Research published in a 2009 issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology concluded that congested participants treated with phenylephrine didn't fare much better than participants who had popped a placebo. Why it's good: Though you can't just pick it up from shelves (pharmacists keep it behind the counter, so you have to ask for it), Sudafed with pseudoephedrine is more effective than the easy-to-grab boxes stocked on shelves that contain phenylephrine. "Sudafed vasoconstricts, or shrinks, your blood vessels, so it opens the passageways," says Brown. How it works: Once histamines flood your nasal passages, their inflammatory properties get into your blood stream and make your blood vessels swollen, says Dawson, leaving you stuffy. Also, some people may complain of a dry mouth, she adds, so sucking on hard candy or a mint will help produce saliva. Since the antihistamine acts on your central nervous system, it's normal to get a headache as well, says Arya. Side effects: Although Claritin is virtually nondrowsy, it's possible that you'll feel a little more tired while you're taking it. Why it's good: Claritin will last all day without making you too lethargic to tackle your to-do list. Regular Claritin can take 30 to 60 minutes to kick in, but the dissolving RediTabs can shave up to half an hour off the wait time, says Bethanne Brown, Pharm.D., assistant professor at the Wrinkle College of Pharmacy at the University of Cincinnati.
John's University's College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions. How it works: Claritin is an antihistamine that wedges itself between allergens and receptors in your nose so there's no outpouring of chemicals in the first place, says Vibhuti Arya, Pharm.D., an assistant clinical professor at St. What it treats: Itchy/runny nose, sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, and itchy nose and throat
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