What Is Claritin?
Claritin (loratadine) is an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment used to deal with signs of seasonal or year-round (perennial) allergy symptoms and hives in adults and youngsters. It doesn’t stop hives or stop or deal with a critical allergic response (anaphylaxis).
Claritin is a part of a category of medicine often called antihistamines. Throughout an allergic response, your physique releases histamine. When it binds to particular receptors in your physique, histamine may cause allergy signs like itchy, watery eyes and a runny nostril. Antihistamines work by reducing the consequences of histamine in your physique.
Claritin is a second-generation antihistamine, which is a more moderen sort of antihistamine. Newer antihistamines work simply in addition to second-generation ones however usually are not sedating.
Loratadine is accessible in tablets, chewable tablets, capsules, and syrup. A number of brand-name loratadine merchandise can be found, together with Claritin and Alavert. You can even discover generic choices.
Drug Information
Generic Title: Loratadine
Model Title(s): Alavert, Kids’s Claritin, Kids’s Clear-Atadine, Kids’s Dimetapp ND Allergy, Claritin, Claritin Reditabs, Clearatadine, Loradamed, Triaminic Allerchews
Drug Availability: Over-the-counter (OTC)
Administration Route: Oral
Therapeutic Classification: Antihistamine
Out there Generically: Sure
Managed Substance: N/A
Lively Ingredient: Loratadine
Dosage Kind(s): Pill, capsule, syrup
What Is Claritin Used For?
As an antihistamine, Claritin is used to deal with signs of allergic rhinitis (generally referred to as hay fever) from seasonal allergy symptoms or perennial allergy symptoms. These signs can embody:
- Runny nostril
- Sneezing
- Itchy nostril or throat
- Watery eyes
Claritin also can deal with itchy pores and skin reactions and hives (urticaria).
Most loratadine merchandise, together with Claritin’s tablets and capsules, can be utilized by adults and youngsters 6 years and older. Kids 2 years and older can take Claritin’s chewable tablets or syrup.
Easy methods to Take Claritin
All types of loratadine are supposed to be taken by mouth. Learn the labeling on the bundle for directions on precisely how and when to take it.
Loratadine is accessible in lots of types, together with tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, syrups, and others. How a lot and the way usually you’re taking loratadine might depend upon the shape it is in. Dosages will even differ based mostly on age; youngsters usually want decrease doses than adults.
In case you are taking the orally disintegrating pill, put it on or underneath your tongue the place it should dissolve—you don’t want to drink water with it. If utilizing the syrup, use a correct dosing cup to measure the suitable quantity.
All loratadine merchandise may be taken with or with out meals.
Storage
Retailer Claritin in a dry place at room temperature (68 F to 77 F). The treatment may be uncovered to temperatures as little as 36 F, but it surely’s ultimate to maintain it at room temperature. Don’t retailer it within the lavatory. The orally-disintegrating tablets must be used inside six months of opening the foil pouch and instantly after opening a person pill blister.
How Lengthy Does Claritin Take to Work?
Loratadine will usually work inside one to 3 hours of taking it, and its results will peak inside eight to 12 hours. Loratadine’s results might final for twenty-four hours.
What Are the Aspect Results of Claritin?
This isn’t an entire listing of negative effects, and others might happen. A healthcare supplier can advise you on the doable negative effects of taking loratadine. Should you expertise different negative effects, contact your pharmacist or a healthcare supplier. You could report negative effects to the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.
Frequent Aspect Results
The most typical negative effects of Claritin are:
- Complications
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
Inform your healthcare supplier if these negative effects are extreme or don’t go away.
Extreme Aspect Results
Name your healthcare supplier instantly if in case you have critical negative effects when taking Claritin. Name 911 in case your signs really feel life-threatening or when you suppose you’re having a medical emergency.
Critical negative effects can embody an allergic response to the treatment. The indicators and signs of an allergic response embody:
- Hassle respiratory or swallowing
- Rash
- Itchiness
- Swelling of the throat, eyes, lips, or tongue
Report Aspect Results
Claritin might trigger different negative effects. Name your healthcare supplier if in case you have any uncommon issues whereas taking this treatment.
Should you expertise a critical facet impact, you or your healthcare supplier might ship a report back to the FDA’s MedWatch Adversarial Occasion Reporting Program or by cellphone (1-800-332-1088).
Dosage: How A lot Claritin Ought to I Take?
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IBM Micromedex®
The dose of this medication can be totally different for various sufferers. Comply with your physician’s orders or the instructions on the label. The next data contains solely the common doses of this medication. In case your dose is totally different, don’t change it until your physician tells you to take action.
The quantity of medication that you simply take depends upon the energy of the drugs. Additionally, the variety of doses you’re taking every day, the time allowed between doses, and the size of time you’re taking the drugs depend upon the medical drawback for which you might be utilizing the drugs.
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For allergy symptoms:
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For oral dosage kind (chewable tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, tablets):
- Adults and youngsters 6 years of age and older—One pill or 10 milligrams (mg) as soon as a day. Don’t take a couple of pill per day.
- Kids youthful than 6 years of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
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For oral dosage kind (liquid-filled capsules):
- Adults and youngsters 6 years of age and older—One capsule or 10 milligrams (mg) as soon as a day. Don’t take a couple of capsule per day.
- Kids youthful than 6 years of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
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For oral dosage kind (resolution):
- Adults and youngsters 6 years of age and older—2 teaspoonfuls or 10 milliliters (mL) as soon as a day. Don’t take greater than 2 teaspoonfuls per day.
- Kids 2 to youthful than 6 years of age—1 teaspoonful or 5 mL as soon as day. Don’t take greater than 1 teaspoonful per day.
- Kids youthful than 2 years of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
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For oral dosage kind (chewable tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, tablets):
Modifications
Dosing changes could also be wanted in some circumstances. Your healthcare supplier might advise modified dosing if in case you have liver or kidney issues. Speak to them about learn how to safely take Claritin.
Missed Dose
Should you miss a dose of Claritin, take the missed dose as quickly as you keep in mind. Don’t take further to make up for the missed dose. Doing so can improve your danger for negative effects.
Overdose: What Occurs If I Take Too A lot Claritin?
Should you take an excessive amount of loratadine, you might expertise:
- Excessive sleepiness
- Speedy coronary heart charge (tachycardia)
- Headache
Kids who’ve taken an excessive amount of Claritin syrup might expertise what known as extrapyramidal negative effects together with muscle stiffness, tremors, involuntary muscle actions, and palpitations.
What Occurs If I Overdose on Claritin?
Should you suppose you or another person might have overdosed on Claritin, name a healthcare supplier or the Poison Management Middle (1-800-222-1222).
If somebody collapses or is not respiratory after taking Claritin, name 911 instantly.
Precautions
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IBM Micromedex®
In case your or your kid’s situation don’t enhance inside just a few days, or in the event that they change into worse, verify together with your physician.
What Are Causes I Shouldn’t Take Claritin?
There are just a few the explanation why you might not be capable to take Claritin.
Allergy
Don’t take loratadine if you’re allergic to the drug or any of its elements.
Alcohol
Alcohol and antihistamines can have an effect on the central nervous system. Each substances can go away you feeling drowsy or lightheaded. Utilizing alcohol and Claritin collectively might improve these results. It’s endorsed that you simply keep away from alcohol whereas taking an antihistamine.
Being pregnant
Claritin is taken into account protected to take whereas pregnant; nonetheless, there are not any research on its use in pregnant individuals. Speak to your healthcare supplier if in case you have any questions or considerations about utilizing this treatment whereas pregnant
Breastfeeding
Loratadine shouldn’t be anticipated to trigger any unfavourable results in breastfed infants. Nonetheless, the drug might have an effect on lactation, particularly when utilized in mixture with pseudoephedrine. In case you are breastfeeding, speak to your healthcare supplier about whether or not Claritin is acceptable for you or if there are various allergy drugs that might be a better option.
Kids
Claritin shouldn’t be indicated to be used in youngsters youthful than 2.
Different Well being Circumstances
Individuals might react to Claritin otherwise based mostly on their medical historical past. Inform your healthcare supplier if in case you have liver or kidney issues.
What Different Drugs Work together With Claritin?
Claritin is mostly protected and has a low danger of extreme drug interactions. Nonetheless, there nonetheless are just a few drugs which will work together with Claritin, together with:
- Tagamet (cimetidine)
- Ketoconazole
- Erythromycin
This listing doesn’t embody all of the medicine which will work together with loratadine. Earlier than taking loratadine, inform your healthcare supplier about the entire prescription drugs, OTC drugs, nutritional vitamins, dietary supplements, or herbs you take. Figuring out this data, your supplier may also help you keep away from potential interactions between loratadine and different medicines or merchandise you take. When you’ve got any questions on drug interactions, ask your supplier or pharmacist.
What Drugs Are Related?
There are just a few forms of antihistamines which might be obtainable over-the-counter (OTC). Some trigger extra drowsiness than others. Under is a listing of different generally used OTC antihistamines:
Benadryl
Diphenhydramine is one other sort of antihistamine. It’s usually used to deal with allergy signs (e.g., itchy or watery eyes, sneezing, itchy throat) and hives. Benadryl is accessible as an oral pill, a chewable pill, an orally disintegrating pill, a capsule, and a liquid. It is usually obtainable in topical types, akin to gels, lotions, or sprays, to assist deal with allergic pores and skin reactions.
Frequent negative effects of diphenhydramine embody dry mouth, drowsiness, or headache. Benadryl tends to trigger extra drowsiness than Claritin.
Allegra
Fexofenadine is one other treatment categorized as an antihistamine. It’s usually used to deal with allergy signs, hives, and pores and skin rash. Frequent negative effects of fexofenadine embody headache, dizziness, upset abdomen, diarrhea, or ache in your arms, legs, or again.
It’s worthwhile to keep away from ingesting fruit juice whereas taking Allegra. Fruit juice could make this drug much less efficient.
Zyrtec
Cetirizine is one other treatment categorized as an antihistamine. It is vitally just like Claritin. Cetirizine is commonly prescribed to deal with allergy signs in addition to redness and itchiness from hives. Frequent negative effects from cetirizine embody drowsiness, headache, or abdomen ache.
It is a listing of medicine from comparable courses of treatment as Claritin. It’s not a listing of medicine really useful to take with Claritin. Speak to your pharmacist or healthcare supplier if in case you have any questions.
How Can I Keep Wholesome Whereas Taking Claritin?
Claritin is a protected and efficient treatment that’s usually used to deal with allergy signs and hives.
The most typical negative effects of Claritin are gentle and embody drowsiness or complications. Nonetheless, extra extreme negative effects can happen if you’re allergic to loratadine or any elements within the product.
Decreasing your publicity to your allergy triggers—for instance, allergens like pollen or pet dander—may also help handle or stop allergy signs. Nonetheless, avoiding allergens is probably not sufficient, which is when drugs like Claritin may also help. In case your situation is uncontrolled or extreme, allergy pictures (a type of immunotherapy) are another choice.
Whereas Claritin is an OTC drug, it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to seek the advice of your healthcare supplier or a pharmacist earlier than taking it if in case you have sure well being situations or are taking different drugs. This manner, they’ll let when you ought to modify how you’re taking it to keep away from interactions.
Medical Disclaimer
Verywell Well being’s drug data is supposed for instructional functions solely and isn’t meant to interchange medical recommendation, analysis, or therapy from a healthcare supplier. Seek the advice of your healthcare supplier earlier than taking any new treatment(s). IBM Watson Micromedex gives among the drug content material, as indicated on the web page.
