If there were a valid natural cure/remedy for allergies, Zyrtec wouldn't be a billion dollar product, nor Claritin, etc. Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry for the past decade, I can assure you that nature is often the best source of medications, but most natural remedies that are passed via word-of-mouth have little to no scientific data behind them and are not FDA approved. What works for some people does not work for others. Claritin, Allegra, Benadryl and Zyrtec are the big options I am familiar with; only Benadryl and Zyrtec really work for my bonkers seasonal allergies and I can't function under the influence of benadryl during the day. Claritin (loratadine) is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose. Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all considered newer generation antihistamines. First-generation antihistamines, such as Benadryl ( diphenhydramine ) and Atarax ( hydroxyzine ), can be helpful for allergies and hives as well, but their use is limited due to side effects such as fatigue and sedation (sleepiness). Zyrtec is the brand name of cetirizine, an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine used to treat cold and allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, or runny nose. What are the most common alternative medications for Zyrtec D? Zyrtec, Decongestant 60, Claritin and more.Compare Zyrtec D to one of its alternatives. Zyrtec is approved for Allergy and Itching and is mostly mentioned together with these indications. In addition, our data suggest that it is taken for Hives, although it is not approved for this condition*. While Claritin is often the leading choice for over the counter antihistamines, depending on your situation and how your body reacts to it, there are a number of other options to choose from. With 2018 being a bad year for allergies, you may be reconsidering your allergy medicine options. The sheer number of allergy relief commercials during these high-pollen months can make it pretty tempting. There's Claritin (loratadine), Allegra (fexofenadine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), and now, Xyzal (levocetirizine). Brand names for Cetirizine include Zyrtec, Zyrtec Allergy, and Zyrtec Hives Relief. Brand names for loratadine include Claritin , Claritin RediTabs, Alavert , Claritin Hives Relief, Children's Claritin, and others.