Wheezing, sneezing, maybe breathing: Which OTC allergy medicines are best?

By JOSH NEWTON

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS May 09, 2008 12:44 pm

— A sneeze, a cough, a runny nose – welcome to the spring allergy season. If you don’t experience them, someone you know does.
Symptoms often attack at the most inopportune times, like that all-important school play, a phone interview, a baseball game or any other event.
An over-the-counter allergy medicine may be the answer.
“For upper respiratory [allergies], i.e., itchy, watery eyes, you’ll want an antihistamine,” said Rick McAuliff, doctor of pharmacy.
McAuliff spent Wednesday filling in for the usual pharmacist at Drug Warehouse.
“Antihistamines range from the traditional Benadryl, to the more user friendly Claritin once-a-day,” said McAuliff.
There’s also the popular Zyrtec, which recently became available over the counter. A bottle with enough pills to last more than a month costs less than $30 over the counter.
Antihistamines, said McAuliff, can come with or without a decongestant, which removes mucus from the upper respiratory tract when present in medication.
According to statistics on medicinenet.com, the U.S. spends more than $10 billion per year on allergies. Furthermore, it is estimated some 50 million in the U.S. are affected by some form of allergy.
Pat Welch fights allergies in all sorts of places.
“Animals, certain flowers and plants,” said Welch. “It seems like a bunch of people have runny noses right now. I mean, there are people who never fight allergies who are coughing all the time right now.”
Allergies are definitely a nuisance for 17-year-old Shelton Hannover.
“Sneezing. I do that all the time,” said Hannover.
But not long ago, Hannover was introduced to a nasal spray he says puts a halt to sneezing temporarily.
“Took me a while to get used to [using] it, but I’m used to it now,” he said. “And I don’t use it as much anymore.”
For lower respiratory issues, like chest congestion, McAuliff said medications like Mucinex will do the job.
“Or generic forms,” he said, “and those, too, come with or without a decongestant.”
McAuliff said there’s not a big difference between name-brand relief and generic forms.
“By law, [generic brands] have to be bio-equivalent,” said McAuliff. “They must contain the same medication, and the same amount.”
McAuliff says children age 6 or younger should see a doctor before taking OTC medications.
“Children older than 6, and adults, can benefit from OTC products,” said McAuliff.

Learn more
For more information on allergies, including medications, expert views, procedures and tests, and related conditions and allergy news, visit www.medicinenet. com/allergy/index.htm.

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