Antihistamine reviews from Reddit

Summary

We analyzed 392 Reddit reviews across 44 subreddits and 99 posts to rank the best Antihistamine brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/MCAS, r/HistamineIntolerance, r/Allergies, r/urticaria, r/covidlonghaulers. Top-rated brands include Zyrtec (3.8/5), Allegra (4.3/5), Claritin (3.8/5).

Stats

Reviews392

Subreddits44

Posts99

Brands82

Products18

Top communities

r/MCAS64 r/HistamineIntolerance51 r/Allergies46 r/urticaria33 r/covidlonghaulers31

392 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Zyrtec

3.8

(56)

"I had hives nearly every day and now I take Zyrtec daily. It took about 3 days to really kick in, but it works like a miracle and doesn’t trigger worse RLS for me."

"Zyrtec causes no problems for me."

"Two Zyrtec and I take it the minute I feel a hive. Within 20-30 minutes of taking the Zyrtec, I’m hive free."

"Zyrtec is my saving grace."

"Try this recent “cocktail” that my nurse sister in law suggested and my dermatologist said “wow, that’s impressive” - Zyrtec, Allegra and Tagamet."

"Newer gen antihistamines for general Histamine issues like Zyrtec would be good."

"Zyrtec works the best for me, and even helps me sleep when I need it."

"But Zyrtec works the best for me, and even helps me sleep when I need it."

"I use Zyrtec about an hour before. Absolutely zero side effects for me."

"Zyrtec 10 mg 3x daily n pepsid 20 mg 2x day."

Allegra

4.3

(44)

"My allergist said that it’s the only thing pilots are allowed to take because it doesn’t have the same drowsiness effect."

"Then I tried allegra and it has been a game changer."

"Allegra is my favorite for skin issues."

"Allegra works best for me."

"I swear by Allegra."

"I read that Allegra is the best."

"Allegra (oral) works best for me."

"For me, Fexofenadine works best. It puts white rings around any hives or inflammations, so I'm guessing it's stopping the histamine reaction."

"Fexofenadine (Allegra) is the only one that does anything at all for me."

"Fexofenidine (Allegra) has always worked best on me as the daytime antihistamine."

Claritin

3.8

(33)

"I’ve noticed that ever since I started giving my daughter a Claritin daily for her seasonal allergy symptoms."

"Claritin twice daily works much better for me."

"Claritin for instant relief, and cetrazine if taken regularly"

"It’s the only one that doesn’t make the drowsy, depressed, or give me terrible tinnitus."

"I use Claritin /clarytinnonn drowsy but I am in the UK"

"Allegra(generic) and singulair(prescription) in the morning, Claritin (generic) at night."

"I also take Claritin antihistamine 6-8 times a month and it definitely helps"

"I take Claratin very occasionally. Seems to help a lot with histamine dump insomnia and doesn't give me hangover the next day."

"Claritin."

"My Nurse practitioner prescribed Claritin and a steroid cream to help with my taxol rash."

Xyzal

4.4

(24)

"I did, and finally settled on Xyzol. It’s an individual thing. Claritin didn’t work for me. Zyrtec dried me out too much. I liked Allegra, but Xyzol ended up to be the best for me."

"Try Xyzal. It was the strongest in my experience."

"Xyzal doesn’t cross the blood brain barrier and works better than Zyrtec for me."

"Xyzal has been the best one I’ve ever used."

"Xyzal has worked best for me."

"I am on xyzal now and it’s amazing."

"I use xyzal."

"Xyzal seems to be the best for me."

"Xyzal (levocetrizine) works better than any other antihistamine for me."

"There's a pretty new one called Xyzal."

Benadryl

3.7

(24)

"Benadryl. Always Benadryl."

"Benadryl (pill not topical) is the only thing that really helped me."

"Benadryl has a good mixture of relief and knocking you out."

"I keep children's chewable Benadryl on hand for urgent situations."

"Benadryl before bed"

"Benadryl is really the only thing that helps me pre-medicate before stuff."

"It sucks but Benadryl is the only thing that helps my symptoms."

"Zyrtec Pepcid, Benadryl or hydroxyzine in a jam."

"For me: benadryl and pepcid. but my allergist has me on allegra & pepcid daily."

"Blue benedryl tabs from amazon are my go to."

Cetirizine

4.2

(17)

"Cetrizine was kinda life changing for me, I still need to take it otherwise I feel symptoms coming back but I live a much more normal life now."

"I got a generic box of cetinzine (89p at Home Bargains fellow Brits) to try as I saw it mentioned a lot on here & it has been effective."

"Love it never had issues with tiredness."

"Update - 40 took one Zyrtec about 45 minutes before Pinning and zero side effects."

"For me, cetirizine is the only one that helps."

"I was also talking Claritin and they prescribed Cetrizine like someone else said too. Could take both at the same time."

"I’ve been giving my cat .5mg of generic Zyrtec."

"Cetirizine, 20 mg daily has worked well for me so far."

"I take cetirizine."

"I use cetirizine (zyrtec), famotidine (pepcid), and atenolol."

Fexofenadine

4.2

(17)

"I find ketotifen and fexofenadine the best H1 antihistamines."

"Fexofenodine + famotidine (pepcid) works best for me."

"Allevia / Fexofenadine seems to be the best and is vegan."

"Personally, this made a huge difference to me."

"Fexofenadine is the best."

"I'm now on 120mg fexofenadine daily."

"Have you tried Fexofenadine?"

"I was ok'd by GP to take both fexofenadine and ceterizine."

"I take fexofenadine its non drowsy."

"Fexofenadine I think is available OTC."

Hydroxyzine

4.1

(17)

"10mg and 25 mg tabs of Hydroxyzine hydrochloride. It was a game changer for me!"

"Hydroxyzine is amazing, my doctor said its specifically for skin."

"Hydroxyzine is my go to."

"Sustained release hydroxyzine works for me."

"Hydroxizine is an old one that many people don’t know about and it’s mostly prescribed for anxiety now but I love it as an anti histamine."

"Hydroxyzine aka atarax aka benadryl"

"Yes, ^ like Benadryl but it has a compound that’s classified as a “stimulant” so non drowsy unlike Benadryl."

"Hydroxyzine + Propanolol."

"I like hydroxyzine and propanalol."

"Hydroxyzine really helped my insomnia."

Loratadine

3.8

(15)

"Loratadine"

"I am safe with Loratadine for an H1 but it has to be the basic white round Claritin tablets."

"All normal antihistaminica will help you as they lower the sensitivity of your histamine receptors and therefore will help to sleep. Depends where you are from, Loratadin is very good for me"

"For me, Loratadine is the best; brand name Claratyne."

"I use loratadine and find it doesn't worsen my RLS at all."

"My immunologist told me the best antihistamine for hives was lordatine."

"I take 2 Loratadine 10mg in the morning, and 2 desloratadine 5g at night."

"I find loratadine useful in reducing inflammation."

"I take a Loratadine 10 mg daily for allergies."

"Which does not make me dizzy or tired and it works good."

#10

Bilastine

4.6

(7)

"I took ebastine and it did nothing for me. Instead I switched to Bilastine and it was a game changer for me."

"Currently on bilastine 20 mg 2x/day, which for me is about as effective as ebastine."

"Bilastine is incredible."

"Could also try Bilastine which is what I'm taking if it's available in your country."

"If you're not in the US you could try Bilastine... Has good efficacy on me."

"I used to be on bilastine and it worked for a couple of years."

"Taking Bilastine currently."

#11

Ketotifen

4.7

(6)

"Ketotifen by a long shot."

"I find ketotifen and fexofenadine the best H1 antihistamines."

"An absolute game changer is a med called Ketotifen."

"I take ketotifen and will sing its praises."

"Try ketotifen, see an Allegist"

"I also just added Ketotifen, hoping it helps improve my overall baseline."

#12

Pepcid

4.5

(6)

"Pepcid is my rockstar antihistamine."

"My Dr put me on Pepcid 2x a day and it cleared me up."

"20-40mg famatodine (pepcid), AND 10mg loratadine (Claritin) or ceterizine."

"Pepcid. Check out the flccc protocol."

"Surprisingly, in my current flare up, famotidine (Pepsid!) has worked the best."

"I’m on pecid and Zyrtec"

#13

Reactine

4.2

(6)

"Personally, I LOVE Reactine."

"Reactine/claritin worked for me"

"The paper she gave me does say reactine though"

"Reactine 10 mg. Also, have you considered allergy shots?"

"Reactine might get fewer votes because it goes by the brand name Zyrtec in the US."

"Now I'm taking Reactine Extra strength and it seems to be going well so far."

#14

Desloratadine

4.0

(6)

"Yes I agree! Desloratadine was a game changer for me."

"Reco desloratadine for the best symptom control / anticholinergic effect trade."

"Has she tried desloratadine? I have a lot of issues with antihistamines, too."

"I took desloratadine next to accutane for another issue, and my purge was significantly less bad than others I’ve seen here."

"Desloritadine is available over the counter in Canada."

"I've swapped cetirizine + fexofenadine for desloratadine recently."

#15

Blexten

4.6

(5)

"Blexten is an RX but is a game changer"

"I’d recommend asking your doctor about Blexten and/or Xolair injections as that combination got rid of my hives the best!"

"Blexten! It’s a godsend with zero side effects."

"Blexten. Blastine is the molecule name. You don't have it in the US."

"I use bilastine (Blexten)"

#16

Montelukast

4.4

(5)

"I do take montelukast. Helps me breathe."

"Singulair!"

"Mine is Montelukast (aka Singulair), it works great for me."

"I do montelukast as my primary and xyzal for support."

"I take montelukast at night to help with the throat swelling."

#17

Levocetirizine

4.2

(5)

"The best by far is levocetirizine which is onlly available on prescription where I live."

"Consider trying some of the lesser sedating ones such as levocetirizine, loratadine..."

"Levoceritizine 5mg bid, then fexofenadine 180mg prn if I still need it."

"Levocetirizine or loratadine would be my suggestion."

"Levocetirizine."

#18

Chlorphenamine

4.0

(5)

"Chlorphenamine is the only antihistamine I’ve had any luck with, without having debilitating effects from the med itself."

"I also use my asthma inhaler if my throat starts to get scratchy."

"Chlorphen for short term relief as needed."

"Chlorphenamine mostly works for me."

"Chlorophenamine is the only thing that really works for me."

#19

Antihistamine

5.0

(4)

"I have excellent results with antihistamine."

"I took antihistamines every day long term and have had absolutely no issue."

"I take several different antihistamines and I've never experienced increased sensitivity."

"I would recommend discussing this with your doctor."

#20

Nasalcrom

4.5

(4)

"Have you tried Nasalcrom? OTC nasal spray with Cromolyn Sodium which is a mast cell stabilizer."

"How about Nasalcrom (Cromolyn Sodium) for the runny nose? Works great for me!"

"Nasalcrom"

"Nasal crom (cromolyn sodium) has been helpful for me."

#21

Quercetin

4.0

(4)

"Quercetin is also good."

"Quercitin made a huge difference for me."

"I use quercetin and histaminx as antihistamines."

"Quercetin and/or Vitamin C."

#22

Singulair

4.0

3.0

3.0

(1)

"I have chronic hives... I have to take antihistamines every day."

#82

Patanol

3.0

(1)

"You need to get a prescription for them, they are called Patanol."

Discover your audience

GummySearch is an audience research toolkit for 130,000 unique communities on Reddit.

If you are looking for startup problems to solve, want to validate your idea or find your customers online, GummySearch is for you.

Tell me more

Get started