4 Claritin Interactions, Plus Other Questions About What You Can Take With Claritin

Claritin (loratadine) is an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine. It can help treat allergy symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes, and runny nose in children and adults.

If you’re trying Claritin for the first time, you likely want to know more about dosages and side effects. But learning about Claritin’s interactions — and whether you can take it with other medications such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) or Advil (ibuprofen) — is also important.

Here, we discuss four notable Claritin interactions. We’ll also answer questions about combining Claritin with other popular OTC medications.

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1. Alcohol

You shouldn’t mix Claritin with alcohol. This combination raises your risk of drowsiness and dizziness. On its own, Claritin has a low risk of these side effects. But when combined with substances that cause drowsiness, this risk goes up.

Alcohol is one substance that can make you sleepy. It can also cause problems with balance and coordination. Combining Claritin and alcohol may make these side effects more likely to happen or more intense.

2. Other oral antihistamines

Don’t take Claritin with other oral antihistamines unless a healthcare professional tells you it’s OK. Taking multiple antihistamines at once raises your risk of experiencing side effects. These include drowsiness, headache, and dry mouth.

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Examples of common antihistamines include:

• Allegra (fexofenadine)

• Benadryl

• Chlorpheniramine

• Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)

• Unisom (doxylamine)

• Xyzal (levocetirizine)

• Zyrtec (cetirizine)

Taking too many antihistamines can cause serious side effects, though this is rare. These side effects include seizures, hallucinations, and coma. In the most severe cases, an antihistamine overdose can be fatal.

Good to know: There isn’t enough research on combining Claritin and non-oral antihistamines, such as Astepro (azelastine) and Zaditor (ketotifen). Ask a healthcare professional before taking Claritin while using a non-oral antihistamine.

3. Medications that cause drowsiness

As mentioned above, Claritin has a low risk of drowsiness on its own. But if you’re also taking other medications that cause drowsiness, your risk goes up.

There are many medications that can make you sleepy, including:

• Opioid pain medications, such as oxycodone (Roxicodone, OxyContin) and tramadol (ConZip)

• Muscle relaxers, such as cyclobenzaprine (Amrix)

• Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax)

• Sleeping medications, such as zolpidem (Ambien)

• OTC supplements for sleep, such as melatonin

These aren’t the only medications that can make you sleepy. Your healthcare team can tell you if any of the medications you take can cause drowsiness.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• All about side effects: Many Claritin (loratadine) interactions raise the risk of side effects. Read about notable Claritin side effects here.

• Combining allergy medications: Pharmacists explain which allergy medications you can safely mix together.

• Alcohol and antihistamines: Here’s why you shouldn’t drink alcohol while taking antihistamines such as Claritin.

Ask a healthcare professional before combining Claritin with other medications that cause drowsiness. If they tell you it’s OK to take both, watch for excessive sleepiness. If you notice this, contact your healthcare professional right away. They may suggest changing certain medications or adjusting your dosages.

4. Nighttime cold medications, such as NyQuil

You should also avoid combining Claritin with “nighttime” cold medications. These cold medications typically contain an antihistamine that causes drowsiness as a side effect. As mentioned, it’s not recommended to take two or more oral antihistamines at the same time.

Examples of nighttime cold medications include:

• Products from the NyQuil line, which contain doxylamine

• Products from the Mucinex Nightshift line, which contain triprolidine

• Tylenol Nighttime Cold and Flu Multi-Symptom (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / doxylamine)

• Delsym Nighttime Cough (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / triprolidine)

• Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Nighttime Cold and Flu (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / doxylamine)

There are many other combination cold products available that contain antihistamines. Typically, these medications say “night” or “nighttime” on the packages. But you should also read the active ingredient list on the OTC label. If you see an antihistamine listed, don’t take it with Claritin unless a healthcare professional tells you it’s OK.

Can you take Claritin with Mucinex?

Yes, you can take Claritin with Mucinex (guaifenesin). This OTC expectorant is safe to combine with many other medications.

Just make sure to read the OTC label before taking Mucinex. The makers of Mucinex also make many combination products, and not all of these are safe to take with Claritin. For instance, you shouldn’t combine Claritin with Mucinex Nightshift Cold and Flu (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / triprolidine). This Mucinex product also contains an antihistamine.

Can you take Claritin with Advil?

Yes, you can take Claritin with Advil (ibuprofen). You can also safely combine it with Motrin, another brand-name version of ibuprofen. These medications don’t interact with each other.

Just be cautious of Advil or Motin-brand combination medications. They may contain other medications that do interact with Claritin. For instance, you shouldn’t take both Claritin and Advil PM (ibuprofen / diphenhydramine). Both of these medications contain antihistamines.

Can you take Claritin with Tylenol?

Yes, it’s safe to take Claritin with Tylenol (acetaminophen). These medications don’t interact.

But Tylenol’s manufacturers also make a line of combination products. Some of them may interact with Claritin. One example is Tylenol PM (acetaminophen / diphenhydramine). This medication contains an antihistamine. Read your Tylenol product’s OTC label before taking it.

Can you take Claritin with Flonase?

Yes, you can take Claritin with Flonase (fluticasone). This combination is safe.

Although it’s safe, experts don’t recommend combining an oral antihistamine and a steroid nasal spray, such as Flonase. Typically, this doesn’t offer more of a benefit than using a steroid nasal spray by itself. So check with a healthcare professional before using Claritin and Flonase. They may suggest combining different allergy medications.

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Written by:

Sarah Morin, RPh

Sarah Morin, RPh, has been a registered pharmacist for over 25 years. She started out as a hospital pharmacist, working at Rhode Island Hospital and then at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Reviewed by:

Zunaira Iftikhar, PharmD Candidate

Zunaira Iftikhar is a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) candidate at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She’s experienced across academic, clinical, hospital, and community pharmacy settings.

Reviewed by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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