What is a non-drowsy antihistamine?
A non-drowsy antihistamine is a type of medicine that blocks the effects of histamine in the body to relieve allergy symptoms without usually causing sleepiness. These medicines are designed for use during the day so people can stay alert for work, driving or daily tasks. They differ from drowsy antihistamines, which make people feel sleepy and are better suited for nighttime use.
Key points:
- Non-drowsy antihistamines treat allergy symptoms like hay fever, hives and itchy skin.
- Common examples include cetirizine, loratadine and fexofenadine.
- They may still cause mild drowsiness in some people.
- They come as tablets, sprays or liquids and are available over the counter.
This text has been fact-checked for accuracy by medino's clinical team.