loratadine / pseudoephedrine

While uncommon, it's possible for Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) to make you drowsy (sleepy). A study showed that 6% of people taking the 24-hour tablet of Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) once daily felt drowsy, sleepy, or sluggish. In general, Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) is less likely to cause drowsiness than other antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

Don't take other medications that have an antihistamine or decongestant (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine). Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) already contains an antihistamine and a decongestant. Using multiple products that contain these types of medications can raise your risk for overdose and side effects. Also talk with your provider first before taking Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) with medications that have stimulant-like effects because this combination can raise your risk for dangerously high blood pressure. Since it's possible for Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) to make you feel drowsy, consult with a provider if you need to take medications that can raise your risk of drowsiness even more (e.g., opioids, sleep medications). If you're not sure whether you're taking a medication that interacts with Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine), ask your provider or pharmacist.

Yes, Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) is an over-the-counter medication that you can find at local pharmacies. But it's actually located behind the counter, which means that you'll need to go to the pharmacy counter to purchase it. You'll be asked to present photo identification and sign when you buy it. This is required because Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) can potentially be misused. Ask your pharmacist to help you locate Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) in the pharmacy.

Claritin is the brand name for loratadine, an antihistamine that treats allergy symptoms like itchy or watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing. Claritin-D 24-Hour and Claritin-D 12-Hour are brand names for tablets with both loratadine and pseudoephedrine. Because it contains pseudoephedrine (a decongestant), Claritin-D is more useful than Claritin for people who also have nasal or sinus congestion in addition to itchy or watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing.

If you're pregnant, thinking of getting pregnant, or breastfeeding, don't take Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) until you've talked to your provider first. This medication contains pseudoephedrine. The safety of pseudoephedrine during pregnancy isn't completely clear because of inconsistent results from limited data. Your provider will probably recommend that you avoid using Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) at least during the first 3 months of pregnancy because of the potential risk of harm to babies. Additionally, pseudoephedrine can potentially dry up your breast milk production and might cause your baby to be irritable. For these reasons, it's a good idea to discuss the risks and benefits of Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) with your provider first.

Don't take Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) for longer than 7 days. If your symptoms haven't gotten better after 7 days of using the medication or if you develop a fever, you should stop using Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine). Contact your provider because these could be signs of a more serious medical problem. They can make sure you get appropriate treatment.

It depends on which Mucinex product you choose to use. Mucinex is a brand that makes multiple products to treat cold and flu symptoms. Some of these products are single-ingredient medications, and others are combination products. Depending on the product, Mucinex can contain acetaminophen for pain, tripolidine (an antihistamine) for cold symptoms, and phenylephrine (a decongestant). It's not recommended to take a Mucinex product with Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) if that product has phenylephrine or triprolidine. Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) already has an antihistamine (loratadine) and a decongestant (pseudoephedrine). Taking Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine) with another product containing an antihistamine or decongestant can raise your risk of side effects, such as high blood pressure, headache, and trouble urinating. Talk with your pharmacist if you have trouble choosing a Mucinex product that you can take with Claritin-D (loratadine / pseudoephedrine).