Claritin-D

Claritin-D is a medication commonly used for treating nasal allergy symptoms. It can also be used to treat nasal congestion due to the common cold. It is a combination drug that consists of an antihistamine and a decongestant. Claritin-D, which is available in 12-hour and 24-hour formulas, can be obtained without a prescription. Potential side effects include dry mouth, drowsiness, and insomnia.

 

What Is Claritin-D?

Claritin-D® (loratadine and pseudoephedrine sulfate) is a non-prescription medication approved to treat the following allergy symptoms:
 
  • Nasal congestion
  • Runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Itchy or watery eyes
  • Itchy nose or throat.
     
Claritin-D is also approved to relieve nasal congestion due to the common cold. It contains loratadine (an antihistamine) and pseudoephedrine (a decongestant). Although Claritin-D was originally a prescription product, it is now available without a prescription.
 
(Click Claritin-D Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Claritin-D?

Brand-name Claritin-D is made by Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc. Generic versions of Claritin-D are made by various manufacturers.
 

How Does Claritin-D Work?

Claritin-D contains two different medications: loratadine and pseudoephedrine. Allergies occur when the body's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances that do not bother most people. This reaction is partly caused by the release of histamine from certain cells in the body. Loratadine is an antihistamine, which means it blocks histamine from binding to histamine receptors and causing allergy symptoms. Since histamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of allergies, blocking it can be helpful. However, antihistamines are not helpful for nasal congestion, which is why loratadine is combined with pseudoephedrine.
 
Pseudoephedrine is a nasal decongestant that works by constricting the blood vessels in the nose, helping to relieve nasal congestion. It is useful for relieving nasal congestion due to many causes, including allergies and the common cold.
 

When and How to Take Claritin-D

General considerations for when and how to take Claritin-D include the following:
 
  • The medication comes in tablet form. Depending on the particular product, it is taken either once a day or twice a day.
     
  • You can take Claritin-D with or without food. If the drug bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
     
  • Be sure to swallow the tablets whole. They are extended-release tablets that will release the medication too rapidly if they are broken, chewed, or crushed.
     
  • Try to take Claritin-D at the same time(s) each day to keep an even level in your blood.
     
  • Some people need to take Claritin-D all year long, while others take it only during allergy season.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as directed by the package labeling. Please read the label closely.
     

Dosage Information for Claritin-D

There is only one standard recommended dose of Claritin-D, although it may be taken once or twice daily, depending on the particular product. As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Claritin-D Dosing for more information.)
 

Claritin-D Side Effects

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Claritin-D. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
 
Common side effects of Claritin-D include but are not limited to:
 
(Click Side Effects of Claritin-D to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
 

Drug Interactions With Claritin-D

Claritin-D can potentially interact with a few other medications (see Claritin-D Interactions).
 

Claritin-D: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Claritin-D if you have:
 
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Claritin-D Warnings and Precautions to learn more, including information on who should not take the drug.)
 

What If I Take an Overdose of Claritin-D?

People who take too much Claritin-D may have overdose symptoms that include:
 
  • Drowsiness
  • A rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
  • Headaches
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sweating
  • Thirst
  • Feelings of a forcefully or rapidly beating heart (known as heart palpitations)
  • Muscle weakness or tension
  • Anxiety
  • Restlessness or insomnia
  • Delusions, hallucinations, or psychotic behavior
  • An irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
  • Seizures
  • Coma.
     
If you happen to overdose on Claritin-D, seek immediate medical attention.
 
(Click Claritin-D Overdose for more information.)
 

What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose of Claritin-D?

If you forget to take your Claritin-D dose, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
 

Strengths of Claritin-D

Claritin-D comes in the following strengths and forms:
 
  • Claritin-D 12-Hour (5 mg of loratadine and 120 mg of pseudoephedrine sulfate per tablet)
  • Claritin-D 24-Hour (10 mg of loratadine and 240 mg of pseudoephedrine sulfate per tablet).
     

Is There a Generic Version of Claritin-D?

Currently, there are several generic versions of Claritin-D licensed for sale (see Claritin-D Generic).
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;