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Medications for Allergic Rhinitis

Other names: Hay Fever; Nasal Allergies

A collection of symptoms, predominantly in the nose and eyes, that occur after exposure to airborne particles of dust or dander or to pollens of certain seasonal plants in people that are allergic to these substances (see also allergies; asthma; allergy to mold, dander, dust).

Drugs used to treat Allergic Rhinitis

The medications listed below are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

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Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
Zyrtec 5.3 135 reviews for Zyrtec to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC B N X
Generic name:
cetirizine systemic
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
cetirizine 5.4 203 reviews for cetirizine to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC B N X
Generic name:
cetirizine systemic
Brand names:
Zyrtec, Aller-Tec, All Day Allergy, All Day Allergy Children's, Aller-Tec Children's
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
fluticasone 4.5 169 reviews for fluticasone to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
fluticasone nasal
Brand names:
Flonase Allergy Relief, Flonase Sensimist
Drug class:
nasal steroids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
loratadine 4.7 95 reviews for loratadine to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC B N
Generic name:
loratadine systemic
Brand names:
Claritin, Alavert, Allergy Relief Tablets, Allergy Relief 24 Hour, Children's Claritin Allergy, Claritin Reditabs, ohm Allergy Relief, Tavist ND, Wal-itin
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
montelukast 5.2 215 reviews for montelukast to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
montelukast systemic
Brand name:
Singulair
Drug class:
leukotriene modifiers
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Allegra 5.9 61 reviews for Allegra to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
fexofenadine systemic
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Claritin 3.5 45 reviews for Claritin to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC B N
Generic name:
loratadine systemic
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Singulair 6.0 92 reviews for Singulair to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
montelukast systemic
Drug class:
leukotriene modifiers
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
fexofenadine 5.7 111 reviews for fexofenadine to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
fexofenadine systemic
Brand names:
Allegra, Allegra Allergy, Allegra ODT, Aller-Ease
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Astelin 8.9 20 reviews for Astelin to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC C N X
Generic name:
azelastine nasal
Drug class:
nasal antihistamines and decongestants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
azelastine 6.6 180 reviews for azelastine to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC C N X
Generic name:
azelastine nasal
Brand names:
Astelin, Astepro, Astepro Allergy
Drug class:
nasal antihistamines and decongestants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Benadryl 7.1 13 reviews for Benadryl to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC B N X
Generic name:
diphenhydramine systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics, antihistamines, anticholinergic antiemetics, anticholinergic antiparkinson agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
prednisone 2.0 2 reviews for prednisone to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx C N
Generic name:
prednisone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Xyzal 6.1 56 reviews for Xyzal to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx B N X
Generic name:
levocetirizine systemic
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Flonase Allergy Relief 3.7 3 reviews for Flonase Allergy Relief to treat Allergic Rhinitis
OTC C N
Generic name:
fluticasone nasal
Drug class:
nasal steroids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Allegra Allergy 3.3 10 reviews for Allegra Allergy to treat Allergic Rhinitis
OTC C N
Generic name:
fexofenadine systemic
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
diphenhydramine 6.9 21 reviews for diphenhydramine to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC B N X
Generic name:
diphenhydramine systemic
Brand names:
Benadryl, Benadryl Allergy, Allermax, Banophen, Benadryl Children's Allergy, Complete Allergy Relief, Dicopanol, Diphedryl, Diphen, Diphenhist, Dormin, Dytuss, Scot-Tussin Allergy, Siladryl Allergy, Silphen Cough, Twilite, Valu-Dryl, Vanamine PD
Drug class:
miscellaneous anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics, antihistamines, anticholinergic antiemetics, anticholinergic antiparkinson agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
levocetirizine 6.2 64 reviews for levocetirizine to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC B N X
Generic name:
levocetirizine systemic
Brand name:
Xyzal
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Astepro 6.4 37 reviews for Astepro to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx C N X
Generic name:
azelastine nasal
Drug class:
nasal antihistamines and decongestants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Dymista 5.7 145 reviews for Dymista to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx C N X
Generic name:
azelastine / fluticasone nasal
Drug class:
nasal steroids, nasal antihistamines and decongestants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Medrol 1.0 1 review for Medrol to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx C N
Generic name:
methylprednisolone systemic
Drug class:
glucocorticoids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Nasacort Allergy 24HR 7.1 14 reviews for Nasacort Allergy 24HR to treat Allergic Rhinitis
OTC C N
Generic name:
triamcinolone nasal
Drug class:
nasal steroids
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Clarinex 7.4 5 reviews for Clarinex to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx C N
Generic name:
desloratadine systemic
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Alavert 9.5 2 reviews for Alavert to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC B N
Generic name:
loratadine systemic
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Aller-Tec 10 1 review for Aller-Tec to treat Allergic Rhinitis
Rx/OTC B N X
Generic name:
cetirizine systemic
Drug class:
antihistamines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

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Topics under Allergic Rhinitis

Learn more about Allergic Rhinitis

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.