10/08/2025
Let's set the scene. It's finally fall and you're trying to get in a festive mood, but through the wafts of crisp, pumpkin spice scented air, clouds of pollen are wreaking havoc on your eyes, nose, and sanity. So you head to the drugstore for some relief. In front of you are a cornucopia of options and you begin to wonder if you need a medical degree just to choose the correct medication. Name brand, generic, 24 hour, for hives, non drowsy, the list goes on and on.
But what if we told you there were a few simple options decked out in Halloween costumes to vie for your attention? Let's unmask these pesky little drugs together, shall we?
👻Name Brand vs. Generic. A familiar name and packaging can make us think we're choosing the safer and better option. But if you flip over both packages, you'll see the exact same active ingredient. Glance down at the price tag and you'll see a pretty hefty markup for the brand name option.
👻Drowsy vs. Non Drowsy. Another thing companies will do to lure you in is give you a "non drowsy" version of their product. But there's no difference between regular and non drowsy Zyrtec, for example. That's because Zyrtec (Cetirizine) is a second generation antihistamine. Allergy meds are either 1st and 2nd generation, the one was developed first and causes side effects like drowsiness, the other was developed later and causes fewer side effects and are less likely to cause drowsiness. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) is a 1st gen antihistamine, while meds like Zyrtec (Cetirizine) and Allegra (Fexofenadine) are 2nd gen.
👻 "For Hives". Some companies like to take the exact same medication and slap on callouts like "for hives" or "for itchy eyes" and expect you to think they put in some extra special juice to target your symptoms. Try the flipping-over-the-package trick we did in step 1. More often than not, the active ingredient is the exact same thing! That's because these medications target any symptoms caused by histamines including runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and hives. So you're fine picking the general or specific option, just as long as the specific option isn't more expensive!
