What is the difference between zyrtec and allegra

That means you can get relief without any drowsiness, at any time of day. That means your kids get relief in school with no impact on their learning or concentration due to drowsiness.

Our orange cream-flavored, orally dissolving tablets melt in their mouth, giving them the freedom to enjoy the day without feeling bogged down by allergies. Applies to first dose only. Among single-ingredient OTC branded oral antihistamines. Applies to first does only. Artificial orange cream.

Because the drugs have not been studied enough in pregnant women, be sure to consult your doctor before using Allegra or Zyrtec if you are pregnant.

Grapefruit or grapefruit juice can interact with certain medications. Allegra can not only interact with grapefruit juice but orange or apple juice. These fruit juices lower the amount of Allegra in your body, making the drug less effective. It is important to take Allegra with water. When taking Zyrtec use caution when driving or operating machinery.

Avoid using Zyrtec with alcohol, marijuana, or other medications that cause sedation, because the combination can worsen CNS impairment. Allegra, also known by its generic name fexofenadine, is an antihistamine used in the treatment of allergies. While both drugs are antihistamines, they have some differences such as side effects, drug interactions, and warnings outlined above. Other popular antihistamines you may have heard of include Benadryl diphenhydramine , Claritin loratadine , and Xyzal levocetirizine.

Studies show both drugs to be better than placebo and various evidence shows that Allegra and Zyrtec are equally effective, or that Zyrtec may be slightly better. However, side effects vary as well and should be taken into consideration when selecting an allergy medication. Consult your doctor about the use of Allegra or Zyrtec during pregnancy.

If you are already taking Allegra or Zyrtec and find out that you are pregnant, consult your doctor. Alcohol can increase the side effects of Allegra or Zyrtec, such as dizziness, drowsiness, or impairment. It is recommended to avoid alcohol while taking Allegra or Zyrtec. Combining allergy medications is not always a good idea. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is best to pick one appropriate allergy medication and take it as directed. That depends.

Some patients swear by Allegra , while others love Zyrtec. Other non-sedating antihistamines such as Claritin and Xyzal are very popular, too. Don't hesitate to use generic brands. The same antihistamine in Zyrtec, for example, is available as Aller-Tec at Costco, as Wal-Zyr at Walgreens, or even totally "unbranded" almost anywhere.

Just pay attention to labels so you know which active ingredient you're getting. The active ingredient in Claritin is loratadin, in Allegra it's fexofenadine, and in Zyrtec it's cetirizine. Consumer Reports reviewed all major allergy medications and found that monthly costs range considerably depending on which one you choose. Their "best buy" recommendations were for the 10mg tablets of cetirizine, loratadin also available in dissolving and liquid forms , and Alavert a "branded generic" of loratadin.

This may sound obvious, but the key thing to pay attention to is not what's written on a box, but what actually works for you. Daniel Ein, a professor at George Washington University School of Medicine and a practicing allergist since , gave this advice: "My rule about the best one antihistamine is: It's the one that gives you the individual the greatest relief with the fewest side effects at the lowest price.

A doctor can also talk to you about prescription antihistamines, and — if your symptoms persist — immunotherapy, which can help desensitize you to what's causing a reaction in the first place.

Most importantly, talk to your pharmacist and a board-certified allergist. For you. When you've been exposed to a substance you're allergic to such as pet dander, dust mite, ragweed, or peanuts , your body produces histamine , which is a chemical messenger released by cells in the immune system to alert and activate other cells and proteins of the immune system. Histamine causes the typical allergy symptoms of sneezing, stuffy and runny nose, watery and itchy eyes, and an itchy throat that you associate with exposure to whichever allergens you are sensitive to.

Antihistamines reduce the amount of histamine circulating in your system, thereby reducing symptoms. Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all considered newer generation antihistamines. First-generation antihistamines, such as Benadryl diphenhydramine and Atarax hydroxyzine , can be helpful for allergies and hives as well, but their use is limited due to side effects such as fatigue and sedation sleepiness. So while Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all newer generation antihistamines that can treat hay fever or hives, there may be some advantages for each of these over the others.

Claritin and Zyrtec have been shown to have a good safety profile in studies of pregnant animals, but there are no human studies available. During pregnancy, they are preferred over Allegra, which has shown adverse fetal effects in animal studies. Allegra is considered to be safer for breastfeeding mothers compared to Zyrtec and Claritin. However, all three are deemed to be safe during lactation.

All three antihistamines may cause side effects such as:. That said, the side effect profile may vary slightly among them. For instance, Allegra is completely non-sedating doesn't make people sleepy , while Claritin is minimally sedating makes only a small number of people sleepy. Zyrtec, on the other hand, causes sedation in approximately one in six people who take the medication. While you should consult your healthcare provider about the best way to take any medication, there are widely accepted dosing recommendations for all three of these antihistamines.

First and foremost, each works best when taken daily rather than intermittently. All of these antihistamines are indicated for adults and children 2 years of age and older, with Zyrtec and Claritin dosed once a day for all ages. Allegra is dosed twice a day for children age 2 to 11, and once a day for adults and children age 12 years and older. Finally, since Allegra can be used in children as young as 6 months of age, it's sometimes the ideal choice for young children.

Besides dosing, there are some slight differences in how quickly or well the drugs work. For example, while Claritin is effective for treating hay fever and hives, other antihistamines, such as Zyrtec and Allegra, work better and faster and last longer.

Zyrtec and Allegra work quickly for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and hives, typically within less than an hour. On the other hand, studies show that Claritin takes many hours to start working.

Studies show that Allegra is nearly as good as Zyrtec at treating hayfever. However, Zyrtec and its isomer Xyzal levocetirizine appear to be better medicines for the treatment of hives.