Hopefully this would answer some questions.
Non-drowsy antihistamine tablets
One thing we should all know about antihistamines- they are specific to each person. For example you might find antihistamine tablet A works for you, but may not work for your brother, or antihistamine tablet B may work for him but not for you. It's a matter of trying each one to see which one works best once you've established you have allergies.
1. CLARATYNE
Chemical name: Loratadine
Once a day non-drowsy. One tablet lasts for 24hours. Very popular among Asians!
2. A cousin to Claratyne is AERIUS tablets, which used to be called CLARAMAX.
Chemical name is Desloratadine, and it is marketed for those who have allergies early in the morning. One tablet lasts 27hours.
A bit about CLARINASE:
CLARINASE IS NOT AN ANITHISTAMINE. There seems to be a lot of confusion about Claratyne and Clarinase. Clarinase is a combination of:
Until you consult a doctor/pharmacist!
Why?
If you have thyroid problems, it masks the effects of worsening thyroid disease. That is very dangerous as it may potentially lead to bad thyroid side effects (those who have thyroid problems will know what feels like...)
The decongestant ingredient (pseudoephedrine) stuffs up blood sugar levels and INCREASES BLOOD PRESSURE. YES, IT DOES!
Pseudoephedrine is a STIMULANT. Sometimes, it makes some people unable to sleep, anxious, fast heartbeat, or it may even have the opposite effect- to make you drowsy.
However, having said that, if your blood sugar levels, blood pressure or thyroid levels are WELL CONTROLLED and you only need clarinase for SHORT TERM eg. a week or so, then it may not be as bad. Please always check with the doctor/pharmacist!
In WA, to buy any OTC medication containing pseudoephedrine, YOU WILL BE ASKED FOR YOUR DRIVER'S LICENCE OR ID. The police are cracking down on druggies who buy it for illicit reasons. There are so many stories to tell about dodgy purchases, some of which are just plain silly! That's another whole story though. :)
Ok. Back to antihistamine tablets:
3. TELFAST
Chemical name: Fexofenadine.
It can potentially affect the heart, so anyone with heart problems DO NOT take until you consult the doctor/pharmacist.
There are 3 different colours which signify 3 different strengths:
Blue= One tablet lasts 12 hours only
Red = One tablet lasts 24hours and it covers allergies except skin allergies, rashes and hives Green = One tablet lasts 24hours and it covers skin allergies eg. rashes, hives...
4. ZYRTEC
Chemical name: Cetirizine
The most rapid acting of all the antihistamine tablets (although maybe Claratyne manufacturers would tell you otherwise) BUT! It is the most likely of the non-drowsy antihistamines to cause drowsiness. 24 hour acting too. 
Drowsy antihistamines
Other uses of drowsy anthistamine tablets: for rest, sleep. There are different strengths and duration of action, so consult the pharmacy.
Ok this entry is getting too lengthy!
Before I end, just a note on GENERIC/LESS EXPENSIVE medications.
ALWAYS ASK FOR GENERICS. They are exactly the same I can assure you 100%, and any difference noticed is psychological more than anything. Some generics are made by the same manufacturer and in Australia, it has to be approved by the TGA (like FDA) before it can even be considered for market. If it saves some dollars, any smart person would choose generic medication especially during these tight economic times.
IMPORTANT: INFORMATION ON THIS BLOG DOES NOT REPLACE ADVISE FROM YOUR DOCTOR. ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR/PHARMACIST BEFORE CONSIDERING ANY OF THESE MEDICATIONS.
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