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What to know about OTC medicines for allergies

April 6, 2026—Allergies cause a lot of misery each spring. If you have them, you likely know all about the sneezing; sniffling; and itchy, watery eyes. But the good news is you can feel better with the right care. That often involves a double strategy: avoiding the things that cause your allergy symptoms and taking allergy medicines.

Many medications help control allergy symptoms, including several over-the-counter options—no prescription needed. Here's a look at some of the common options.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays

These medicines, such as fluticasone (Flonase), reduce inflammation in the nose. They are very effective at easing nasal symptoms (such as congestion, runny nose and sneezing) and can relieve eye symptoms too. You take them once or twice a day. Side effects include headaches, nosebleeds or a stinging feeling in the nose.

You need to know: These nasal sprays take time to start working, so it's best to begin them early in the allergy season, AARP reports.

Antihistamine pills

They provide quick allergy relief. Examples include loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine (Zyrtec). These long-acting antihistamines are less likely than older antihistamines, like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), to make you sleepy. Taking an antihistamine that makes you sleepy could affect your ability to safely drive a car.

You need to know: Older antihistamines have also been linked to increased risk of dementia in older adults who took them for a long time.

Decongestants

These medicines shrink the lining of the nasal passages, which eases stuffiness. Decongestants come as nasal sprays or pills. You shouldn't take OTC nasal sprays longer than a few days without checking with a doctor, as this could cause rebound nasal congestion. If that happens, your symptoms may come back and get worse.

You need to know: Some people should check with a doctor before taking a decongestant, notes the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. This includes people with:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Glaucoma.
Trouble urinating.
Thyroid disease.

Taking a decongestant could worsen these conditions or interact with your medications.

OTC options aren't working?

If OTC allergy medicines and lifestyle changes aren't helping you, it may be time for other allergy treatments. These options could include prescription medicines or immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy helps prevent allergic reactions. It works by giving you gradually increasing doses of the allergen. This helps your immune system become less sensitive to that allergen.

Immunotherapy can be given as shots, drops or tablets.

If you are interested in immunotherapy, take our self-assessment to see if it might be right for you. Talk to your doctor about your results.

Sources

AARP. "Suffering From Seasonal Allergies? 6 Ways to Get Relief." https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/relief-from-seasonal-allergies/.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. "What's the Best Over-the-Counter Allergy Medicine?" https://acaai.org/resource/whats-the-best-over-the-counter-allergy-medicine/.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. "Allergy Treatments." https://aafa.org/allergies/allergy-treatments/.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Know Which Medication Is Right for Your Seasonal Allergies." https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/know-which-medication-right-your-seasonal-allergies.