Fatigue From Allergies: Causes, Symptoms, and Relief

Can Allergies Make You Tired?

It is possible to experience fatigue from allergies. Here's the lowdown: when your body faces an allergen, it releases histamine, a chemical that's the culprit behind those pesky allergy symptoms. Think sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes. These symptoms can interfere with your regular sleep cycle, leaving you feeling drained.

Why Do Allergies Make You Tired?

There are a few different ways that allergies can make you tired:

Sleep disruption: Allergies can bring on symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, and more. These symptoms can make it hard to breathe and get a good night’s sleep, leaving you feeling fatigued the next day.^{6, 7}

Allergies and immune system: Allergies can set off a chain reaction in your body, releasing histamine, the chemical we mentioned above. Your immune system makes and releases histamine to help fight off the allergen. Besides causing your allergy symptoms, histamine can also affect your sleep-wake cycle, which can lead to disrupted or poor-quality sleep.¹ And don’t forget — it’s draining for your immune system to be active for extended periods of time.

Allergy Triggers That Can Cause Fatigue

You may be wondering, can pet allergies make you tired? What about mold? The short answer is, yes. Any kind of allergy trigger that releases histamine and causes symptoms could make you feel tired. Common allergy triggers include:

Outdoor allergies: Outdoor allergies have a specific set of triggers that exist primarily in outdoor environments. These are often linked to the seasonal allergies many people experience. Grass, tree, and ragweed pollen as well as mold can set off an allergy response when you spend time outdoors.⁴

Indoor allergies: Indoor allergies are often year-round and caused by allergens like dust mites, animal dander, cockroach droppings, and mold.⁵

If you're not quite sure what's setting off your allergies, chat with a doctor or healthcare provider. They can help you uncover your triggers and find the right ways to manage them.

Ways to Manage Allergy Fatigue

Identify and avoid your triggers: Be on the lookout to pinpoint those pesky triggers and steer clear of them. Pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold are common culprits. Try using the AllergyCast® App to track your allergies and receive a personalized allergy prediction based on your triggers.

Medication management: Over-the-counter allergy meds like ZYRTEC-D® Allergy Medicine plus Decongestant or ZYRTEC® 24 Hour Allergy Relief Dissolve Tablets can help ease symptoms.

Practice healthy lifestyle habits: Some ways that may help “fix” allergy fatigue include keeping hydrated, eating healthy, and moving your body to boost your energy and overall well-being.⁸

Shower before bed: If you can shower before bed, it can help you relax and fall asleep easier. It can also remove allergens like pollen and pet dander from your hair and skin. An added bonus? You’re not bringing those allergens into bed with you.

Talk to your doctor: If your symptoms aren’t improving, consider talking with an allergist. They can offer more personalized strategies and treatments.

Follow sleep hygiene guidelines: Try to get a good night’s sleep by creating a sleep environment that is cool, dark, and quiet. Aim to put away electronics 30-60 minutes before bed and try a relaxing wind-down routine instead, like reading or listening to music.⁹