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Allergy — what to take?

An allergy is an exaggerated immune response to substances normally harmless (pollen, dust, foods, medications). It manifests with itching, hives, rhinitis, asthma, anaphylaxis.

6 recommended OTC drugs
4,387 pharmacies available

OTC — no prescription

What you can take for allergy

Informativ. Nu înlocuiește sfatul medicului. Consultă medicul sau farmacistul înainte de a lua orice medicament.

Types of allergies

Respiratory (allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma), cutaneous (urticaria, dermatitis, eczema), food (milk, egg, peanuts, nuts, fish, soy, wheat), to medications (antibiotics, NSAIDs), to insect stings, to latex.

OTC antihistamines

Second generation, non-sedating - first choice: loratadine (Claritine), cetirizine (Zyrtec), levocetirizine (Xyzal, Aerius), fexofenadine (Telfast), desloratadine, bilastine. 1 tablet per day, effective for rhinitis, urticaria, pruritus.

First generation - chlorphenamine, diphenhydramine - sedating effect, useful at night for severe itching. Avoid during the day if driving.

Topicals - creams with hydrocortisone 0.5-1% for local lesions, calamine lotions for urticaria.

Nasal decongestants

Corticosteroid sprays - mometasone (Nasonex), fluticasone (Flixonase), budesonide (Rhinocort). Effective for chronic allergic rhinitis. Maximum effect after 1-2 weeks of continuous use.

For the eyes

Drops with olopatadine, ketotifen, cromoglycate - relieve allergic conjunctivitis.

Anaphylaxis - emergency

Severe systemic allergic reaction: generalised urticaria, Quincke oedema (face, lips, tongue, throat), dyspnoea, wheezing, hypotension, collapse. Treatment is IM adrenaline (EpiPen / Epihaler auto-injector) - then call the ambulance urgently.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a physician or pharmacist. For diagnosis and treatment, consult a healthcare professional.

Nights, weekends, holidays

24/7 pharmacies for allergy

Allergy doesn't wait for office hours. If you need a medicine at 2 AM or on a weekend, open the map with the 24/7 filter on and find the nearest on-call pharmacy. Major cities have several round-the-clock pharmacies — the per-city pages below list them all, with address, phone and verified opening hours.

Call ahead before you leave, especially at night — on-call schedules can change and stock for some prescription items may be limited between deliveries.

Search the pharmacy

Medicine categories for allergy

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for allergy

Open the interactive map and grant location permission — you'll immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it's night or a weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-call ones. For allergy most of the listed remedies are over the counter, so you can walk in without a prescription, but check stock and prices first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active ingredient (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.), search it in the comparator before you leave — you'll see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it's in stock. For chronic prescriptions, save your favourite pharmacy in the app and turn on hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially when treatment for allergy runs over weeks.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, consult a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Dyspnoea, wheezing, feeling of suffocation
  • Swelling of the face, lips, tongue
  • Extensive generalised urticaria
  • Loss of consciousness, marked dizziness
  • Severe reaction after a new food/medication
  • Asthma attacks in an allergic context

Frequently asked

Common questions

Which is the best antihistamine?
Cetirizine and loratadine are the most studied. Bilastine and desloratadine have the best safety profile (do not cross the blood-brain barrier).
Can I give Claritine to a child?
Loratadine: from 2 years (syrup). Cetirizine: from 2 years. Desloratadine: from 1 year. Doses are weight-based - read the leaflet.
Why does my skin itch without visible hives?
Dry skin, atopic dermatitis, latent allergy, internal diseases (thyroid, liver, kidneys). Antihistamine + hydration. If persistent - evaluation.
Do antihistamines cause dependence?
No - they do not cause dependence. They can be taken daily long-term (especially 2nd generation).

See also

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