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.
- 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.
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.
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