Antihistamines are medications that have some similarities in structure to the histamines that cause allergic reactions. Histamines are released during allergic reactions. They cause sneezing, itching and watery mucus in the upper airway. Antihistamines work by attaching to the same receptors that histamines use to cause allergic symptoms. By occupying these sites, they effectively block histamines from causing allergic symptoms. Therefore antihistamines prevent the effects of histamine.
Antihistamines are effective if you have allergies. If you have allergic asthma, antihistamines may be effective in controlling your upper respiratory allergies and therefore help control your asthma. These medications may or may not play a role in the treatment of sinus disease. Many commonly used over the counter and prescription antihistamines are listed below. Some are antihistamines alone while others are combination products with decongestants, mucolytics, or drying agents. Astelin® is currently the only antihistamine available for nasal use.
| Brand Name |
Antihistamine |
| Actifed® Cold and Allergy Tablets* (OTC) |
triprolidine 2.5mg |
| AccuHist® LA* (OTC) |
chlorpheniramine 8mg |
| Alavert™ Tablets (OTC) |
loratadine 10mg |
| Allegra® Tablets |
fexofenadine 30, 60, 180mg |
| Allegra-D® (12 Hr and 24 Hr) Extended-Release Tablets* |
fexofenadine 60, 180mg |
| AlleRx® Dose Pack PM Tab |
chlorpheniramine 8mg |
| Antivert® Tabs |
meclizine 12.5, 25, 50mg |
| Astelin® Nasal Spray |
azelastine 137mcg/spray |
| Atarax® Tablets and Syrup |
hydroxyzine 10, 25, 50mg |
| Atrohist® Pediatric Capsules |
chlorpheniramine 4mg |
| Atrohist® LA Tab |
chlorpheniramine 8mg |
| Benadryl® Allergy Chewables (OTC) |
diphenhydramine 12.5mg |
| Benadryl® Allergy Kapseal Capsules (OTC) |
diphenhydramine 25mg |
| Benadryl® Allergy Liquid Medication (OTC) |
diphenhydramine 12.5mg/5mL |
| Benadryl® Allergy Ultratab Tablets (OTC) |
diphenhydramine 25mg |
| Benadryl® Allergy/Congestion LiquidMedication* (OTC) |
diphenhydramine 12.5mg/5mL |
| Benadryl® Allergy/Congestion Tablets* (OTC) |
diphenhydramine 25mg |
| Chlor-Trimeton® Tablets (OTC) |
chlorpheniramine 4, 8, 12mg |
| Clarinex®/Clarinex-D® |
desloratadine 5mg |
| Clarinex Reditabs® |
desloratadine 5mg |
| Clarinex® Syrup |
desloratadine 0.5mg/mL |
| Claritin-D® 12Hr ER Tablets* (OTC) |
loratadine 5mg |
| Claritin-D® 24Hr ER Tablets* (OTC) |
loratadine 10mg |
| Claritin Reditabs® (OTC) |
loratadine 10mg |
| Claritin® Syrup (OTC) |
loratadine 1mg/mL |
| Claritin® Tablets (OTC) |
loratadine 10mg |
| Dallergy tab |
chlorpheniramine 4mg |
| Dallergy tab (extended-release) |
chlorpheniramine 12mg |
| Dallergy syrup |
chlorpheniramine 2mg |
| Deconamine® Caps (sustained-release) |
chlorpheniramine 8mg |
| Deconamine® Tablets |
chlorpheniramine 4mg |
| Deconamine® Syrup |
chlorpheniramine 2mg |
| Dimetapp® Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets* (OTC) |
brompheniramine 1mg |
| Dimetapp® Elixir* (OTC) |
brompheniramine 2mg |
| Dimetapp® Tablets* (OTC) |
brompheniramine 4mg |
| Duradryl® Syrup* (OTC) |
chlorpheniramine 2mg |
| Dura-Vent/DA® Tablets* |
chlorpheniramine 8mg |
| Extendryl® Chewable Tablets* |
chlorpheniramine 2mg |
| Extendryl® Sr. T.D. Capsules* |
chlorpheniramine 8mg |
| Extendryl® Jr. Capsules* |
chlorpheniramine 4mg |
| Extendryl® Syrup* |
chlorpheniramine 2mg/5mL |
| Nolahist® Tablets* dye and alcohol free |
phenindamine tartrate 25mg |
| Periactin® Syrup |
cyproheptadine 2mg/5mL |
| Periactin® Tablets |
cyproheptadine 4mg |
| Phenergan® Suppositories |
promethazine 12.5, 25, 50mg |
| Phenergan® Syrup |
Fortis promethazine 25mg/5mL |
| Phenergan® Syrup Plain |
promethazine 6.25mg/5mL |
| Phenergan® Tablets |
promethazine 12.5, 25, 50mg |
| Phenergan® with Codeine |
promethazine 6.25mg/5mL |
| Poly-Histine® D ped caps* |
pyrilamine 8mg |
| Poly-Histine® D elixir* |
pyrilamine 4mg |
| Rondec® Oral Drops (1 - 18 months)* |
carbinoxamine 2mg |
| Rondec® DM Oral Drops (1 - 18 months)* |
carbinoxamine 2mg |
| Rondec® Syrup* |
brompheniramine 4mg/5mL |
| Rynatan® Tablets* |
chlorpheniramine 8mg |
| Rynatan® Suspension* |
chlorpheniramine 2mg/5mL |
| Rynatuss® Tablets* |
chlorpheniramine 5mg |
| Rynatuss® Pediatric Suspension |
chlorpheniramine 4mg/5mL |
| RYNA®-12 |
pyrilamine 30mg |
| Semprex-D® Capsules* |
acrivastine 8mg |
| Sinequan® (doxepin)** |
doxepin 10, 25, 50, 75, 100mg |
| caps & oral |
concentrate 10mg/mL |
| Sinutab® Sinus Allergy Tablets (OTC) |
chlorpheniramine 2mg |
| Tavist-1® 12 Hour Relief Tablets (OTC) |
clemastine fumarate 1.34mg |
| Trinalin® Repetab |
azatadine 1mg |
| Viravan-S®* |
pyrilamine 30mg/5mL |
| Viravan-T®* |
pyrilamine 25mg |
| Zyrtec® Chewable Tablets |
cetirizine 5, 10mg |
| Zyrtec® Syrup |
cetirizine 5mg/5mL |
| Zyrtec® Tablets |
cetirizine 10mg |
| Zyrtec D® Tablets* |
cetirizine 5mg |
| Brand Name |
Ingredients |
| Allegra-D® Extended Release Tablets |
fexofenadine, 60mg
pseudoephedrine 120mg |
| AlleRx® Dose Pack AM Tab |
pseudoephedrine 120mg
methscopolamine 2.5mg |
| PM Tab |
chlorpheniramine 8mg
methscopolamine 2.5mg |
| Atrohist® Pediatric Capsules |
chlorpheniramine 4mg
pseudoephedrine 60mg |
| Atrohist® LA Tab |
chlorpheniramine 8mg
phenylephrine 20mg
hyoscyamine 0.19mg
scopolamine hydrobromide 0.01mg |
| Bellahist-D® LA |
chlorpheniramine 8mg
phenylephrine 20mg
hyoscyamine 0.19mg
scopolamine 0.01mg |
| Clarinex D® |
desloratadine 5mg
pseudoephedrine 240mg |
| Dallergy® Tab |
chlorpheniramine 4mg
phenylephrine 10mg
methscopolamine 1.25mg
|
| Dallergy® Tab (extended-release) |
chlorpheniramine 12mg
phenylephrine 20mg
methscopolamine 2.5mg |
| Dallergy® Syrup |
chlorpheniramine 2mg
phenylephrine 10mg/5mL
methscopolamine 0.625mg |
| Deconamine® Caps (sustained-release) |
chlorpheniramine 8mg
pseudoephedrine 120mg |
| Deconamine® Tab |
chlorpheniramine 4mg
pseudoephedrine 60mg |
| Deconamine® Syrup |
chlorpheniramine 2mg/5mL
pseudoephedrine 30mg/5mL |
| Extendryl® Chewable Tablets |
chlorpheniramine 2mg
phenylephrine 10mg
methscopolamine 1.25mg |
| Extendryl® Sr. T.D. Capsules |
chlorpheniramine 8mg
phenylephrine 20mg
methscopolamine 2.5mg |
| Extendryl® Jr. Capsules |
chlorpheniramine 4mg
phenylephrine 10mg
methscopolamine 1.25mg
|
| Extendryl® Syrup |
chlorpheniramine 2mg/5mL
phenylephrine 10mg/5mL
methscopolamine 1.25mg/5mL |
| Rondec® Oral Drops |
carbinoxamine 2mg/5mL
pseudoephedrine 25mg/5mL |
| Rondec® Syrup |
brompheniramine 4mg/5mL
pseudoephedrine 45mg/5mL |
| Ryna 12X® Suspension |
pyrilamine 30mg/5mL
phenylephrine 5mg/5mL |
| Rynatan® Tablets |
chlorpheniramine 9mg
phenylephrine 25mg |
| Rynatan® Suspension |
chlorpheniramine 4mg/5mL
phenylephrine 5mg/mL |
| Rynatuss® Tablets |
chlorpheniramine 5mg
ephedrine 10mg
phenylephrine 10mg
carbetapentane 60mg |
| Rynatuss® Pediatric Suspension |
chlorpheniramine 4mg/5mL
ephedrine 5mg/5mL
phenylephrine 5mg/5mL
carbetapentane 30mg/5mL |
| Semprex®-D Capsules |
acrivastine 8mg
pseudoephedrine 60mg |
| Viravan® T Chewables |
pyrilamine 30mg
phenylephrine 25mg |
| Viravan® S Suspension |
pyrilamine 30mg/5mL
phenylephrine 12.5mg/5mL |
| Zyrtec-D® Tablets |
cetirizine 5mg
pseudoephedrine 120mg |
| Antihistamine/Mast Cell Stabilizer |
|
| Astelin® Nasal Spray |
azelastine 137mcg/spray |
Older antihistamines (for example, Benadryl®) have a drying effect. This drying effect can thicken secretions. This can lead to sinus problems. Second generation antihistamine products like Claritin, Allegra, Clarinex, Zyrtec and generic loratadine do not have drying effects.
