Being congested, sneezing, and coughing can definitely put a damper on your day, but fortunately, over-the-counter allergy medicines can help., Allergy medicines, such as intranasal steroids, are the first-choice treatment for people with persistent allergy symptoms — but some of them take time to work. Consider several factors when selecting an allergy medication, including your symptoms, how quickly you need relief, and side effects., Antihistamines used to treat allergy symptoms fall into two broad categories: sedating and non-sedating. The first category includes the older antihistamines. These allergy drugs relieve allergy symptoms but cause drowsiness and other side effects, including dry mouth., Allergy medications range from over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants to prescription immunotherapy and nasal sprays; each offering targeted relief depending on the severity and type of symptoms., There are so many options, from antihistamines to steroids to pills to nasal sprays — and, they all promise to unclog your nose, stop your sneezing and just make you feel better. So,, There are many different anti-histamine preparations. What will work best for you often comes down to personal preference, how you respond to a formulation, and which allergy symptoms you’re trying to manage..