Seasonal allergies
(Hay fever)
- Also known as
- Allergic rhinitis
About Seasonal allergies
Each spring, summer, and fall, trees, weeds, and grasses release tiny pollen grains into the air. Some of the pollen ends up in your nose and throat. This can trigger a type of allergy called hay fever.
Top Medications for Seasonal allergies according to our users
All men
- Brand (generic)% of users who said drug was worth it
- Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)86%
- Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine)82%
- Zyrtec (Cetirizine)76%
- Advil Allergy And Congestion Relief (Chlorpheniramine / Ibuprofen / Phenylephrine)75%
- Claritin (loratadine)74%
- Zyrtec D (Cetirizine / Pseudoephedrine)74%
- Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine)71%
- Advil Allergy Sinus (Ibuprofen / Pseudoephedrine / Chlorpheniramine)71%
- Nasonex (Mometasone)69%
- Nasacort Aq (Triamcinolone)66%
- Singulair (montelukast)65%
- Flovent Diskus (Fluticasone)63%
- Unisom Sleeptabs (Doxylamine)58%
- Dimetapp Cold And Allergy (Phenylephrine / Brompheniramine)56%
- Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
All women
- Brand (generic)% of users who said drug was worth it
- Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)87%
- Allegra (fexofenadine)82%
- Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine)82%
- Zyrtec D (Cetirizine / Pseudoephedrine)78%
- Zyrtec (Cetirizine)78%
- Flovent Diskus (Fluticasone)75%
- Advil Allergy And Congestion Relief (Chlorpheniramine / Ibuprofen / Phenylephrine)74%
- Claritin (loratadine)73%
- Advil Allergy Sinus (Ibuprofen / Pseudoephedrine / Chlorpheniramine)73%
- Nasacort Aq (Triamcinolone)72%
- Nasonex (Mometasone)69%
- Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine)68%
- Singulair (montelukast)67%
- Unisom Sleeptabs (Doxylamine)62%
- Qvar (Beclomethasone)38%
- Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
All Medications for Seasonal allergies
- Intal(Cromolyn)Prescription or OTC
Intal (Cromolyn) is a good option to relieve nasal allergy symptoms when antihistamines aren't working. Good choice for pregnant women.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Nasal spray
- Claritin(loratadine)Prescription or OTC
Claritin (loratadine) is a once-daily medicine for allergies that won't make you as sleepy as other medicines that work like it.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Chewable tablet
- Dissolving tablet
- Liquid
- Benadryl(Diphenhydramine)Prescription or OTC
Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) is great for allergies, but curl up on the couch after taking it and get ready for a nap.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Oral solution
- Cream, gel, or ointment
- Nasonex(Mometasone)Prescription only
Nasonex (Mometasone) is a good first-choice treatment for stuffy and runny noses caused by allergies.
- Available dosage forms:
- Nasal spray
- Flovent Diskus(Fluticasone)Prescription only
Flovent Diskus (Fluticasone) is good at controlling and preventing asthma symptoms when you take it every day.
- Available dosage forms:
- Inhaler
- Zyrtec D(Cetirizine / Pseudoephedrine)Prescription or OTC
Zyrtec D (Cetirizine / Pseudoephedrine) relieves allergies and congestion without causing daytime sleepiness. It can keep you up at night if you take it too close to bedtime.
- Available dosage forms:
- Extended release
- Xyzal(Levocetirizine)Prescription only
Xyzal (Levocetirizine) is good for treating allergy symptoms, but it can cause drowsiness.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Liquid
- Qvar(Beclomethasone)Prescription only
Qvar (Beclomethasone) is good at controlling and preventing asthma symptoms when you take it every day.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Inhaler
- Nasal spray
- Allegra(fexofenadine)Over-the-counter
Allegra (fexofenadine) relieves allergy symptoms without making you feel drowsy.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Dissolving tablet
- Liquid
- Claritin-D(loratadine / pseudoephedrine)Prescription or OTC
Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) relieves allergies and congestion without causing daytime sleepiness but it can keep you up at night.
- Available dosage forms:
- Extended-release pill
- Unisom Sleeptabs(Doxylamine)Prescription or OTC
Unisom Sleeptabs (Doxylamine) can help you get a good night's sleep, but you can have a hard time waking up if you don't give yourself enough time to sleep.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Chewable tablet
- Liquid
- Nasacort Aq(Triamcinolone)Prescription or OTC
Nasacort Aq (Triamcinolone) is the only medication in its class available over the counter for treating stuffy and runny nose due to allergies. You have to use it every day for it to work.
- Available dosage forms:
- Nasal spray
Advil Allergy Sinus (Ibuprofen / Pseudoephedrine / Chlorpheniramine) is good for multiple allergy and cold symptoms, but check to be sure you really need all of its ingredients.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Dimetapp Cold And Allergy(Phenylephrine / Brompheniramine)Over-the-counter
Dimetapp Cold And Allergy (Phenylephrine / Brompheniramine) is good for multiple nasal symptoms, but it can make you really drowsy.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Chewable tablet
- Liquid
- Clarinex D(desloratadine / pseudoephedrine)Prescription only
Clarinex D (desloratadine / pseudoephedrine) is a single-pill combination for treatment of allergies and nasal congestion, but it can keep you up at night.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Extended release
- Allegra-D(fexofenadine / pseudoephedrine)Over-the-counter
Allegra-D (fexofenadine / pseudoephedrine) is a combination allergy medicine that's useful if you have congestion and runny nose.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Singulair(montelukast)Prescription only
Singulair (montelukast) has fewer side effects but doesn't work as well as some inhaled medications for asthma and allergies.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Chewable tablet
- Granule
- Brotapp(Pseudoephedrine / Brompheniramine)Over-the-counter
Brotapp (Pseudoephedrine / Brompheniramine) is okay for treating congestion, but it could make you really tired or keep you wide awake.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Liquid
- Unisom Sleepgels(Diphenhydramine)Over-the-counter
Unisom Sleepgels (Diphenhydramine) is a good over-the-counter medication for nighttime allergies.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Chewable tablet
- Liquid
- Zyrtec(Cetirizine)Prescription or OTC
Zyrtec (Cetirizine) is a once-daily allergy relief medication that won't make you feel too sleepy.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Liquid capsule
- Dissolving tablet
- Liquid
- Sudafed(Pseudoephedrine)Prescription or OTC
Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) relieves stuffy nose, but it could keep you up at night. Don't forget your photo ID or you won't be able to buy it in the drugstore.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Extended release
- Liquid
- Qnasl(beclomethasone)Prescription only
Qnasl (beclomethasone) is a steroid nasal spray that works best when used regularly for nasal allergy symptoms, but is not available as a generic so it may be expensive.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Nasal spray
- Rhinocort Aqua(Budesonide)Prescription only
Rhinocort Aqua (Budesonide) is a steroid nasal spray that works best when used regularly for your nasal allergy symptoms.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Nasal spray
- Clarinex(desloratadine)Prescription only
Clarinex (desloratadine) is a good option for once-daily allergy relief. It doesn't make you feel sleepy, but you need a prescription.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Dissolving tablet
- Liquid
Advil Allergy And Congestion Relief (Chlorpheniramine / Ibuprofen / Phenylephrine) is an okay combination medicine to relieve pain and congestion. The antihistamine can make you sleepy and the decongestant can keep you awake, so it could affect you either way.
- Available dosage forms:
- Pill
- Zaditor(ketotifen)Over-the-counter
Zaditor (ketotifen) is the first-choice OTC treatment for allergy-related itchy eyes, but it doesn't treat infections and may not help for more serious allergies.
Was it worth it?Review it- Available dosage forms:
- Eye drops
- Nasonex(Mometasone)Prescription only
Nasonex (Mometasone) is a good first-choice treatment for stuffy and runny noses caused by allergies.
- Available dosage forms:
- Nasal spray
- Was it worth it?Review it
- Available dosage forms:
- Nasal spray
Medication side effects for Seasonal allergies
These are some of the most common side effects from clinical trials for Diarrhea.
- Claritin: 3%
- Allegra: 15%
- 3%3%3%4%4%
- 15%
At this end, no one is expected to have Diarrhea
At this end, almost everyone is expected to have Diarrhea
Tips, success stories, and coping strategies for Seasonal allergies
Prickly heat
move to somewhere where you don't have allergies
avoid allergens
Xyzal
eating really spicy food clears the sinuses