Compare Flonase vs. Zyrtec: Is Flonase an Antihistamine?

Not all over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicines are created equal. Single-ingredient oral antihistamines don't relieve nasal congestion, and some, like Zyrtec, may even cause drowsiness.¹ FLONASE nasal sprays are non-drowsy, anti-inflammatory allergy relief nasal sprays that provide more complete relief* than a single-ingredient antihistamine.³ Here’s how FLONASE stacks up against oral antihistamines, like Zyrtec.

FLONASE DOES MORE THAN AN ANTIHISTAMINE

Antihistamines only block histamine—just 1 of the many allergic substances your immune system releases when you’re exposed to an allergen.⁴ However, FLONASE works differently to help block 6 key allergic substances,** including histamine.

NON-DROWSY ALLERGY RELIEF WITH FLONASE

A known side effect of certain antihistamines like Zyrtec is drowsiness.¹ This may affect your ability to perform everyday tasks, like driving or operating heavy machinery.² Not only are FLONASE nasal sprays non-drowsy—they also provide more complete relief than most allergy pills.³*

*vs single­-ingredient antihistamines that do not treat nasal congestion.
**Mechanism vs most over-the-counter (OTC) allergy pills. FLONASE nasal sprays act on multiple inflammatory substances (histamine, prostaglandins, cytokines, tryptases, chemokines, and leukotrienes). The exact number and precise mechanism are unknown.