What is Claritine and what is it used for?
Claritine belongs to the group of antihistamine drugs. Antihistamines work by reducing the effects of histamine, a substance released by the body, to alleviate allergy symptoms.
Claritine is used for:
- Relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis (e.g., hay fever), such as sneezing, nasal congestion, itching, and watery eyes.
- Reducing itching, redness, and the number and size of hives caused by chronic urticaria.
Important information before taking Claritine:
Do not take Claritine if you are allergic to loratadine or any of the other ingredients listed in section 6.
Warnings and precautions:
Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before starting Claritine if:
- You have liver disease.
- You are scheduled for any skin tests for allergies. Do not take Claritine for 2 days before the planned skin tests, as it may affect the test results.
- If any of the mentioned conditions apply to you or if you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting Claritine.
For children:
- Children under 6 years of age or children weighing less than 30 kg should not use Claritin tablets.
For children under 2 years of age:
- The safety and efficacy of Claritine have not been established. Data is not available.
Other medicines and Claritine:
The frequency of unwanted effects may increase when taking medications that affect certain enzymes responsible for drug metabolism in the liver. However, no increase in the frequency of unwanted effects has been observed during clinical trials when co-administering drugs that affect these enzymes.
If you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including over-the-counter medicines, inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Taking Claritine with food and alcohol:
Claritine can be taken with or without food.
When taking Claritine with alcoholic beverages, the effects of alcohol are not enhanced.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding:
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, think you might be pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.
It is better to avoid using Claritine during pregnancy.
Loratadine passes into breast milk, so it is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers to take Claritine.
Driving and operating machinery:
During clinical trials evaluating the ability to drive, no impairments were observed in patients taking loratadine. When taken at recommended doses, Claritine should not cause drowsiness or decrease alertness. However, in very rare cases, some people may experience drowsiness, which may affect their ability to drive or operate machinery.
Claritine contains lactose:
If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult them before taking this medicine.
How to take Claritine:
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
For adults:
Take one tablet once a day, with a glass of water. The tablet can be taken with or without food.
For children and adolescents:
Children aged 6 years and older weighing more than 30 kg:
Take one tablet once a day, with a glass of water. The tablet can be taken with or without food.
Children under 6 years of age or weighing less than 30 kg:
Do not give Claritine tablets. It is not recommended to use tablets for children under 6 years of age or weighing less than 30 kg.
Children under 2 years of age:
It is not recommended to use Claritine for children under 2 years of age.
Patients with impaired liver function:
For adults and children weighing more than 30 kg:
Take one 10 mg tablet every other day, with a glass of water; the tablet can be taken with or without food.
What to do in case of an overdose of Claritin?
Take Claritin as directed. Accidental overdose should not cause severe disturbances.
Immediately inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have taken an overdose of Claritin.
If you forget to take Claritin
If you forget to take the medicine on time, take it as soon as you remember and continue taking it as prescribed. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
If you have more questions about using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Possible side effects
This medicine, like all other medicines, can cause side effects, although not everyone experiences them.
The most common adverse effects observed in adults and children aged 12 years and older were:
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Increased appetite
- Insomnia
The most common adverse effects observed in children aged 2 to 12 years were:
- Headache
- Nervousness
- Fatigue
Side effects reported with the use of the medicine on the market are:
Very rare (may affect less than 1 in 10,000 users):
- Severe allergic reactions (including swelling)
- Dizziness
- Seizures
- Frequent or irregular heartbeats
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Upset stomach
- Impaired liver function
- Hair loss
- Rash
- Fatigue
Frequency unknown (cannot be calculated from available data):
- Increased body weight
How to store Claritine
Keep this medicine out of sight and reach of children.
Store below 30°C.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the box and blister. The medicine is suitable for use until the last day of the specified month.
If you notice any changes in the appearance of the tablet, do not use this medicine.
Do not dispose of medicines in wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of unused medicines. These measures will help protect the environment.
Packaging contents and other information
Composition of Claritine
The active substance is loratadine. Each tablet contains 10 mg of loratadine.
The excipients are lactose monohydrate, corn starch, and magnesium stearate.
Appearance and quantity of tablets in the package
White or almost white, oval tablets with a score on one side and plain on the other side.
Aluminum foil/vinyl/PVC blister packs.
The cardboard box contains 10 tablets (over-the-counter medicine).
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