Which Drug Is Used as an Antihistamine?

Antihistamines are medications used to treat allergy symptoms. Allergy medicines include drugs such as Brompheniramine (Children’s Dimetapp Cold), Carbinoxamine (RyVent, Karbinal ER), Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton, Actifed Cold), Clemastine (Dayhist, Dayhist Allergy), Dexchlorpheniramine Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), Cetirizine (Zyrtec), Fexofenadine (Allegra), Loratadine (Alavert, Claritin), and others.

Antihistamines are medications used to treat allergy symptoms. When the body is exposed to allergens, it produces a chemical in the body called histamine which is released to attack the allergens. But histamines cause symptoms such as itching, runny nose, sneezing, hives, and itchy and watery eyes associated with allergies. 

Antihistamines may also be used to treat other conditions such as: 

• Motion sickness 
• Spinning sensation (vertigo)
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Anxiety

Depending on the specific drug and its use, antihistamines are available as pills, liquids, nasal sprays, gels, and eye drops. Many are available over-the-counter (OTC) and some require a doctor’s prescription. 

Allergy Medicine List

There are two types of antihistamines: 

• First-generation antihistamines
  • The first type of antihistamines developed
  • Cheaper and widely available
  • They work in the part of the brain that controls nausea and vomiting and so they can also be used to prevent motion sickness 
  • First-generation antihistamines commonly caused drowsiness and they are sometimes used to treat insomnia 
  • Examples of first-generation antihistamines include:
    • Brompheniramine (Children’s Dimetapp Cold) 
    • Carbinoxamine (RyVent, Karbinal ER)
    • Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton, Actifed Cold)
    • Clemastine (Dayhist, Dayhist Allergy)
    • Dexchlorpheniramine 
    • Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
    • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Nytol, Sominex)
    • Doxylamine (Vicks NyQuil, Tylenol Cold and Cough Nighttime)
    • Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
    • Meclizine (Bonine, Medi-Meclizine, Travel-Ease)
    • Promethazine (Phenadoz, Promethegan, Phenergan)
    • Triprolidine
• Second-generation antihistamines
  • These are newer types of antihistamines
  • They can treat allergy symptoms without causing drowsiness
  • Examples of second-generation antihistamines include:
    • Alcaftadine (Lastacaft)
    • Azelastine (Optivar)
    • Bepotastine (Bepreve)
    • Bilastine (Ilaxten)
    • Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
    • Desloratadine (Clarinex)
    • Emedastine (Emadine)
    • Epinastine (Elestat)
    • Fexofenadine (Allegra)
    • Ketotifen (Alaway, Zaditor)
    • Levocetirizine (Xyzal)
    • Loratadine (Alavert, Claritin)
    • Olopatadine (Pazeo, Patanol, Pataday)
    • Rupatadine (Rupafin)

Often, antihistamines are mixed with other medicines such as pain relievers or decongestants, used to treat multiple symptoms at once. If you do not need medicine to relieve pain or congestion, it is better to only take the medications you need and not anything extra. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking an antihistamine or a combination medicine that contains an antihistamine. 

Common side effects of antihistamines include: 

• Drowsiness (more pronounced in first-generation antihistamines)
• Dry mouth
• Dry nose
• Dizziness
• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Blurred vision
• Irritability
• Headache