If you have seasonal allergies, you may take various prescription medications to help alleviate your symptoms. But do you really have to visit a doctor to get those medications? For many, relief is found through the use of over the counter medications for allergies. While not all allergies are the same, many have the same symptoms such as runny or watery eyes, itching nose and eyes, coughing, sneezing and so on. There are 2 types of over the counter medications you can try: Antihistamines and Decongestants. You should talk with your doctor or pharmacist to help determine which one will work best for your type of allergies. When you visit your local pharmacy, discuss with them the selections available to you over the counter and find out which one they recommend. Some antihistamines include Zyrtec, Benadryl and Claritin. Some decongestants to consider are Sudafed and Zyrtec-D, which is a decongestant formula of the antihistamine. When trying over the counter medications it’s important to remember to read the label, as some of these medications can make you sleepy, dizzy or lightheaded. If you experience any unpleasant side effects then stop taking that medication right away and talk to your doctor immediately.