What is the difference between zyrtec and benadryl

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It's common for people with hives urticaria or hay fever allergic rhinitis to wonder which over-the-counter antihistamine they should take: Claritin loratadine , Zyrtec cetirizine , or Allegra fexofenadine.

All of these antihistamines have been available OTC without a prescription for a number of years. But if you're thinking these antihistamines are the same, they're actually not. Depending on the allergic condition being treated, the age of the person, as well as other underlying issues such as pregnancy , the best choice of antihistamine might be different. When you've been exposed to a substance you're allergic to such as pet dander, dust mite, ragweed, or peanuts , your body produces histamine , which is a chemical messenger released by cells in the immune system to alert and activate other cells and proteins of the immune system.

Histamine causes the typical allergy symptoms of sneezing, stuffy and runny nose, watery and itchy eyes, and an itchy throat that you associate with exposure to whichever allergens you are sensitive to. Antihistamines reduce the amount of histamine circulating in your system, thereby reducing symptoms. Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all considered newer generation antihistamines.

First-generation antihistamines, such as Benadryl diphenhydramine and Atarax hydroxyzine , can be helpful for allergies and hives as well, but their use is limited due to side effects such as fatigue and sedation sleepiness.

So while Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all newer generation antihistamines that can treat hay fever or hives, there may be some advantages for each of these over the others. Claritin and Zyrtec have been shown to have a good safety profile in studies of pregnant animals, but there are no human studies available.

During pregnancy, they are preferred over Allegra, which has shown adverse fetal effects in animal studies. Allegra is considered to be safer for breastfeeding mothers compared to Zyrtec and Claritin.

However, all three are deemed to be safe during lactation. All three antihistamines may cause side effects such as:. That said, the side effect profile may vary slightly among them. For instance, Allegra is completely non-sedating doesn't make people sleepy , while Claritin is minimally sedating makes only a small number of people sleepy. Zyrtec, on the other hand, causes sedation in approximately one in six people who take the medication.

While you should consult your healthcare provider about the best way to take any medication, there are widely accepted dosing recommendations for all three of these antihistamines. Neither is clearly better than the other. In this article, we provide detail about the differences between Zyrtec and Claritin.

We also compare them to two other popular brands of antihistamines: Benadryl and Allegra. Zyrtec and Claritin are brand-name medications that people can buy over the counter. They are available in various forms, including pills, chewable tablets, and syrups. Zyrtec contains cetirizine hydrochloride, also called cetirizine HCL, while Claritin contains loratadine. Zyrtec and Claritin are second-generation antihistamines. They are less likely to make a person feel drowsy or otherwise affect alertness than older, first-generation antihistamines.

The labeling of Zyrtec says that a person should not take it when driving a vehicle or using machinery. People should avoid taking Zyrtec with alcohol or other medicines that could cause drowsiness. Zyrtec and Claritin are effective for about 24 hours.

A person should only take one dose per day. The body absorbs both antihistamines quickly, but Zyrtec seems to work faster for some people. A study found that both drugs were absorbed into the bloodstream within 1—2 hours of taking the medication.

Researchers are often studying, comparing, and improving antihistamines. Other popular brands on the market today are Allegra and Benadryl. When a person comes into contact with an allergen, their immune system reacts and produces a chemical called histamine. Histamine causes many allergy symptoms, including inflammation of the skin or sinuses, pain, redness, and wheezing. Immune responses also encourage extra mucus to develop, which helps to clear allergens from the nose and throat.

Allergy medications block histamine responses.