Table 4. Oral and Intranasal Antihistamines1
Generic (Brand)
Second generation
Acrivastine (Semprex-D®
)
Azelastine HCL (Astepro®
Nasal) (Astelin Nasal®
Cetirizine (Zyrtec®
) ) OTC
Desloratadine (Clarinex®
Fexofenadine (Allegra®
)
Levocetirizine (Xyzal®
)
Loratadine (Claritin®
)
Olopatadine HCL (Patanase®
Brompheniramine (Lodrane XR®
Clemastine (Tavist®
Cyproheptadine (Periactin®
Hydroxyzine† (Atarax®
)
Promethazine (Phenergan®
Triprolidine (Zymine®
) ) OTC
) OTC )
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®
) OTC Nasal)
Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton®
) OTC ) OTC
) OTC ≥ 12 y 8 mg PO qid
≥ 12 y 5 y
0.1% (137 mcg/spray)
≥ 12 y 0.1% (137 mcg/spray) 0.15% (205.5 mcg/spray)
6 mo 5-10 mg PO daily 6 mo 5 mg PO daily 2 y
180 mg PO daily or 60 mg PO bid
6 mo
6-11 y ≥ 12 y
2 y
6-11 y ≥ 12 y
2 y
1.25 mg (2.5 mL) PO nightly 2.5 mg PO nightly 5 mg PO nightly
10 mg PO daily
1 spray/nostril bid 2 spray/nostril bid
8 mg
SAR: 1-2 sprays/nostril bid PAR: 2 sprays/nostril bid (SAR only): 1 spray/nostril bid
SAR: 1-2 sprays/nostril bid SAR: 2 sprays/nostril daily PAR: 2 sprays/nostril bid
5, 10 mg 5 mg/mL
5 mg 2.5 mg/5 mL
30, 60, 180 mg 30 mg/5 mL
5 mg
10 mg 5 mg/5 mL
665 mcg/spray
First generation* (FDA currently approved age indications listed) 12 mg PO bid
2 y 4 mg PO qid 6 y
1.34 mg PO bid to tid
2 y 4 mg PO tid 2 y
All ages
2 y 2 y
25-50 mg PO qid 25 mg PO qid 25 mg PO qid
2.5 mg PO q4-6h Note: abbreviations are defined on the back cover.
2, 4, 8, 12, 16 mg 2, 4, 8 mg/5 mL
1.34, 2.68 mg .67 mg/5 mL
4 mg 2 mg/5 mL
25, 50 12.5 mg/mL
10, 25, 50, 100 mg 10, 25 mg/5 mL
12.5, 25, 50 mg 6.25 mg/mL
1.25, 2.5 mg/5 mL
6, 12 mg; 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 12 mg/5 mL
8, 12 (6) 11.5 (5.4) 1-3% (0%)
14 (10) 2.1 (1.8) 1.3 (0.9) 6 (2)
8 (6) 0.9 (0.3)
24 (5) 45
14 (1.5) 8-50 50 80
60-73 10-25
* Table revised aſter publication. In October 2008, many manufacturers added a warning in the < 4 year age group for all OTC cough and cold medications. Final FDA decision on age indications is pending. † Not FDA approved for AR.
Age limit Dose
Dosage forms
% Sedation/ somnolence or CNS impairment (control)
