Do antihistamines help with a cold?

[Endler32]

My eyes and nose are streaming, I keep sneezing and I have a sore throat. The symptoms are similar to hay-fever so was wondering if I could take antihistamines to stop my nose tingling, would they work?

Only if it is hayfever or allergy related. They would have no effect on a cold, the mechanism is completely different to a decongestant.

I don't think it is allergy related, I think it's too early for pollen? I think it's more likely to be a cold .

I take them when I have a cold, it helps dry up the nasal passages. Doesn't really help with anything else though

I usually take some at the end of a cold, when my throat is still sore and red but the cold is going, they help settle the irritation and the soreness.

Thank you, I might give it a try, it's the nose that's driving me nuts, the constant running and sneezing.

I find the Zirtek Plus Decongestant great, especially if your sinuses are all bunged up too.

I think it is always worth a try, a few times I have had what I thought was a cold which has turned out to be an allergy, because antihistamines have stopped it within hours. Often this has been on holiday, I don't suffer from hayfever here but abroad I seem to get it quite often.

I do get hay fever, some years I get it really bad and others not at all. I don't think it is that though unless I have a extreme case as I feel a bit rough and my throat feels like sand paper. It has got worse this afternoon though after walking the dogs through the fields.

I'm going out tonight and would love for my eyes and nose to stop running so I can wear makeup without making a mess of my face so I might pop to the chemist and try antihistamines.