try out anything! While it may be helpful to try out herbal infusions and teas, soothing baths, doctors insist on caution when taking over the counter sleeping pills. These pills may do more harm than good, pumping the body with potentially dangerous chemicals. What's more, taking these sleeping pills can lead to dependency, making it harder than ever to fall asleep without them. The best solution is still to go with something natural, which poses less threat to side effects.

    Getting Menopausal Symptoms Under Control

    Many women complain about the very uncomfortable symptoms associated with the onset of menopause. While it is different for every woman, a common denominator always seems to be hot flashes and night sweats. Many women live in fear of exhibiting these symptoms while in public! Who wants to experience a hot flash in front of everyone to see?!

    A great way to get menopause relief is to use Hot Flash freedom, a natural and safe progesterone cream! It's so effective that thousands of people swear by it, including, Dr. Matazarro, a Quincy dentist and a respected member of her community. Why not try it? It just might be what you need to get rid of hot flashes and other menopausal discomforts!

    The Search for the Perfect Dentist

    Tooth problems can be quite bothersome, not to mention, expensive! The longer you leave it unattended, the worse it becomes! There are people who have trouble looking for the perfect dentist, which is why they let their tooth problems go on unattended. These people have obviously not heard of the amazing Glastonbury Dentist that I have come to swear by! I am confident that they're not all that's out there. I've heard good things about Richmond Dentist, Dr, Charles Martin. He is always talked about as being the best Richmond Dentist around! My cousin from Kauai also swears by her Kauai Dentist , Dr. Clyde Ishida. He comes with a great recommendation!

    All these referrals just give me confidence in saying that the perfect dentist is out there for you! So, stop hesitating and start your search! It's the only way you'll say goodbye to your tooth troubles!

    Solutions for Retirees

    You could even make it easier for you by looking into an Assisted Living Decatur arrangement. You'll not only be in a comfortable home, but it will be amongst a beautiful community, equipped with the latest innovations in landscaping such as California synthetic turf golf courses. You could really make retiring an excellent opportunity to create a new and exciting life!

    Looking for Business Finance Options?

    Everywhere you look there are exciting and new ideas popping up. Things like Flower Essences are new and exciting concepts, and are carving out their respective niche markets. Perhaps you have an idea that can be marketed too? Why not take the plunge and look into your Business Finance Options! You may just find a invoice financing proposition that is to your liking, and one that can give you the funding you need to make your dream business idea into a reality!

    Making a Mark on Your Online Business!

    Getting an edge over its competitors and drawing in thousands upon thousands of potential customers is perhaps every online business' dream! While there are many ways to go about it, perhaps the most effective is to have a compelling web designer to draw up a website your potential clients can really resonate to! Another way to get the hits that you need is to employ effective Search Engine Optimization Techniques as this HUBZone contractor has done!

    If you consistently aim to provide both for your customers, then there is no doubt that they will just keep on coming and coming!

    Easy Travel and Ticket Sources

    Looking for something new to do? Why not get out of the humdrum of daily life and indulge yourself in a little treat! Take the family on a Disney Vacation, equipped with a complete Disney Guide! Water park captial of the work Wisconsin Dells is the perfect place for family vacations too.

    Or why not pay homage to your local sports team and see a game? There are tons of tickets being sold online. With just a simple search, anyone can find Warrior tickets, Ranger Tickets, Celtic Tickets, Leafs Tickets, Kings Tickets, Redwings Tickets, Dodger tickets, Magic Tickets, Heat Tickets, Angels Tickets, National Tickets and so much more! Best sellers include Chargers tickets, Cardinal Tickets, Packers Tickets, Giant Tickets, Seahawk Tickets, Raven Tickets, Clippers Tickets, Chiefs Tickets, Thunder Tickets, Redskin Tickets, Cowboys Tickets, Texans Tickets, Raider Tickets , Viking Tickets, Dolphin Tickets and 49ers Tickets!

    I'm sure a pair of tickets would make for a fabulous holiday or even birthday gift. I'm even thinking of getting my brother some Ranger Tickets. I know he's bound to enjoy it! Why not do the same thing? I'm sure the recipient would be over the moon with your thoughtful present!

    Get Water Damage Cleanup Done Fast

    Water damage from a flood is bad enough, but water damage cleanup is even worse. After you go through something as devastating and as damaging as a flood, the last thing that you have the strength for is getting things back to normal. But it’s a necessary step and it’s one that everyone who has ever experienced a flood has definitely gone through. Thankfully, if you’re in the Orlando area; there are restoration services that you can avail of to take care of the cleanup for you. These services cover everything that you need to recover from a flood, including mold inspection, mold removal, and even carpet cleaning. Some of the more experienced restoration companies for water damage Orlando even offer insurance billing services which is a load off. If you’ve ever dealt with insurance before then you know that it can be very tricky and the process is pretty long. Having someone else who’s more experienced to handle it for you can be a real blessing. If you’re in an area that floods often, then you definitely want a restoration services number that you can call close by. Trying to find a number after you’ve already experienced water damage means that you can’t take your time to gather recommendations and find one that offers the best quality of services. A lot of these companies offer 24 hour services and a pretty fast response time which is essential for damage restoration, no matter what kind of damage you might be experiencing.