Over-the-Counter Allergy Medication Table – for Parents and Teens
| Common Products | Generic Ingredient | Symptoms Treated | Side Effects |
| Benadryl Tylenol Flu Nighttime Products |
Diphenhydramine | Sneezing Itchy throat Itchy ears |
Drowsiness Dry mouth Urinary retention |
| Chlor-Trimetron Comtrex Actifed Contac TheraFlu Triaminic |
Chlorpheniramine | Sneezing Itchy throat Itchy ears |
Drowsiness Dry mouth Urinary retention |
| Dimetapp | Brompheniramine | Sneezing Itchy nose Itchy throat Itchy ears |
Drowsiness Dry mouth Urinary retention |
| Tavist | Clemastine | Sneezing Itchy nose Itchy throat Itchy ears |
Drowsiness Dry mouth Urinary retention |
| Tylenol Flu NightTime Alka-Seltzer Plus NightTime |
Doxylamine | Sneezing Itchy nose Itchy throat Itchy ears |
Drowsiness Dry mouth Urinary retention |
| Sudafed Actifed Comtrex |
Pseudoephedrine | Congestion Sinus pain Post-nasal drip Cough due to post-nasal drip |
Palpitations Insomnia Nervousness |
| Afrin Neo-Synephrine Vicks Sinex |
Phenylephrine | Congestion Sinus pain |
Headaches if used too long. Can become addicting to the nasal mucosa. |
| Topical Decongestant Afrin Original Nasal Spray Neo-Synephrine 12 Hour |
Oxymetazoline | Congestion Sinus pain |
Headaches and if used too long. Can become addicting to the nasal mucosa. |
| Visine Napchon Vasocon |
Oxymetazoline Naphazoline Eye Drops | Red, irritated eyes due to allergy or irritation | Eye drops have minimal major side effects if used properly. |
| Naphcon-A | Pheniramine Eye Drops | Itchy eyes due to allergy | Eye drops have minimal major side effects if used properly |
(Source of this table: My pharmacist, Don K, RPH – who made this chart up for Teen Health Secrets.)