About Allergies: Confused About Over-the-Counter Cold and Allergy Medicines?

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Allergies Allergies Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping From Daniel More, MD, your Guide to Allergies When was the last time you went to the drugstore to buy an over-the-counter (OTC) cold or allergy remedy? If it's been a while, you're in for a real treat the next time you need purchase one of these medicines. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of different options. From "cough" and "congestion" remedies, to "cold and allergy" formulas, and from "daytime" and "nighttime" versions to multi-symptom medicines, it seems to take an MD degree nowadays to figure out which medicine to purchase. Even when I go to purchase OTC cold medicines for my kids, I spend quite a bit of time choosing the right one. After all, I want to give my kids exactly what they need based on their symptoms -- and nothing they don't. But short of asking a doctor or pharmacist which medicine is best for your (or your child's) symptoms, how do you decide which medicine to purchase? Take a survey sharing your thoughts and ideas, and I'll share the results of the survey with my readers in a couple of weeks -- just in time for the start of cold and flu season! Take a Short Poll on OTC Cold and Allergy Medicine Use Do you purchase OTC cold and allergy medicines? Are you often confused about which of these medicines to purchase? Who do you rely on for advice on which OTC cold and allergy medicine to buy? These are just a few of the questions asked by a brief survey about OTC cold and allergy medicines. Your participation in this brief online survey could help revolutionize the way that people choose OTC cold and allergy medicines. Cold versus Allergy: Which Is It? Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell. The symptoms of allergies can be very similar to the symptoms of the common cold, but there are some important differences. See More About:  allergy diagnosis  allergy testing  sinusitis Which OTC Allergy Medicine is Best For You? There are numerous over-the-counter (OTC) medications available for the treatment of allergy symptoms. Some of these, like oral decongestants such as Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) and sedating antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine), have been available for many years. Others, such as Claritin (loratadine) and Zyrtec-D (cetirizine/pseudoephedrine), have only recently become available OTC without a prescription. See More About:  allergies  allergist  allergy testing Allergies Ads Cold and Cough Allergies Safe Cold Medicine Tylenol Cold Sinus Benylin Cold Featured Articles Nose and Eye Allergies Skin Allergies Asthma and Lung Allergies Common Allergy Issues in Children Food Allergies Allergies in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding   More from About.com Essential Medical Tests for Women For women, certain medical tests and health screenings are recommended on a yearly basis. Learn which screenings are essential for your health, and why. More> Finding the Right Doctor Whether you need a new primary care doctor or a specialist to take care of specific symptoms, you'll want to follow these guidelines to choose the right physician for your medical care. More> This newsletter is written by: Daniel More, MD Allergies Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Allergies newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com   Must Reads What are Allergies? Symptoms of Allergies Diagnosis of Allergies Treatment of Allergies Preventing Allergies Advertisement