Allergy Relief

Key points

• Less-sedating antihistamines such as fexofenadine and bilastine can still make some people drowsy.
• Nasal treatments such as azelastine and fluticasone target nasal symptoms and need correct, consistent use.
• Antihistamines do not replace emergency treatment for anaphylaxis or other severe allergic reactions.

Listings are for comparison and general information; suitability and supply depend on symptom assessment, medicine history and clinician or pharmacy checks where required.

How the medicine groups differ

Oral antihistamines treat symptoms in several areas of the body. Older or more sedating options, including hydroxyzine and cyproheptadine, may affect alertness and have more anticholinergic effects. Antihistamine nasal sprays can act quickly in the nose, while corticosteroid nasal sprays are often used for ongoing nasal inflammation.

What these medicines are used for

This category includes medicines used for allergic rhinitis, urticaria and pruritus. Persistent symptoms can have non-allergic causes, so repeated self-treatment without improvement warrants assessment.

Important safety checks

Check for drowsiness before driving or operating machinery, and avoid alcohol or other sedating medicines unless a clinician or pharmacist says the combination is appropriate. Age, pregnancy, glaucoma, urinary problems and other medicines can affect which antihistamine is suitable.

When to seek urgent care

Call for emergency help for breathing difficulty, wheezing, throat or tongue swelling, faintness, or a rapidly worsening widespread reaction. Seek prompt assessment for hives with fever, blistering, painful skin or mouth sores.

Further reading

• Allergy Medicine Guide: Best Treatments for Allergies | AAFA.org
• The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)