Claritin Product Description Show
Drug Uses Claritin is an antihistamine, a selective blocker of H1 histamine receptors that are known as mediators of immediate hypersensitivity reaction. This antihistamine has a rapid and long-lasting anti-allergic effect. Claritin feature is that it does not affect the central nervous system and does not cause the development of sedative and anticholinergic effects. In addition, Claritin has no effect on concentration and rate of psychomotor reactions. Claritin is prescribed for children (aged 2 years and older), adults and elderly patients for the symptomatic treatment:
When treating allergy in adults and children aged 6 and older, Claritin 10 mg (1 tablet) per day is usually prescribed. The therapeutic dose of Claritin for children aged 2 to 6 years is prescribed depending on the body weight. If the child's weight is 30 kg or higher, it is prescribed with Claritin 10mg per day. If the child’s body weight below 30 kg, the recommended daily dose of Claritin is 5 mg. Elderly patients are prescribed with the adult dose of Claritin (10 mg daily) without dosage adjustment. Missed dose If you forget to take a scheduled dose of Claritin, take it as soon as possible. However, do not take more than one dose of Claritin in 24 hours. If you cannot remember whether you have taken the dose of anti-allergic drug today or not, wait until the next day to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Skip the missed dose of Claritin, if it is almost time for the next dose of the drug. More Information Claritin tablets are advised to take at the same time of the day, regardless of food intake. The patients with renal impairment are not required to adjust the daily dose of Claritin. During antihistamine therapy, the patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease should avoid using large amounts of alcohol. Claritin anti-allergic drug should not be used in children younger than 2 years, as well as in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Storage Claritin tablets must be protected from a moisture, so they should be kept in a tight closed packing, in a dry place, at temperature no higher than 30°C. Do not leave the packaging of Claritin pills open for a long time. Claritin Safety Information Warnings Claritin is used with extreme caution in patients with severe liver impairment. Low doses of the drug should be used for the treatment of such patients. In general, patients with hepatic encephalopathy are prescribed with Claritin 5 mg per day or 10 mg every other day. Claritin can stimulate the central nervous system and cause excessive excitability, cardiovascular insufficiency and convulsions. Patients with peptic ulcer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, cardiovascular disease and diabetes should take Claritin with caution. Disclaimer Information on allergic diseases provided in Claritin review is not intended to replace medical advice from an allergist or primary health care practitioner. The online pharmacy does not assume any liability or responsibility for any damage, special, incidental, indirect or direct, arising out of the use of the information about Claritin antihistamine agent. Claritin Side Effects Claritin antihistamine drug may cause mild side effects that do not cause harm to health. Clinical studies of Claritin have demonstrated that no more than 2% of patients need for antihistamine therapy to be withdrawn because of serious side effects. One of the most common side effects of Claritin that nay occur in adolescents over 12 years old and adults are the following: gastrointestinal disorders, somnolence, insomnia, headache, nervousness, increased appetite and fatigue. Children may experience gastrointestinal reactions, nervousness and allergic symptoms more often than adults do. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is a brand-name over-the-counter drug. It’s used to treat symptoms of conditions such as allergies and colds. Examples of these symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. As with other medications, Benadryl can interact with alcohol. An interaction occurs when one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. For details about Benadryl’s interactions, keep reading. For additional information about Benadryl, including details about its uses, see this article. The manufacturer of Benadryl recommends avoiding alcohol while taking the drug. This is because sleepiness is a side effect of Benadryl, and consuming alcohol can worsen it. Excessive sleepiness could be dangerous while driving or performing other tasks that require you to be alert. Alcohol can also worsen other side effects of Benadryl. Examples include confusion, dizziness, and headache. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Benadryl. They can help determine whether you may be able to take a drug other than Benadryl for your condition. The manufacturer of Benadryl has not reported any interactions with other medications. However, it’s possible that new interactions may be recognized in the future. For example, new drugs could be approved that interact with Benadryl. Before you start treatment with Benadryl, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Benadryl may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Benadryl interactions with supplementsIt’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs. Benadryl interactions with herbsThere were no specific reports of herbs interacting with Benadryl. However, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Benadryl treatment. Benadryl interactions with vitaminsVitamins have not been reported to interact with Benadryl. Keep in mind that you should still talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamins during your Benadryl treatment. Benadryl interactions with foodNo food interactions with Benadryl have been reported. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods while you take Benadryl, talk with your doctor. Benadryl interactions with vaccinesThere were no reports of vaccines interacting with Benadryl. Your doctor can tell you more about vaccines and Benadryl. Benadryl interactions with lab testsLab tests have not been reported to interact with Benadryl. If you’d like additional information about having lab tests while taking Benadryl, talk with your doctor. Benadryl and cannabis or CBD Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Benadryl. Before you take Benadryl, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Benadryl may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Health conditions or factors that might interact with Benadryl include:
Here are some frequently asked questions about Benadryl and possible interactions. Does Benadryl interact with other antihistamines such as Claritin, hydroxyzine, or Zyrtec?Benadryl is not known to interact with Claritin (loratadine), Vistaril (hydroxyzine), or Zyrtec (cetirizine). However, taking Benadryl in combination with any of these drugs is not typically advised, unless your doctor recommends it. This is because Benadryl and these medications all belong to a class of drugs called antihistamines. Taking more than one antihistamine at a time could worsen the side effects of this drug class. Examples of these side effects include dry mouth, headache, and sleepiness. To learn more about possible side effects of Benadryl, see this article. If you’d like to find out how Benadryl compares with Claritin and Zyrtec, see this article. You can also talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Are there interactions between Benadryl and sleep aids such as melatonin, L-theanine, or trazodone?No, Benadryl is not known to interact with melatonin, L-theanine, or trazodone. Melatonin and L-theanine are herbal supplements used to help with sleep. Trazodone is a type of antidepressant that’s sometime prescribed for insomnia. Sleepiness is a very common side effect of Benadryl. Taking Benadryl with melatonin, L-theanine, or trazodone could cause excessive sleepiness. For this reason, taking Benadryl with any of these products is not typically advised. If you’re taking melatonin, L-theanine, or trazodone, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Benadryl. They can recommend whether the combination of products is safe. Is Benadryl known to interact with blood pressure medications?There’s not a known interaction between Benadryl and blood pressure medications. However, if you take blood pressure medication, you’re encouraged to talk with your doctor before taking Benadryl. It’s possible for Benadryl to cause low blood pressure. Taking Benadryl with blood pressure medication could cause your blood pressure to decrease to a level that’s too low. It’s also important to note that Benadryl is available in combination cold products that can increase blood pressure. These combination products may contain decongestants such as phenylephrine. Keep in mind that Benadryl itself is not known to increase blood pressure. To learn more about taking Benadryl and blood pressure medication, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do Tylenol or Advil interact with Benadryl?Benadryl is not known to interact with Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen). In fact, Benadryl is often available in combination products that contain Tylenol or Advil. These products are used to treat symptoms of allergies and colds. Examples of these symptoms include body aches, sneezing, and a runny nose. If you’re interested in taking Benadryl with Tylenol or Advil, first talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can advise you on whether these medications are right for relieving your symptoms. Is there an interaction between Benadryl and Flonase?Benadryl does not interact with Flonase (fluticasone). Flonase is an over-the-counter nasal spray used to treat allergy symptoms, such as a runny nose. Benadryl is often used in combination with Flonase to ease allergy symptoms. If you’d like to take Benadryl with Flonase, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can instruct you on how to take these medications together safely. You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Benadryl. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan the following:
It’s also important to read the packaging of Benadryl and other paperwork that comes with the drug. The paperwork, sometimes called the drug facts label, may contain details about interactions. If this information is difficult to understand, ask your doctor or pharmacist to help explain it. You can also help prevent interactions with Benadryl by taking it exactly as your doctor recommends. Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Benadryl. These resources might help:
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. |