It’s allergy season – that time of year when many of us have itchy eyes, scratchy throats, congestion or sneezing fits.

For most of us, these symptoms call for an over-the-counter medication to help get some relief. But all medications aren’t created equal. So, what’s the best treatment for you?

The answer can depend on your symptoms and the time of day, says Dr. Alex Suda, a family medicine physician with Tidelands Health Pediatrics and Adult Medicine.

“There are some circumstances where you can get benefit in more ways than one if you tailor it to when symptoms are most prevalent,” Dr. Suda says. “The nice thing about antihistamines is that they can be used on an as-needed basis.”

In short, take allergy medications when your symptoms show up – with one exception:

“The biggest thing to be aware of is the sedating versus non-sedating options,” Dr. Suda says.

Allergy medications that can make you drowsy are best saved for bedtime, he says. Non-drowsy medications are good for relieving symptoms during the day.

Allergy symptoms are a sign that our immune systems are overreacting to the presence of foreign materials, such as pollen or mold spores. The material triggers our immune systems to create mucus and tears to clear the allergens from our bodies.

While pill-based antihistamines are systemic, meaning they spread medication throughout your body, other medications, such as steroid nasal sprays, can target specific problems like swollen sinuses and irritated nasal passages – that stuffy nose feeling, Dr. Suda says.

“You have to commit to daily usage,” he added. “Consistency is key.”

The best way to use nasal sprays is to apply them to the inside of your nostril, then sniff them into your sinuses rather than blast the medication directly into your nasal passages, Dr. Suda says.

If spring allergies are an annual event for you, it’s a good idea to vary the over-the-counter medications you use to feel normal, Dr. Suda says.

“If you are using the medication daily, it might be nice to swap out different types of antihistamines from one year to the next because you can develop a tolerance,” he says.