Meds for People with Cat Allergies

According to an introduction to allergy medication on the Claritin website, of 300 adults asked by doctors to give up pets as a response to an allergic reaction, only 21 percent followed doctor's advice. Symptoms of cat allergies can include stuffy noses, eyes that are red and itchy, sneezing, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and, in some cases, itchy and irritated skin. The type of allergy medication that is best for you will depend on how your allergies manifest and how your body reacts to the various medications.

  1. Claritin

    • Claritin is an antihistamine that can help to treat someone who is allergic to cats. When first released on the market, Claritin was available only by prescription. After a number of years, it was made available by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an over-the-counter allergy medication. Claritin is available in a number of variations that can help with cat allergies in both children and adults. For children, some varieties are available as flavored liquids. One formulation is an eye drop designed to target itchy and irritated eyes. Claritin is considered an allergy medication that does not cause drowsiness.

    Zyrtec

    • Zyrtec is another over-the-counter allergy medication that is often recommended for cat allergies. Like Claritin, Zyrtec was originally a prescription medication that was later approved as an over-the-counter medication. As in Claritin, Zyrtec has a number of different formulations, some specifically targeting children with allergies and others targeting adults with allergies. In fact, the two product lines are very similar, with sweet syrups for children and eye drops to specifically target eye allergy symptoms. Zyrtec is considered an allergy medication that does not cause drowsiness.

    Benadryl

    • Benadryl is an older allergy medication that can cause drowsiness in some people. Benadryl offers a very wide range of products, including mists and gels that might help people whose cat allergies manifest as itchy skin or skin welts. Benadryl offers a number of formulations targeted to children, with both sweet liquid formulas and chewable tablets.

    Omnaris

    • Omnaris is a prescription nasal spray that can be effective in treating cat allergies. Unlike other allergy treatments, Omnaris is not absorbed through the stomach. Its formulation is designed to deliver quick allergy relief through quick absorption through the nasal membranes. Omnaris is available only by prescription, because it is a steroid-based medication. However, it is not the same type of steroid as the ones commonly abused by athletes and body builders.