Can claritin help with an allergic reaction

Adults and children 6 years and over1 tablet daily; not more than 1 tablet in 24 hoursChildren under 6 years of ageAsk a doctorConsumers with liver or kidney diseaseAsk a doctor

INGREDIENTS

Active ingredient (in each tablet):
Loratadine 10 mg ( Antihistamine )

Inactive Ingredients:
Lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate

WARNINGS

Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to this product or any of its ingredients.

Ask a doctor before use if you have liver or kidney disease. Your doctor should determine if you need a different dose.

When using this product do not take more than directed. Taking more than directed may cause drowsiness.

Stop use and ask a doctor if an allergic reaction to this product occurs. Seek medical help right away.

If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use.

Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

OTHER INFORMATION

Safety sealed: do not use if the individual blister unit imprinted with
Claritin® is open or torn (applies to blisters)

Tamper-evident: do not use if foil seal under cap, printed with “SEALED for YOUR PROTECTION” is missing, open, or broken (applies to bottles).

Store between 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F)

Protect from excessive moisture

FAQS

Where can I purchase Claritin® Tablets?

Claritin® Tablets are available wherever over-the-counter products are sold.

Are all OTC allergy medications non-drowsy?

No, some over-the-counter allergy medications can produce drowsiness. Claritin® Tablets are non-drowsy when taken as directed.

When should I take Claritin® Tablets?

You can take Claritin® Tablets when your allergy symptoms act up, but only once every 24 hours.

Can I chew a Claritin® tablet?

Swallow the Claritin® tablet whole. If you have trouble swallowing medication, try Claritin® Cool Mint Chewables, a chewable dosage form, or Claritin® RediTabs®, which dissolve quickly in your mouth.

•Usually causes less drowsiness compared to other antihistamines

•Side-effects are mild, if any at all

•Available over the counter (OTC) as a cheaper, generic formulation

•Provides quick relief of allergy symptoms for both children and adults

•Doesn't interact with a lot of medications

•Only needs to be taken once a day

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Many people use antihistamines to treat allergy symptoms. Zyrtec and Claritin are two of the most popular brands, but which is best?

Antihistamines can reduce allergy symptoms, such as watering eyes, itchy skin, hives, and swelling. They may also help with dermatitis or even mosquito bites, but manufacturers usually market them for specific allergies.

Zyrtec is a brand name for the drug cetirizine. Claritin is the brand name for loratidine. Zyretc and Claritin are in the same class of medications. Both are second-generation antihistamines, and they generally work the same way in the body. Neither is clearly better than the other.

In this article, we provide detail about the differences between Zyrtec and Claritin. We also compare them to two other popular brands of antihistamines: Benadryl and Allegra.

Zyrtec vs. Claritin

Can claritin help with an allergic reaction
Share on PinterestPeople can purchase Zyrtec and Claritin without prescription. They are available as pills, chewable tablets, and syrups.

Zyrtec and Claritin are brand-name medications that people can buy over the counter. They are available in various forms, including pills, chewable tablets, and syrups.

Regardless of marketing claims, little scientific evidence shows that either is more effective.

Active ingredients

Zyrtec and Claritin have different active compounds.

Zyrtec contains cetirizine hydrochloride, also called cetirizine HCL, while Claritin contains loratadine.

Drowsiness

Zyrtec and Claritin are second-generation antihistamines. They are less likely to make a person feel drowsy or otherwise affect alertness than older, first-generation antihistamines.

The labeling of Zyrtec says that a person should not take it when driving a vehicle or using machinery. People should avoid taking Zyrtec with alcohol or other medicines that could cause drowsiness.

Timescales

Zyrtec and Claritin are effective for about 24 hours. A person should only take one dose per day. The body absorbs both antihistamines quickly, but Zyrtec seems to work faster for some people.

A 2014 study found that both drugs were absorbed into the bloodstream within 1–2 hours of taking the medication.

Comparisons with other allergy medications

Researchers are often studying, comparing, and improving antihistamines. Other popular brands on the market today are Allegra and Benadryl.

  • Allegra contains the active ingredient fexofenadine. Allegra is non-sedating, so it should not make a person feel drowsy. Allegra is also a second-generation antihistamine.
  • Benadryl contains the active ingredient diphenhydramine. This acts faster than the other three and aims to treat minor skin reactions, not seasonal allergies. Benadryl is a first-generation antihistamine, which makes it sedating, so people tend to feel drowsy after taking it.

How do allergy medications work?

When a person comes into contact with an allergen, their immune system reacts and produces a chemical called histamine.

Histamine causes many allergy symptoms, including inflammation of the skin or sinuses, pain, redness, and wheezing.

Immune responses also encourage extra mucus to develop, which helps to clear allergens from the nose and throat.

Allergy medications block histamine responses. This dulls the body’s response to minor or harmless allergens, such as pollen, dust, and pet dander.

Warnings (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Share on PinterestZyrtec and Claritin are safe for most people with minor allergies, but side effects can include headaches and dizziness.

Claritin and Zyrtec are effective and safe for most people with minor allergies. However, as with all medications, there may be some side effects.

Loratadine—present in Claritin—may not be safe for people with severe liver conditions. The liver has to break down loratadine. The kidneys break down cetirizine—found in Zyrtec—and the body excretes it in the urine, largely unchanged.

Claritin is more likely to interact with other drugs than Zyrtec. Claritin is broken down in the liver by enzymes that other drugs can inhibit. This may lead to Claritin building up in the body, which increases the risk of side effects.

Precautions

Everyone reacts to medications differently, but Claritin and Zyrtec may have the following side effects:

  • drowsiness, which is more likely when taking Zyrtec than Claritin
  • a headache
  • dizziness or light-headedness
  • a sore throat
  • dry mouth
  • constipation or diarrhea
  • abdominal cramps and pain
  • eye redness

Some people experience a severe allergic response called anaphylaxis after taking antihistamines. A person should seek emergency medical attention if any of the following symptoms are present:

  • hives
  • a swollen throat
  • swollen lips or face
  • trouble breathing or other respiratory symptoms
  • a racing heartbeat

Some antihistamines are safe for children, but it is a good idea to talk with a doctor or check the label carefully before giving antihistamines to a child.

In 2012,a reviewfound that some antihistamines may be problematic during pregnancy. However, the authors noted that there was no evidence linking cetirizine or loratidine to birth defects.

A study published in 2014 noted that 10–15 percent of women use antihistamines during pregnancy. Most appear to be safe, but some may have adverse effects.

TheCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)urge people to ask a doctor before using an antihistamine or any other drug during pregnancy.

Outlook

Claritin and Zyrtec are popular over-the-counter antihistamines. Doctors consider them safe and effective treatments for minor allergies.

Both are second-generation antihistamines. These cause less drowsiness than first-generation antihistamines.

No research has concluded that Zyrtec or Claritin is more effective, but some people report better responses with one or the other. The slight differences between the two may make one drug more appropriate for some people.

People can purchase Zyrtec, Claritin, and other popular brands without a prescription from supermarkets, pharmacies, and online stores.

How much Claritin can I take for an allergic reaction?

For allergies: For oral dosage form (chewable tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, tablets): Adults and children 6 years of age and older—One tablet or 10 milligrams (mg) once a day. Do not take more than one tablet per day.

Does Claritin help with allergic swelling?

Angioedema involves the swelling of the deeper soft tissue in the body and antihistamines, such as Benadryl, Claritin, Allegra, or Zyrtec don't have the ability to fully reverse this type of inflammation.

Is Benadryl or Claritin better for allergic reactions?

Is Benadryl or Claritin better? Claritin is usually recommended over Benadryl for allergic rhinitis and other allergy symptoms. Both drugs have similar effectiveness but Claritin has less sedating side effects. Claritin only needs to be taken once daily which may be preferred for some people.

Which antihistamine is best for allergic reaction?

What are the best allergy medicines to take?.
Benadryl (diphenhydramine).
Claritin (loratadine).
Allegra (fexofenadine).
Zyrtec (cetirizine).
Xyzal (levocetirizine).