If it feels like your allergies are extra bad this year, that's because they probably are. As Best Liferecently reported, climate change has caused longer growing seasons, worsening the amount of tree, grass, and weed pollen in the air. In fact, according to a 2020 study, pollen season lasts 20 days longer than it did 30 years ago, with pollen count up by 21 percent. So, for many of us, the only way to get through the days without sneezing uncontrollably or walking around with bloodshot eyes is to take over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medications. But there's a very good chance you're taking the wrong allergy medicine.
Ethan Melillo, PharmD, CDOE, senior manager of the Integrated Health Team at L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty, recently took to his wildly popular TikTok channel to educate his followers about the differences between the four most popular OTC allergy medications: Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin, and Xyzal.
"You're probably using the wrong one," he stated, before breaking down the pros and cons of each.
RELATED: Doctors Warn What Taking Benadryl Every Night Is Doing to Your Brain.
Claritin
Shutterstock"This takes about one to three hours to work," Melillo shares. "What's nice is that this is a non-sedating antihistamine."
However, he says Claritin only works well for "mild allergy symptoms," and doesn't provide much benefit if you have moderate or severe symptoms.
Zyrtec
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Zyrtec is good if you're in a pinch because it works within one hour, according to Melillo. It's also "great for moderate to severe allergies."
"However, there is mild sedation," he cautions. "Usually, like 10 to 15 percent of people will report drowsiness."
Melillo adds a "pharmacy fun fact" about this allergy medicine: "Zyrtec actually crosses the blood-brain barrier slightly, which is why, out of like all the antihistamines, it can cause the most drowsiness."
RELATED: 3 Supplements I Would Never Take as a Pharmacist: "I Think You're Going to Be Surprised."
Allegra
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Next, Melillo says Allegra is similar to Claritin in that it takes about one to three hours to work. "But out of all the antihistamines, this is the least sedating one," he points out.
"Honestly, this is like my go-to recommendation, especially if you're someone who's like, busy at work during the day, or you're a student, or even an athlete," he says.
But Melillo also has a "crazy" warning about this OTC medicine: "Do NOT take Allegra with fruit juice. It can greatly reduce the absorption of Allegra, so it won't be working that well."
4. Xyzal
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"Xyzal is actually the r-enantiomer of Zyrtec," Melillo explains. "This means it's more potent per dose and can work at half the dose of Zyrtec."
Similar to Zyrtec, Xyzal takes about an hour to kick in and has some mild sedation. "Usually you'll be seeing this dosed in the evening time because of that," Melillo notes, adding that it's also a good choice for "early morning allergy attacks."
