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Why is this medication prescribed?
Claritin is the brand name of loratadine, a non-sedating antihistamine made and marketed by Schering Canada Inc. Claritin is an antihistamine used to relieve allergy symptoms such as watery, itchy, re
d eyes; sneezing, runny nose, itchy throat. As an antihistamine, Claritin works by blocking the action of histamine, a naturally occurring chemical that is responsible for allergy symptoms. CLARITIN?
won't cause drowsiness, unlike some other over-the-counter antihistamines."
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Cautions
Before taking Claritin,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Claritin or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medi
cations you are taking, especially erythromycin (E-Mycin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), medications for asthma or colds, medications for depression, muscle relaxants, pain medications, sedatives, sleeping
pills, tranquilizers, and vitamins.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-fe
eding.
- plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
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How should this medicine be used?
When taken at the recommended dose, once a day CLARITIN does not cause drowsiness which is common with all over-the-counter and some prescription antihistamines. (Drowsiness rates vary among products.
) All antihistamines that cause drowsiness must caution users about operating motor vehicles or heavy machinery. CLARITIN, on the other hand, is not required to carry such warnings.
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Side Effects
Check with your doctor immediately if the following side effect occurs:
- Fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; abdominal or stomach pain; burning; chills; clay-colored stools or dark urin
e; cough; diarrhea; difficulty swallowing; dizziness; fast heartbeat; fever; headache; hives; itching; prickly sensations; puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lip
s or tongue ; redness of skin; seizures ; shortness of breath; skin rash; swelling; tightness in chest; tingling; unusual tiredness or weakness; wheezing
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What special precautions should I follow?
Breast-feedingˇXSmall amounts of antihistamines pass into the breast milk. Use is not recommended since babies are more susceptible to the side effects of antihistamines, such as unusual excitement or
irritability. Also, since these medicines tend to decrease the secretions of the body, it is possible that the flow of breast milk may be reduced in some patients. It is not known yet whether cetirizi
ne, desloratadine, or loratadine cause these same side effects.
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Overdose
Clumsiness or unsteadiness; convulsions (seizures); drowsiness (severe); dryness of mouth, nose, or throat (severe); feeling faint; flushing or redness of face; hallucinations (seeing, hearing,
or feeling things that are not there); shortness of breath or troubled breathing ; trouble in sleeping
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