Claritin Allergy Medicine for Adults, 24-Hour Non-Drowsy Loratadine 10mg Pills, Antihistamine, 100 Tablets

Why it's worth it

Claritin's loratadine is the antihistamine with the longest non-drowsy track record and the widest generic availability. A 100-tablet box covers most of a season, and store-brand versions of the same drug cost dramatically less.

Loratadine has been over the counter longer than the others, and that maturity shows up in your wallet. Consumer Reports' bioequivalence analysis confirms store-brand loratadine performs identically to Claritin at 40% to 70% lower cost. If you're medicating a whole household through spring, that difference is real money. Buy the name brand for the packaging you trust, or buy the generic and pocket the savings — the tablet is the same.

It's the gentlest of the three on alertness, short of fexofenadine. The meta-analysis puts loratadine's sedation at 7.8% above placebo, comfortably below cetirizine. Owners describe taking it daily for years without grogginess. It's also approved for children 6 and up in this formulation, and loratadine is approved down to age 2 in children's versions, which makes it a common family-wide answer.

From our review of 6 allergy relief medications, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +Loratadine has been over the counter longer than the others, and that maturity shows up in your wallet
• +It's the gentlest of the three on alertness, short of fexofenadine
• +Coverage is the standard second-generation spread: sneezing, runny nose, itchy watery eyes, itchy nose and throat, across more…
• +The research is consistent that cetirizine, loratadine, and fexofenadine are similarly effective overall

What to know

• –Loratadine is generally considered the mildest of the three for severe symptoms
• –Onset is slower than cetirizine's roughly one hour, so it's less useful as a same-day rescue
• –Check expiration dates on large-count boxes