Which allergy medicine is right for you?

You’re not alone in thinking this allergy season has been worse than before.

New data suggests that allergy seasons are getting longer and pollen levels are steadily rising. Pollen rates continue to skyrocket, rising 21 percent nationwide from 1990 to 2018, per year 2021 study from the journal PNAS.

Some cities in the US are feeling it worse than others. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Reno, Nevada are experiencing longer allergy seasons compared to past decades.

The extended season means many Americans are turning to over-the-counter medications to treat their allergies more than before.

However, many of these drugs have side effects that can interfere with a person’s daily life. In some cases, overuse can even be a danger.

Here’s DailyMail.com’s guide to which OTC allergy medicine is best for you

According to new data from Climate Centralthe time people suffer each spring has increased.

The allergy season has been extended by an average of 15 days in 200 cities over the past 50 years.

Some locations also experience more time between the last freeze of each spring and the first freeze of each fall.

While Reno topped the list of cities with longer “frost-free” periods, more than 30 other areas also saw their seasons extend by more than a month.

Among the hardest hit are Bend, Oregon and Las Cruces, New Mexico, which each saw their allergy seasons lengthen by 83 days and 73 days, respectively.

A prolonged period of pollen exposure can have significant health consequences for those who suffer from seasonal hay fever, which affects about 26 percent of adults and 19 percent of children, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

As more people suffer from allergies for longer periods of time, many are overwhelmed by which over-the-counter medications to use.

benadryl

How it works: Benadryl has one active ingredient, diphenhydramine, which is an antihistamine.

This means that it blocks histamine, a natural chemical in the body that causes allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and runny nose.

Different forms are used to treat allergies, itchy skin, the common cold and hay fever.

Forms: The medication comes in tablets, liquid gel capsules, chewable tablets, syrups, and topicals.

Side effects: One of the most common symptoms is drowsiness, followed by dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, chest congestion, headache, muscle weakness, and nervousness.

hazards: When taken in large amounts, Benadryl can cause serious health problems. The Food and Drug Administration warned against taking higher-than-recommended doses of the medication.

“Taking higher-than-recommended doses of the common over-the-counter (OTC) allergy drug diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can lead to serious heart problems, seizures, coma or even death,” the agency said. The FDA also recommends that Benadryl not be used in children under two years of age because of high blood pressure risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

effectiveness: When used for allergies, it is best for adults to take one or two capsules every four to six hours.

Benadryl is only recommended for short-term use, as long-term use can lead to permanent health problems, including dementia, memory problems, anxiety, and dependence.

clarinet

How it works: Claritin contains loratadine and pseudoephedrine sulfate. Loratadine is an antihistamine while pseudoephedrine sulfate is a decongestant.

Decongestants provide short-term relief for a blocked or stuffy nose, also known as nasal decongestion.

Claritin is used to treat allergy symptoms as well as redness and itching from hives.

Forms: The drug comes in tablets, liquid gel capsules, chewable tablets, and syrups.

Side effects: The most common side effects are headache, dry mouth, nosebleeds, sore throat or mouth ulcers, trouble sleeping, nervousness, weakness, stomach pain, diarrhea, and itchy eyes.

hazards: Experts recommend not to exceed the stated dosage of Claritin. Overdose symptoms include a fast or pounding heartbeat, drowsiness, headache, and unusual body movements.

In addition, a 2016 study in the journal Case reports in hepatology found that loratadine can cause very rare cases of liver damage.

effectiveness: Adults and children should not take more than one tablet per day. Claritin can be taken at any time of the day as it is a non-drowsy drug. It can also be used every day for long-lasting allergy relief.

Allegra

How it works: The active ingredient in Allegra is fexofenadine, an antihistamine. It is used to treat allergy symptoms including runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and sore throat. Some forms can also relieve the symptoms of hives.

Forms: Allegra comes in 12-hour tablets, 24-hour tablets, 24-hour gel capsules, dissolving tablets, and syrups.

Side effects: Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle or back pain, drowsiness, and headache.

hazards: Rare but serious side effects include hives, difficulty breathing, swelling, fever, chills, body aches, and flu-like symptoms.

Because fexofenadine is excreted by the kidneys, patients with renal failure may be at greater risk of toxic reactions.

In addition, doctors warn against taking Allegra at the same time as magnesium or aluminum antacids, as this can affect how well the drug is absorbed.

Taking the medication with fruit juices can also weaken it the active ingredients.

effectiveness: Adults and children over 12 years of age should take only one tablet per day, together with a glass of water. The drug is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. Allegra can be taken every day.

Zyrtec

How it works: The active ingredient of Zyrtec is cetirizine HCL, which is an antihistamine. The drug is used to treat allergy symptoms, including itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, and nasal congestion.

Forms: Zyrtec is available in tablets, chewable tablets, syrups, liquid gels and dissolving tablets.

Side effects: Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, feeling hot, sweating, numbness, tingling, burning pain, decreased sense of taste, headache, upset stomach, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, and sore throat.

hazards: Serious side effects include fast or irregular heartbeats, hyperactivity, severe restlessness, extreme weakness, tremors, confusion, vision change, or difficulty urinating.

effectiveness: Adults and children over six years of age should take only one tablet per day. Children under the age of six or adults over the age of 65 should consult their doctor before taking Zyrtec. This medication can be taken every day.

Sudafed

How it works: Depending on the form, Sudafed uses the active ingredient pseudoephedrine HCL or phenylephrine, which are both decongestants.

The drug is used to treat nasal congestion caused by colds, allergies or hay fever. Some forms can also be used to relieve headaches.

Forms: Sudafed is available in tablets and syrups. However, these products have limitations in some areas.

Although Sudafed PE has specific purchasing rules, there is a risk of misuse with products containing pseudoephedrine. Therefore, you may need to buy Sudafed at the pharmacy counter and show proper identification.

Side effects: The most commonly reported side effects are weakness, dizziness, restlessness, headache, nausea and insomnia.

hazards: Rare but serious effects include rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, hallucinations, psychosis, chest pain, increased blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

One of the main concerns with the medication is that it can be addictive.

This is because some forms contain pseudoephedrine, which acts as a stimulant. This increases heart rate, blood sugar, energy and blood pressure.

effectiveness: Adults and children 12 years and older can safely take two tablets every four to six hours, no more than eight in 24 hours. Long-term use can cause dependence, so try to take them for less than a week.