Almost everybody has a thing or two they are allergic to. Allergies symptoms can be very discomforting so you need to take care if it with a medicine called Claritin. Claritin is an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine that helps to relieve the symptoms of allergies. It is also known to have an active ingredient with the generic name called Loratadine transcribed as lor-AT-a-deen.
It posses the following brand names; allergy relief, AL avert allergy, children’s allergy, etc. Claritin is a non drowsy type of antihistamine that helps to relieve the symptoms of allergies by reducing the chemical histamine in the body.
Some of the symptoms of allergies includes:
- Eczema
- Food allergy
- Hay fever
- Itching throat
- Skin rashes
- Sneezing
- Reactions to stings and bites of insects
- Red, itchy or watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Hay fever
All these are caused by allergens like dust, pollutant and other toxic substances. Having said Claritin is a non drowsy type of antihistamine, some people still find out that Claritin makes them feel little drowsy.
This is because antihistamine are of two types;
- First Generation Antihistamine: This type of antihistamine is likely to cause drowsiness.
- Second Generation Antihistamine: This type of antihistamine are very rare I causing drowsiness.
Your immune system identifies any allergen that gets into the body as a toxic intruder. Then, a chemical like histamine is triggered to fight off this toxic intruder by helping your immune system to get rid of the allergen. Antihistamine does the work of blocking further effect of these chemical substances called histamine in the body.
It is important to know that Claritin does not treat very serious allergic reaction. So, you need to contact your doctor if you have a more serious allergy. Claritin can be purchased in a pharmacy and can also be prescribed by a doctor. Claritin is mostly prescribed and must not be taken without prescription.
It comes in different forms; the regular tablet, the orally disintegrating tablet, the chewable tablet, the capsule and a liquid to suit your preference. It does not interact with all types of medicine, there are some medicines you should not take with Claritin. In this article, you would get to know what you do not need to take with Claritin.
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF CLARITIN
The common side effect of Claritin includes;
- Feeling drowsy
- Feeling tired
- Feeling nervous
- Headache
WHAT NOT TAKE WITH CLARITIN
Some of the medicine you should not take with Claritin includes;
- Antibiotics
- Azelastine
- Benzodiazepines
- Bromperidol
- Cimetidine
- Herbs
- Itraconazole
- Orphenadrine
- Oxomemazine
- Pareldehyde
- Supplements
- Other medicines that causes drowsiness
It is necessary to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine. You also need to let your doctor or pharmacist know if you are taking any prescribed or unprescribed medications.
SOME MEDICINES THAT INTERACTS WITH CLARITIN
Just like you should not take Claritin with some medicines listed above, there are some medicines that interact with Claritin when taken based on your doctor or pharmacist prescription. Remember, do not take any of these with Claritin without having a prescription from your doctor or pharmacist.
These medicines include;
- Antihistamine (Doxylamine)
- Amiodarone (Pacerone)
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- Cimetidine (Taganet)
- Darunavir (Prezista)
- Dasatinib (Sprycel)
- Erythromycin (Erygel)
- Ketoconazole
- Midodrine (ProAmatine)
- Rifampin (Rifadin)
- St. John’s Wort
CAN I TAKE CLARITIN WITH ALCOHOL?
Claritin as earlier said are antihistamines. Antihistamines and alcohol are both depressant and can affect the body system especially when mixed with a first generation antihistamine. Alcohol may also slow down the way Claritin works to relieve allergic symptoms in your body. Because of the side effects, it is advised that you avoid taking alcohol with Claritin
If Claritin is combined with alcohol, it can also cause side effect which includes;
- Decrease in heart rate
- Difficulty in breathing
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Weakness
CAN I TAKE CLARITIN WITH HERPS OR HERBAL MEDICINES?
There is currently no information about taking herbs or herbal medicines with Claritin. In the absence of any information, I advice that you do not take Claritin with any type of herb or herbal medicines without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
CAN I TAKE CLARITIN WITH SUPPLEMENTS?
It all depends on the type of supplement. Not all supplements interacts wit Claritin. If you are not sure if the supplement you are taking or about to take would interact with Claritin then you need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about it before taking it.
DO I NEED TO AVOID SOME FOOD WHILE TALIMG CLARITIN?
Your doctor is in the right position to instruct you on what food to avoid while taking Claritin. That is why it is advisable that you get prescription from a doctor or a pharmacist.
HOW TO TAKE CLARITIN
Apart from the directions shown on the packet of the medicine, you have to follow prescription from a doctor or pharmacist. For a regular tablet and a capsule, you have to swallow. For an orally disintegrating tablet, you have to allow it dissolve in your mouth without swallowing or chewing. For a chewable tablet, you have to chew it before you swallow it.
For the liquid, you can either inject a dose of this into your veins or you swallow it after measuring with the dose measuring cup. This medicine is mostly meant to be taken at a time when you notice the allergic symptoms. You can take this medicine any time of the day but it must not be taken when you have activities.
If you have an activity you are doing then you notice the allergic symptoms, you can take the medicine but stay away from that activity for about 30 minutes to 1 hours before returning to it. You also need to try as much as possible to take this medicine the same time everyday. You can set an alarm to keep you on check.
Note: Dosage depends on your age.
What really matters is the prescription so, you are advised not to misuse this medicine in anyway. Claritin should be taken at most, once a day and should not be taken for a long time.
HOW LONG DOES CLARITIN TAKE TO WORK?
Depending on your condition, you should start feeling some relieves after about an hour or two of taking Claritin.
PEOPLE THAT SHOULD NOT TAKE CLARITIN
If you fall under any of the below listed category, you do not need to take Claritin to avoid any form of complications;
- People who are allergic to Loratadine or any other of its brand.
- People who are yet to have an allergy diagnosis.
- People who have an illness that leads to seizure.
- People who has an allergy to some food additive.
- People who has a condition called phenylketonuria.
- People with Liver failure or disease.
- People with Kidney disease
- Children below the age of two (2) years
CAN YOU TAKE CLARITIN IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING?
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised that you talk to your doctor or pharmacist for a better decision.
IS CLARITIN AND ALLEGRA THE SAME MEDICINE?
Claritin and Allegra are both over-the-counter (OTC) medications that helps to relieve allergy symptoms. They both are also antihistamines. Although these two medicines works in almost the way, they are entirely different.
If you ever think they are the same, here are the differences between Claritin and Allegra;
- The generic name of the active ingredient in Claritin is called loratadine while the generic name of the active ingredient in Allegra is called fexofenadine.
- Claritin comes in different forms which includes the regular tablet, the orally disintegrating tablet, the chewable tablet while Allegra comes in form of an oral suspension and orally disintegrating tablet.
- Claritin has less intense side effects while Allergra has intense side effects like; vomiting, sore throat, rash, reddening of the skin, chest tightness, etc.
- Claritin does not interact with some of the medicines Allegra interacts with.
- Claritin might not be prescribed in the same measurement as Allegra.
- Having known that they are not the same medicine but different, you might want to know if both medicines can interact.
- Both Claritin and Allegra work in the same way so there is definitely no need to take both medicines at a time.
It is important you talk to your doctor or pharmacist immediately you notice a symptom of allergy. Your doctor or pharmacist is at the best position to decide which you should use.
WHEN TO VISIT YOUR DOCTOR
You would have to visit or talk to your doctor if your allergy symptoms does not stop after about three (3) to five (5) days of treatment. If the allergy symptoms worsen or more complications are added, you might need to see your doctor. In some cases, your doctor or pharmacist might refer you to a medicine that treats a more serious allergies.
CONCLUSION
Claritin as said above is an over-the-counter medicine that helps to relieve the symptoms of allergies. Claritin should not be taken with every medicine, there are some medicines that do not interact with it and once taken together can cause complications.
That is why, it is important to talk to your doctor before taking claritin, first to know the proper dosage prescription and then to know which medicine interacts with it, in case you are already taking a medicine or planning to take one. However, it is also important to know that claritin should be stored at room temperature and away from water or heat.