Can Allergies Make You Tired?

Seasonal allergies cause many different symptoms, including sneezing, congestion, and itchy eyes. But allergies can also make you feel tired and rundown. Let’s take a look at why allergies affect your energy and what you can do to improve allergy fatigue.

Can allergies make you tired?

Yes, allergies can make you feel tired. One small study found that more than 80% of people with seasonal allergies reported extreme fatigue and tiredness. Another study found that people with ragweed allergies reported increased fatigue as well as trouble concentrating and focusing during ragweed season.

There are a few reasons why allergies can make you feel tired. We discuss these in more detail below.

Histamine release

Your body releases histamine when you’re exposed to your allergens, like pollen or ragweed. Histamine helps your body respond to your allergens. But it also causes swelling in your nasal passages. This can affect your sleep quality if nasal congestion makes it harder for you to breathe at night. 

Histamine release can also lead to sinus congestion and pressure. Sinus pressure can cause headaches and other uncomfortable symptoms. In studies, people reported feeling more fatigued when dealing with these symptoms. This was especially the case if they had a sinus infection on top of seasonal allergies.

Overactive immune system

During allergy season, your immune system is working overtime. Your immune system releases certain chemicals when it’s active, such as:

• Interleukin-5 (IL-5) 

• Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha 

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High levels of these chemicals can make you feel tired.

Medications

Allergy medications can help relieve allergy symptoms. But some of these medications can cause side effects that affect your energy levels: 

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can cause drowsiness. 

• Decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine can make it harder to fall and stay asleep, leading to increased daytime sleepiness.

What does allergy fatigue feel like?

Allergy fatigue may feel different for everyone. In general, most people experience a feeling of tiredness that doesn’t get better with sleep or rest. Other symptoms of allergy fatigue include:

• A general lack of energy

• Lower than normal energy

• Feelings of sluggishness

• Sleepiness

Lack of energy and sluggishness can make it harder for people to complete their activities or focus on tasks. People may describe this sensation as brain fog.

Seasonal allergies can also interrupt your sleep. That’s because the allergies cause inflammation and swelling in your nasal passages. This can lead to nasal congestion and trouble breathing during the night. Interrupted sleep can lead to daytime sleepiness, decreased energy, and brain fog too.

How do you get rid of allergy fatigue?

The best way to relieve your allergy symptoms is to stay away from your allergy triggers. But, in most cases, that’s not possible. 

Thankfully, there are medications and natural remedies that can help treat seasonal allergies. Keeping your allergies under good control can lessen symptoms, including sleepiness, tiredness, and fatigue.

Medications for allergies

Medications that can help treat allergies include:

• Oral antihistamines

• Intranasal antihistamines

• Intranasal steroids

• Antihistamine eye drops

• Mast cell stabilizers

Over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants can also help relieve symptoms quickly. But they’re not the best option for long-term treatment. Try to avoid Benadryl (diphenhydramine), which can cause drowsiness and dizziness. 

Natural remedies for allergies

Natural remedies can also help with allergy fatigue. Here are some things you can try:

• Eat more fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates. These foods can help support your body as it fights against the allergens. 

• Drink more water. This will help you stay hydrated as your body fights off allergens. 

• Get light-to-moderate exercise. This can boost your immune system and reduce inflammation.

When should you seek medical care for fatigue and tiredness from allergies?

Talk to your healthcare team if your fatigue doesn’t get better with allergy medications. You may need other prescription treatments to get your symptoms under control.

Also, seek care if you’re still feeling tired but your other allergy symptoms (like congestion and sneezing) got better after starting allergy medication. There are many other medical conditions that can cause fatigue. Your healthcare team can check you for other conditions to see if they’re the reason for your fatigue.

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Written by:

Meredith Grace Merkley, DO, FAAP

Dr. Merkley is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician who has over a decade of experience working in community health. She is currently a National Health Services Corp scholar, and is serving as the medical director of a school-based health clinic at a federally funded health center.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

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