Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) is an over-the-counter medication that's used to relieve allergies and congestion. It's available as a 24-hour tablet that's taken once per day and a 12-hour tablet that's taken twice per day. Possible side effects include headache, dry mouth, drowsiness, and difficulty sleeping. There are lower-cost generic and brand versions of the medication available. You can find Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) at the pharmacy counter (or behind the counter).
Short-term relief of allergy symptoms:
Runny nose
Itchy nose or throat
Itchy or watery eyes
Stuffy nose
Nasal congestion
Sinus congestion or pressure
Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) is a combination of two medications that work together to relieve allergy symptoms.
Loratadine is an antihistamine. It blocks histamine in your body to lower inflammation caused by allergies.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant. It clears your sinuses to relieve sinus pressure.
Source: DailyMed
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Easier to take a combination pill instead of two separate pills for congestion and other allergy symptoms
Available as a once-daily tablet
Available over the counter
More difficult to customize the dose since Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) is a combination of two medications
Not the best choice for people who have difficulty swallowing tablets (can't crush the tablets and no available liquid form available)
Can't be used in children younger than 12 years
You can take Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) with or without food. If it's hurting your stomach, try taking it with food to help.
Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) can raise your blood pressure. If you have heart problems or high blood pressure, ask your provider if it's safe for you to take Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine).
It's possible for Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) to either make you sleepy or energetic. You can take Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) any time of the day, so take it at a time based on how it affects your ability to sleep.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) because this combination raises your risk of sleepiness and dizziness.
It's best to avoid or limit caffeine when you need to take Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine). This combination can raise your risk for side effects like fast heart rate, high blood pressure, and difficulty sleeping.
Check with your provider or pharmacist first before starting any new medications while you're taking Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine). They can check for harmful interactions. Just like Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine), many other OTC allergy, cold, and flu medications can contain an antihistamine or decongestant. Taking too many decongestant or antihistamine medications at the same time can raise your risk of overdose and severe side effects, which can be life-threatening. This includes very high blood pressure, fast heart rate, seizures, and hallucinations (seeing things that aren't real).
Stop using Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) and contact your provider if you get nervous, dizzy, or can't sleep. Also stop using the medication and let your provider know if your symptoms don't get better within 7 days of starting Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) or if you develop a fever. These might be signs of another medication condition that's going on.
Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Heart problems | High blood pressure
Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) can raise your heart rate and blood pressure, even at recommended doses. If you have a history of heart problems or high blood pressure, ask your provider if Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) is safe for you before using this medication. If you get severe headaches, nosebleeds, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, or chest pain while taking Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine), stop taking it and get medical attention right away. These can be signs of seriously high blood pressure.
Risk factors: Drinking alcohol while taking Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) | Taking other medications that cause drowsiness
Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) might make you drowsy, which can affect your ability to focus, think, or react. This side effect is more likely to happen if you drink alcohol while taking this medication or take other medications that also cause sleepiness (e.g., opioids, certain anxiety medications, sleep medications). Don't drive or operate machinery until you know how Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) affects you.
Risk factors: Heart disease or high blood pressure | Thyroid problems | Diabetes | Urinary problems | Enlarged prostate | Liver or kidney problems
Don't take Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) if you have any of the risk factors listed above unless your provider said it's safe to do so. Taking Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) can worsen the symptoms of certain conditions. And sometimes, having certain other medical conditions can raise your risk of side effects from Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine). Make sure your provider knows about all medical conditions you have or have had in the past before starting Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine). They can discuss with you about whether this medication is safe for you to take.
Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) contains an antihistamine (loratadine) and a decongestant (pseudoephedrine), which are found in many other over-the-counter products. Using more than one medication containing an antihistamine (including products used on the skin) or a decongestant can lead to an accidental overdose and cause serious side effects. These side effects can include high blood pressure, sleepiness, dizziness, seizures, hallucinations (seeing things that aren't real), or even death.
Tell your provider or pharmacist about all the medications you take before starting Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) to make sure it's safe for you. Don't start any new medications while taking Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) without talking to your provider or pharmacist. To prevent an accidental overdose, read package labels carefully. If you're not sure if a product has an antihistamine or a decongestant, ask your pharmacist. If you or your loved one experiences an accidental overdose, get medical help right away or contact a poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
24-hour tablet: Each tablet contains 10 mg of loratadine and 240 mg of pseudoephedrine.
People 12 years and older: The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth once per day. Don't take more than 1 tablet in a 24-hour period.
People with liver or kidney problems: Ask your provider.
Children younger than 12 years: Ask your child's provider.
12-hour tablet: Each tablet contains 5 mg of loratadine and 120 mg of pseudoephedrine.
People 12 years and older: The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth once every 12 hours. Don't take more than 2 tablets in a 24-hour period.
People with liver or kidney problems: Ask your provider.
Children younger than 12 years: Ask your child's provider.
Currently take or have taken an MAOI in the last 14 days
Short-term relief of allergy symptoms:
Runny nose
Itchy nose or throat
Itchy or watery eyes
Stuffy nose
Nasal congestion
Sinus congestion or pressure
Nasal congestion
Runny nose
Sneezing
Itching of the nose or throat
Itchy or watery eyes
Runny nose
Sneezing
Itchy nose or throat
Itchy, watery eyes
Stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
Sinus congestion and pressure
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Bayer HealthCare LLC. (2022). CLARITIN-D 24 HOUR- loratadine and pseudoephedrine sulfate tablet, extended release [package insert]. DailyMed.
Bronsky, E., et al. (1995). Comparative efficacy and safety of a once-daily loratadine-pseudoephedrine combination versus its components alone and placebo in the management of seasonal allergic rhinitis. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Głowacka, K., et al. (2021). Pseudoephedrine—Benefits and risks. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Johnson, D. A., et al. (1993). The pharmacology of alpha-adrenergic decongestants. Pharmacotherapy.
Patel, R. H., et al. (2023). Biochemistry, histamine. StatPearls.
Sidhu, G., et al. (2023). Loratadine. StatPearls.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2017). Legal requirements for the sale and purchase of drug products containing pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine.
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