How long claritin

Regular tablets 10 mg Each white, oval, shallow, deep-scored tablet, with the flash and dish logo above the score and the number 10 below, contains loratadine 10 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, lactose, and magnesium stearate. Nonmedicinal ingredients: citric acid, gelatin, mannitol, and mint flavour. Liquid Capsules 10 mg Each oval, transparent, blue gelatin capsule, etched with a "10" logo contains loratadine 10 mg. Claritin Kids Syrup — Grape Flavour Each 1 mL of clear, colorless-to-light-yellow, grape-flavoured syrup contains loratadine 1 mg.

Nonmedicinal ingredients : artificial grape flavour, edetate disodium, glycerin, maltitol, monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate, phosphoric acid, propylene glycol, purified water, sodium benzoate, sorbitol, and sucralose. Tablets: For adults and children 12 years of age and older, the recommended dose of loratadine is 10 mg once daily. The regular tablets may be taken with or without food.

The rapid-dissolving tablets should be taken on an empty stomach. Water or other liquids are not necessary with the rapid-dissolving tablets, as they will melt instantly on the tongue.

Capsules: For adults and children 12 years of age and older, the recommended dose of loratadine is 10 mg once daily with water. Syrup: A liquid form of loratadine is available for children 2 years of age and older, as well as adults who are unable to swallow tablets. The recommended dose of loratadine syrup for adults and children over 10 years of age weighing more than 30 kg is 10 mL 10 mg once daily. The recommended dose for children 2 to 9 years of age weighing 30 kg or less is 5 mL 5 mg once daily.

Children between 2 and 12 years of age should not take loratadine for longer than 14 days unless recommended by a doctor. Adults and children over 12 years of age can take loratadine for up to 6 months. Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take this medication exactly as suggested by your doctor or pharmacist. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take more than one dose in 24 hours. Additionally, Zyrtec is contraindicated with the concurrent use of alcohol, tranquilizers or other forms of sedatives as they can increase the sedating side effects of this drug.

Studies have shown that most antihistamines do not cause birth defects when taken during pregnancy. However, some of these drugs do have the potential to cause certain birth defects.

Before taking Zyrtec or Claritin in pregnancy, you should talk to your doctor about the potential risks. Taking antihistamines during breastfeeding may not be recommended as these drugs can pass from breast milk to the baby. Zyrtec and Claritin may be considered for women who are breastfeeding if the benefits outweigh the risks.

Zyrtec is an over-the-counter antihistamine that is used to treat allergies. It starts to relieve allergy symptoms within an hour and lasts for around 24 hours. Zyrtec can be used in adults and children over 6 years of age. Claritin is a second-generation antihistamine that is available over the counter. It is indicated in the treatment of allergies and produces maximum effects in about 3 hours. Allergy relief usually lasts for 24 hours.

Claritin is suitable for adults and children over 2 years of age. Both Zyrtec and Claritin belong to the same drug class but their generic forms are different. Zyrtec has the active compound cetirizine hydrochloride while Claritin has the active compound loratadine. Zyrtec has more sedating properties compared to Claritin. Few studies have been performed comparing the efficacy of Zyrtec and Claritin. One clinical trial has shown that Zyrtec may be better for allergic rhinitis although there were no significant differences between the two.

Still, Zyrtec produces more drowsiness and somnolence compared to Claritin. Certain antihistamines have been shown to be associated with birth defects. While Zyrtec and Claritin may have a low pregnancy risk, it is best to consult your doctor before starting either of these medications.

Zyrtec or Claritin should not be taken with alcohol. Alcohol may increase sedating side effects when consumed with antihistamines. Antihistamines should not be taken simultaneously because it can increase the risk of adverse effects.

Zyrtec and Claritin can be used long term. However, these medications are usually prescribed during the allergy season. Once allergy symptoms have subsided, these drugs may be discontinued. Claritin is less likely to cause sleepiness than Zyrtec when you take either at recommended doses.

More serious side effects of these medications are rare. If you have one of the following side effects after taking either medication, seek emergency medical attention:.

Children may have any of the side effects that adults do, but they can also have completely different reactions to antihistamines. Children may become stimulated, restless, or sleepless. Claritin is active in the body for at least 24 hours. The typical daily dose of Claritin for adults and children who are 6 years and older is 10 mg per day. The typical daily dose of Claritin for children aged 2—5 years is 5 mg. Children this age using Zyrtec should be given 2.

People with chronic medical conditions like kidney disease may need less frequent doses because the drug may take longer for them to process. Older adults and adults who have chronic illness should only take 5 mg of Zyrtec per day. For the best possible results, check with your doctor or pharmacist before deciding what dose to use. Remember that children may be different sizes at different ages, so when in doubt, start with a smaller dose.

And always check the package for dosing guidelines. Zyrtec and Claritin are both priced about the same. However, manufacturer coupons are often available for both medications. This will reduce your overall cost. Generic versions of both antihistamines are readily available, as well. Both Zyrtec and Claritin may make you drowsy or tired. Taking them at the same time that you take sedating drugs can make you extremely sleepy. Do not take either of these medicines and then consume alcohol.

Alcohol may multiply side effects and make you dangerously drowsy. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. It's common for people with hives urticaria or hay fever allergic rhinitis to wonder which over-the-counter antihistamine they should take: Claritin loratadine , Zyrtec cetirizine , or Allegra fexofenadine.

All of these antihistamines have been available OTC without a prescription for a number of years. But if you're thinking these antihistamines are the same, they're actually not. Depending on the allergic condition being treated, the age of the person, as well as other underlying issues such as pregnancy , the best choice of antihistamine might be different.

When you've been exposed to a substance you're allergic to such as pet dander, dust mite, ragweed, or peanuts , your body produces histamine , which is a chemical messenger released by cells in the immune system to alert and activate other cells and proteins of the immune system. Histamine causes the typical allergy symptoms of sneezing, stuffy and runny nose, watery and itchy eyes, and an itchy throat that you associate with exposure to whichever allergens you are sensitive to.

Antihistamines reduce the amount of histamine circulating in your system, thereby reducing symptoms. Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all considered newer generation antihistamines.

First-generation antihistamines, such as Benadryl diphenhydramine and Atarax hydroxyzine , can be helpful for allergies and hives as well, but their use is limited due to side effects such as fatigue and sedation sleepiness. So while Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all newer generation antihistamines that can treat hay fever or hives, there may be some advantages for each of these over the others.

Claritin and Zyrtec have been shown to have a good safety profile in studies of pregnant animals, but there are no human studies available. During pregnancy, they are preferred over Allegra, which has shown adverse fetal effects in animal studies. Allegra is considered to be safer for breastfeeding mothers compared to Zyrtec and Claritin. However, all three are deemed to be safe during lactation. All three antihistamines may cause side effects such as:.

That said, the side effect profile may vary slightly among them. For instance, Allegra is completely non-sedating doesn't make people sleepy , while Claritin is minimally sedating makes only a small number of people sleepy. Zyrtec, on the other hand, causes sedation in approximately one in six people who take the medication. While you should consult your healthcare provider about the best way to take any medication, there are widely accepted dosing recommendations for all three of these antihistamines.

First and foremost, each works best when taken daily rather than intermittently. All of these antihistamines are indicated for adults and children 2 years of age and older, with Zyrtec and Claritin dosed once a day for all ages. Allegra is dosed twice a day for children age 2 to 11, and once a day for adults and children age 12 years and older.