Key takeaways
Nasacort (triamcinolone acetonide) and Allegra (fexofenadine) are both used to treat allergy symptoms, but they work in different ways and belong to different medication classes. Nasacort is a corticosteroid nasal spray that reduces inflammation in your nose to relieve symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion. It is used once daily and is available over the counter in both brand-name and generic forms. On the other hand, Allegra is an antihistamine taken orally, available as tablets, fast-melting tablets, and liquid. It blocks histamine to ease symptoms like itchy eyes, runny nose, and hives. Allegra can be taken once or twice a day, depending on the formulation, and also comes in both brand-name and generic forms. While Nasacort may take up to a week to show full effects, Allegra starts working in about 2 hours. Nasacort is less likely to cause drowsiness, whereas Allegra, although less sedating than some other antihistamines, can still cause drowsiness in some people.
