Absolutely! If you know you are going to encounter one of your allergens, take your antihistamine BEFORE you are exposed.

For instance, let’s say you are allergic to cats and your best friend has a lovely, affectionate feline that seems to have taken a shine to you and prefers your lap to anyone else’s. If you are going over to your friend’s home, take your preferred antihistamine in the right dosage at least 60 minutes before going. This timing will ensure that the medication will be in your system and working by the time you meet up with that lovely cat.

This strategy won’t work with some brands of antihistamine that take up to 2-3 days to build up in your system and provide full effectiveness. So, if you don’t need to take antihistamines all the time, get one that will work for you even if you take it intermittently.

In most cases, a liquid will give you faster protection than a tablet or pill, so keep that in mind when you go to select the right antihistamine for you. If you have any questions about the right over-the-counter or prescription antihistamine, check with your doctor or allergist.