Claritin vs. Allegra

If you have allergies or chronic idiopathic uticaria, you may consider taking antihistamine medications such as Claritin or Allegra. When comparing Claritin vs. Allegra, it's important to understand the similarities and differences between the two drugs. For instance, some evidence suggests that prescription Allegra may be more effective than nonprescription Claritin. However, determining which medication works best for you is a trial-and-error process.

An Overview of Claritin Versus Allegra

Claritin® (loratadine) is an allergy medication known as a nonsedating antihistamine (an antihistamine that is less likely to cause drowsiness). Allegra® (fexofenadine hydrochloride) is also a nonsedating antihistamine. Although they are very similar medications, there are some important differences between the two.
 

Differences in Insurance and Cost for Allegra and Claritin

Although Claritin was once a prescription product, it has been switched to a nonprescription status.
 This means that it is very unlikely to be covered by insurance, although a few companies (and sometimes public assistance programs like Medicaid) still cover Claritin.
 
However, Allegra, which is available only with a prescription, is not always covered either. There is a trend in insurance companies to not cover any nonsedating antihistamines (because you can buy Claritin without a prescription), although many insurance plans still cover Allegra or other nonsedating prescription antihistamines.
 
Both Claritin and Allegra are available in generic form. However, generic Claritin is much less expensive than generic Allegra. Also, there is no generic version of Allegra-D® (fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine) at this time, but there is a generic Claritin-D available.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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