Seasonal Allergies are common in humans and may lead to hay fever, stomach infections, and much other discomfort in the human body.
People tend to take over-the-counter medicines for such infections. In this article, we have penned down some pros and cons taking into consideration the basic ingredients of Allegra and Zyrtec.
Allegra and Zyrtec are the most prominent medication to cure allergies containing active ingredients to block histamine chemicals in the human body and prevent the speedy spread of allergies in the body.
Though Zyrtec effects last longer than Allegra, Allegra has its significant ingredient to prevent lethargic symptoms in patients.
Key Takeaways
- Allegra and Zyrtec are both antihistamines used to treat allergies.
- Allegra is taken once daily, while Zyrtec can be taken once or twice a day.
- Allegra may cause less drowsiness than Zyrtec.
Allegra vs Zyrtec
Allegra is an over-the-counter antihistamine medication that contains the active ingredient fexofenadine. It is used to relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. Zyrtec is also an over-the-counter antihistamine medication that contains the active ingredient cetirizine. It is used to treat allergy symptoms, including sneezing, itching, runny nose, and itchy.
Multiple companies are selling second-generation antidote fexofenadine for allergies in kids and adults, Allegra is the name for one of those brands selling fexofenadine drugs to cure allergies and also for stomach problems, colds, anxiety, and more.
Containing a low risk for sedation in comparison to other brands, Allegra is the most preferred medication.
Zyrtec is the brand name for Cetirizine which helps to treat natural chemical histamine in the body that causes seasonal allergies.
It helps to cure watery eyes, runny noses, and certain skin infections developed due to histamine in the body. Out of certain side-effects, Zyrtec may cause few effects on thinking patterns therefore, it is always avoidable with alcohol.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Allegra | Zyrtec |
|---|---|---|
| Brands | Allegra is the brand identity for the medical drug namely fexofenadine | Zyrtec is the brand identity for the antihistamines drug namely cetirizine. |
| Effects | A person will realize the effect after 2 hours of taking Allegra medicine. | Zyrtec starts its impact within an hour of dosage by the person. |
| Side-Effects. | Allegra is likely to cause drowsiness, dry mouth, and nausea. | In terms of side effects, Zyrtec is more likely to cause drowsiness, sedation, and headache. |
| Combination | Allegra intake with grapefruit juice will decrease the adoption of medicine by 30%. | Zyrtec will have no such interactions or combinations with any Food product. |
| Results | In relieving the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and urticarial problems Allegra is less effective. | Zyrtec is more effective in curing allergic rhinitis and urticarial problems than Allegra as per studies. |
What is Allegra?
The term Allegra refers to a drug containing Fexofenadine antihistamine, which was invented to cure seasonal allergies, hay fever, etc., in kids and adults.
Apart from seasonal allergies, it also takes care of skin itching and hives caused by a condition called chronic idiopathic urticaria. The physician prescribes this medicine for children above 6 years.
Since being a drug made up of a certain chemical substance, Allegra may cause several adverse effects in some people, which include headache, back pain, drowsiness, and other impacts as per the health conditions of a person,
therefore it must be taken as per the physician’s advice. Chronic idiopathic urticaria, also known as skin infection due to unavoidable eating, can also be cured with the help of Allegra intake.
Once a doctor diagnoses the person with seasonal allergies, hay fever, and another disease, he will also prescribe medicines to overcome the side effects of Allegra to prevent runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, etc.
The receptors in our body which make us tear up, have watery eyes, and itchiness tends to harm our routine body systems and is overcome through the 3 dosages of Allegra with or without a meal for consecutively three days.
What is Zyrtec?
Zyrtec refers to a drug containing Cetirizine, a second-generation antihistamine invented to cure allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, skin allergies, and urticaria similar to Allegra.
It works by blocking a natural substance in the human body, namely the Histamine that a human body produces during an allergic movement.
Histamine affects those allergic cells and makes you feel discomfort, whereas Zyrtec helps to recover from that.
If one is taking Zyrtec for seasonal allergy over the counter to treat him without a medical prescription, it should be ensured before treatment that Zyrtec has some post–effects such as headache, sinus, stuffy nose, and more.
People suffering from high cough, sneezing, and heaviness in body parts tend to demand quick relief often.
The dosage of Zyrtec is based on the age, medical treatment, and allergic factors of kids and adults. It is manufactured as syrup as well as a tablet separately for children and adults.
This medicine, in general, is available in syrup or chewable tablets to be taken once a day with a meal for effective results.
All the instructions regarding the dosage of Zyrtec are prescribed over its packet at the time of purchase. No mandatory prescription is required to purchase this.
Main Differences Between Allegra and Zyrtec
- Compatibility: Allegra is not found to be compatible with apple juice, grape juice, etc. These may impact the absorption process of Allegra in the body, whereas Zyrtec is found compatible with almost every fruit juice and food item.
- Drug Interactions: Allegra has interaction capabilities with drugs, namely erythromycin, rifampin, and antacids on the other hand, Zyrtec has interaction capabilities with drugs such as theophylline as it increases the chances of side effects with such drugs.
- Forms in which drug is available: Allegra is mainly available in Tablets, Gelcap, Oral Suspension and in combination with pseudoephedrine in contrast, Zyrtec is available over the counter in Tablets, Liquigel, Oral Suspension, chewable tablets.
- Typical Dosage for adults: As prescribed for Allegra, 180 mg daily as required or 60 mg twice daily and for Zyrtec 5 to 10 mg daily as required or directed by the medical consultant but for kids, it’s not possible in over-the-counter medication.
- Pros n Cons of Medication: Though Allegra takes effect after 2 hours of intake of medicine, it causes less drowsiness impact on the patient in comparison to Zyrtec, which starts working within 1 hour of intake and lasts for almost 24 hours and leads to the huge impact of drowsiness.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091674900795546
- https://www.proquest.com/openview/3194e87c2d287b5555f6d81a1191449c/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=28636
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
Sometimes, people forget that the drugs may have interactions with other products you consume. I find it quite informative.
I think this post is quite informative and well researched.
Fruit juices have an impact on the absorption of Allegra, interesting.
Allegra effects are faster and have less drowsiness than Zyrtec, no wonder it is more preferred by many.
Zyrtec makes people sleepy and drowsy, imagine driving after taking it!
I didn’t know that Allegra could alleviate the symptoms of chronic idiopathic urticarial.