Itching eyes, sneezing, and runny nose are all symptoms of seasonal allergies. Prescription-strength relief from allergy symptoms is available over-the-counter.

Oral antihistamines are the foundation of seasonal allergy relief. They work by blocking the release of histamine, a chemical mediator that triggers most allergy symptoms. Most antihistamines available OTC in the U.S. once required prescriptions. Older antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (ChlorTrimeton) are very effective. They have a rapid onset and short duration of action. They are taken every 4 to 6 hours as needed. The primary negative side effect is drowsiness. They cause so much drowsiness they can be used as sleep aids. The more recently introduced antihistamines loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine (Zyrtec) are also very effective and they cause much less drowsiness. Cetirizine is labeled as "low drowsiness" and loratadine as "non-drowsy." These are much longer acting and are taken only once a day. Longer action, however results in much slower onset. They may take 2 to 3 days to begin to work. Other common side effects include dry mouth, nose and eyes. At higher doses they may cause blurred vision, difficulty with urination, irregular heartbeat and confusion. They should be used with caution in the elderly as they may be more susceptible to side effects. They should be used only upon the advice of a doctor if you have glaucoma, prostate problems or are on prescription medications, as they interact with many other medications.

Decongestants keep your nose from running. They work by constricting nasal blood vessels. They are often combined with antihistamines in oral formulations. Decongestants can also be used as nasal sprays. They are very fast acting and have a powerful effect, so powerful that the use of nasal sprays for more than 3 days is discouraged because they may cause "rebound" congestion if their use is stopped suddenly. You become dependent upon the decongestant effect very quickly and lose the ability to constrict the nasal blood vessels on your own. The decongestant pseudoephedrine can be used in the illegal production of methamphetamine known as "meth" or "speed." As such, its sale is more tightly controlled, requiring identification and restricting the amount that can be purchased within a certain time frame. Decongestants can raise blood pressure and blood glucose levels. They should only be used as directed by a doctor if you have high blood pressure or diabetes.

Cromolyn sodium (Nasalcrom) nasal spray contains a different kind of medication. It does not constrict blood vessels — instead it inhibits the release of histamine by stabilizing the cells that contain histamine. It is much safer to use than decongestant nasal sprays. It is more effective if it is used before allergy symptoms are very bad to block the onset of symptoms. All allergy medications are more effective if used at the first sign of symptoms.

Ketotifen fumarate (Zaditor) is an antihistamine available in eye drops. They are used once or twice daily for the relief of eye allergy symptoms. People who wear contact lenses should check with their doctor before using these drops. In most cases they can be used with contact lenses by administering the drops 10 minutes or more before putting in your contacts.

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