Does OTC Allergy Medicine Work For A Cold?
Key takeaways:
Colds and allergies can cause similar symptoms. Some over-the-counter (OTC) medications treat specific symptoms, no matter what’s causing them. These include decongestants for a stuffy nose and pain relievers for a headache or painful sinus pressure.
All antihistamines work for allergy symptoms, but they don’t all work for a cold. Older antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), have side effects that can dry up a runny nose and help you sleep when you have a cold. But newer antihistamines, such as loratadine (Claritin) aren’t effective for cold symptoms.
Read OTC product labels carefully and choose a medication with ingredients that match your symptoms. Pharmacists often recommend single-ingredient products over combination products to avoid taking extra medication you don’t need.
Table of contents
Waking up to a cold is an unwelcome start to the day. It often begins with a sore throat, followed by sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, and coughing. And when cold symptoms strike, we all want quick relief. As you search through your medicine cabinet, you come across an allergy medication — but will it work for your cold symptoms?
Let’s look at the differences between over-the-counter (OTC) allergy and cold medications to help you choose the right treatment when you’re under the weather.
What’s the difference between allergy medication and cold medication?
When you compare cold and allergy medications, they often contain similar ingredients. That’s because colds and allergies can cause some of the same symptoms.
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Common allergy medications include:
Antihistamines block the release of histamine, a chemical in the body that causes allergy symptoms. Antihistamines come in oral tablets, eye drops, and nasal sprays.
Nasal steroids, such as fluticasone (Flonase), help reduce swelling in the nose and sinuses caused by an allergen.
Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), help unclog a stuffy nose or ease sinus pressure. Decongestant nasal sprays are also an option for short-term relief.
Cold medications are often combination products that contain multiple ingredients, including:
Pain relievers, such acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), to ease a headache or reduce a fever
Decongestants (oral and nasal sprays)
Oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), to help you sleep and dry up a runny nose
Cough suppressants, such as dextromethorphan (Delsym), to help reduce the urge to cough
Expectorants, such as guaifenesin (Mucinex), to thin mucus and help relieve chest congestion
Allergy and cold medications have some ingredients in common. But that doesn’t always mean they’re interchangeable — more on that next.
Is it allergies or a cold? Learn how to tell the difference and when to contact a healthcare professional.
Real-life tips: Healthcare professionals share the steps they take to stay healthy during cold and flu season
Choosing a cold medication: Here’s how to pick the best medication for your symptoms when you have a cold.
Can you take allergy medication for cold symptoms?
It depends. Some medications will treat a specific symptom no matter what’s causing it. If you have a stuffy nose or sinus pressure, a decongestant will help — regardless if the package says it’s for allergies or a cold. The same goes for a pain reliever if you have a headache or painful sinus pressure.
But when it comes to antihistamines, only some will help with cold symptoms. Others specifically treat allergies. As mentioned, antihistamines work by blocking histamine, a chemical your immune system releases when you’re having an allergic response. But histamine doesn’t cause cold symptoms.
So why are antihistamines often included in cold medications? There are two main reasons:
To help you sleep. Older antihistamines (often called first-generation antihistamines) cause drowsiness as a side effect. This can help you sleep better when you have a cold and aren’t feeling well.
To dry up a runny nose. Older antihistamines can also have a drying effect on the body. This side effect can help dry up a runny nose caused by a cold. It can also lessen post-nasal drip that makes your throat sore or irritated.
Common antihistamines with these effects include diphenhydramine, doxylamine (Unisom SleepTabs, and chlorpheniramine (Aller-Chlor). So if your allergy medication contains one of these, it may help with some of your cold symptoms.
Keep in mind that older antihistamines won’t help with a stuffy nose or sneezing due to the common cold. And they have risks and side effects to consider before taking them. For example, they’re not recommended for adults over the age of 65 because they can increase the risk of confusion and falls.
A common example of a combination allergy medication that may also help cold symptoms is Advil Allergy Sinus. It contains chlorpheniramine (a drying antihistamine), ibuprofen (a pain reliever), and pseudoephedrine (a decongestant). So even though the label says “allergy,” the ingredients in the product can help with cold symptoms, too.
Good to know: In theory, steroid nasal sprays that treat allergies could help with nasal swelling caused by a cold. But most steroid nasal sprays take a few weeks to start working. And most colds only last up to 10 days. So it’s unlikely that a steroid nasal spray would have enough time to make a difference in your cold symptoms.
Will antihistamines such as Zyrtec or Claritin unstuff your nose?
No. Cetirizine (Zyrtec) and loratadine (Claritin) are newer antihistamines, called second-generation antihistamines. They don’t have the same side effects as first-generation antihistamines, so they won’t do much to treat cold symptoms. Other examples of second-generation antihistamines include fexofenadine (Allegra), desloratadine (Clarinex), and levocetirizine (Xyzal).
Good to know: Second-generation antihistamines are often sold in combination with pseudoephedrine (a decongestant). You’ll find these products behind the pharmacy counter with a “D” added to the medication name, such as Claritin-D or Allegra-D. If you take these medications when you have a cold, it’s the decongestant that’s working to help unstuff your nose and improve your cold symptoms. The antihistamine component isn’t likely to have any effect at all. You’re better off purchasing a plain decongestant for your cold symptoms to avoid taking extra medication you don’t need.
Can you take cold and allergy medications together?
It’s best to ask a healthcare professional before combining OTC cold and allergy medications. Doubling up on certain medications can be dangerous. For example, some cold medications and allergy medications both contain pseudoephedrine. And too much pseudoephedrine can lead to tremors and heart palpitations. It can even be life-threatening in some cases.
Often, products that say “cold” or “allergy” contain similar ingredients, even if the packaging looks different. While the product name can sometimes help guide you, it’s best to look at the ingredients the product contains when deciding what to take.
Every OTC medication contains a “Drug Facts” label. At the top, it will list the active ingredients and what they treat. You should match your symptoms to what’s listed on the box. And avoid products that treat symptoms you don’t have.
Don’t forget that your pharmacist can help if you have questions about combining cold and allergy medications. They can also check your medication list to make sure the products are safe for you.
Are there other options for treating cold symptoms?
Home remedies are another treatment option to consider when you have a cold. Self-care measures such as getting extra sleep, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking it easy can help you feel better faster.
Natural remedies may also help ease cold symptoms. These include:
Taking zinc lozenges
Drinking hot tea with honey, a natural cough suppressant
Adding moisture to the air with a humidifier
Using sinus rinses, such as a neti pot
Don’t forget that your cold is contagious for about a week. Be sure to limit your contact with others and wash your hands often to avoid passing it around.
The bottom line
Some over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medications may work for cold symptoms. First-generation antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) have side effects that can dry up a runny nose and help you sleep when you have a cold. But newer, “non-drowsy” antihistamines such as loratadine (Claritin) won’t work for cold symptoms. And steroid nasal sprays take too long to work to help with a cold.
Other OTC medications aren’t specific to colds or allergies. They treat individual symptoms and will work no matter what’s causing them. These include oral and nasal decongestants for a stuffy nose and pain relievers for headaches or sinus pressure.
Always read OTC product labels carefully to confirm that the ingredients match your symptoms. And don’t hesitate to ask a pharmacist for help.
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References
De Sutter, A. I., et al. (2015). Antihistamines for the common cold. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Hemilä, H. (2011). Zinc lozenges may shorten the duration of colds: A systematic review. The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal.
MedlinePlus. (2017). Histamine: The stuff allergies are made of.
Mekonnen, S. (n.d.). Over the counter (OTC) drug labels. National Capital Poison Center.
Semla, T. P., et al. (2023). American Geriatrics Society 2023 updated AGS Beers Criteria® for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
