To eliminate allergy attacks, doctors often recommend a drug such as Claritin. The instructions for use say that this medicinal composition can be taken for prevention.
The effect of the drug occurs at the level of structures involved in the process of the occurrence of allergic reactions. Thanks to this drug “Claritin”, it will be possible to eliminate the symptoms of the disease so that dry mucous membranes and drowsiness do not occur.
Drug feature
According to the instructions for use, "Claritin" refers to the group of non-sedative antihistamines. This medicine contains the active ingredient loratadine. The substance can be used to eliminate seasonal manifestations of allergies and to prevent the occurrence of seizures.
The active substance that is part of the drug has a therapeutic effect, preventing the action of histamine, which is produced by the body as a protective mechanism and accumulates in almost all tissues. When the immune system responds to the intake of allergens, mast cells begin to stimulate the production of histamine and its release into the intercellular space. The latter at the same time provokes the occurrence of a chain reaction, which causes the manifestation of allergic signs. This occurs as a result of an increase in blood flow to the affected area, which enhances the allergic reaction.
As a result, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, skin, eyes, and respiratory organs is observed, which leads to severe lacrimation, nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, and sneezing. According to the instructions for use, Claritin tablets affect the mechanism of allergy occurrence, while blocking histamine receptors. It also prevents the development of allergies. Signs of hay fever disappear within 10-15 minutes.
Instructions for use "Claritin" recommends using a drug to relieve the symptoms of chronic idiopathic urticaria. This disease is characterized by the fact that it proceeds with the formation of an itchy rash that resembles a urticaria, but occurs for no apparent reason. Blocking the action of histamine helps significantly reduce rashes and eliminate itching.
This drug belongs to non-sedative antihistamines, so it practically does not cause drowsiness. However, some patients may occasionally experience it to a small extent. With a decrease in dosage, this condition generally disappears within 1-2 days. In this regard, if long-term use of the drug "Claritin" is required, it is recommended to carefully choose the dosage.
Composition and form of release
The drug has two forms of release, namely tablets and syrup. Since, according to the instructions for use, “Claritin” against allergies can be used not only for adults, but also for children, the syrup is often prescribed for small patients. It is much easier for them to take the medicine in liquid form. Previously, pharmacy chains offered the drug in the form of drops and ointments.
“Claritin” in the form of a syrup is a solution of a transparent color or with a slightly yellowish tinge. It has a homogeneous structure, without sediment and impurities. Available in dark bottles of 60 and 100 ml.
Claritin tablets are oval in shape and have a white color. One package may contain 7, 10, 20 and 30 tablets. Regardless of the form of release, the active ingredient of the drug is loratadine. One tablet contains 10 mg of this substance, and 1 mg of finished syrup contains 1 mg.
Therapeutic effect
According to the instructions for the use of Claritin tablets, the active components of the drug begin to work immediately in several directions and have:
- antipruritic;
- antiallergic;
- antihistamine effect.
Similar effects are directly related to the blocking of histamine receptors. The drug begins to have a therapeutic effect literally within 30 minutes from the time of administration and is valid for 24 hours, regardless of the form of release.
As stated in the instructions for use of "Claritin" for children and adults, in just 10-15 minutes all uncomfortable sensations pass. It is worth noting that the drug acts selectively, only on the receptors that are responsible for the development of allergies. This distinguishes it from drugs of the past generation, which have a sedative effect.
Indications for use
Conditions in which there is a runny nose, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and swelling of the eyelids, but there is no pain in the muscles, temperature, or other manifestations of the common cold, are familiar to many. These are signs of an allergic reaction of the body that can occur on pollen of flowering plants, environmental pollution, food, and also harmful substances.
According to the instructions for use, Claritin and analogues of this drug are prescribed to eliminate signs of allergy. The drug is indicated in the case of:
- conjunctivitis, inflammation and redness of the eyes;
- swelling of the eyelids, lacrimation;
- skin rashes, urticaria;
- allergic rhinitis, sneezing;
- eczema, dermatitis;
- Quincke's edema;
- reactions to insect bites;
- food allergies.
This medicine helps to increase the strength of the vascular walls, eliminate itching, reduce swelling, and also relieve the manifestation of allergies.
Dosage of medication
According to the instructions for use, Claritin syrup, as well as tablets, can be taken regardless of the fact of food consumption. The dosage should be determined by the doctor based on the individual characteristics of the patient. As stated in the instructions for use, "Claritin Children's" in the form of a syrup can be taken for children under 3 years old, and at an older age, you can use any form of medicine. For patients suffering from pathology of the kidneys and liver, the doctor selects the dosage purely individually. Initially, 0.5 tablets or 1 tbsp are prescribed. l syrup in a day.
According to the instructions for use, Claritin tablets adults and children from 12 years old can take 10 mg per day. Since the action of the medicine is enough for the whole day, it will be enough only to use only 1 tablet for this period.
As stated in the instructions for use of the Claritin syrup, for children from 2 years of age, the dosage is calculated strictly individually, it all depends on the weight of the child. If the baby's weight is less than 30 kg, then he is prescribed 5 mg of the drug, which equals 1 tsp. drug per day. And for children weighing 30 kg or more, 10 mg of the drug is prescribed 1 time per day.
According to the instructions for use, Claritin tablets are prescribed for children only from the age of 3, as the younger child may simply choke. The dosage is calculated depending on the weight of the child, and it can be 0.5 or 1 tablet. The duration of the course of therapy is determined purely individually. Basically, treatment lasts two weeks. At the same time, “Claritin” can be used for a longer time for preventive purposes.
There are situations when therapy with Claritin can be indicated for children under 2 years old. This is due to the high effectiveness of the drug. It helps to relieve infants from dangerous symptoms very quickly, and also has virtually no side effects in the nervous system. In this case, up to 1 year the child needs 1.5 ml of syrup per day, and in 1-2 years - 3 ml per day.
To date, Claritin ointment is practically not used. The instructions for use say that the product is intended for local treatment of the skin. It helps to quickly eliminate itching and swelling after an insect bite.
The dosage of Claritin drops, according to the instructions for use, is selected strictly individually, it all depends on the characteristics of the course of the allergy. However, it is worth noting that this form of the drug is practically not used.
During the tests conducted on animals, there were definitely no negative reactions. It is believed that it is possible to conduct treatment with Claritin during pregnancy, however, if the benefit of therapy significantly exceeds the likelihood of a negative effect of the drug on the fetus.
It is worth noting that the drug "Claritin" can pass into breast milk. The content of the active component is as high as in the mother's blood. That is why it is recommended to abandon lactation during the period of therapeutic measures.
There are also some other modes of taking the medicine, which is why before carrying out an allergy treatment, you should consult your doctor. It is worth noting that if an allergy test is required, then the medication should be stopped about 48 hours before the intended procedure, otherwise the result will be false.
Contraindications
As stated in the instructions for use, drops of "Claritin" for children and adults, as well as other types of this drug have certain contraindications. It is undesirable to use this composition during pregnancy. There are also a number of other contraindications, namely the period of lactation and individual intolerance to some of the individual components of the drug.
This drug should not be used if you are allergic to the components that make up its composition. Any contraindications must be reported to the attending doctor, who will select analogues.
Side effects
There are various side effects of the drug "Claritin", which can develop in each person in completely different ways. This is mainly observed with prolonged use of the drug. Among the main disorders of well-being, it is necessary to distinguish such as:
- nervousness;
- increased appetite;
- headache;
- fatigue;
- dizziness;
- dry mouth
- nausea.
Usually, “Claritin” is very well tolerated by the body, regardless of the age of the patient, but do not exclude the possibility of side effects. In childhood, reactions such as:
- retardation;
- nervousness;
- headache.
Together, these side effects are quite rare, mainly only some of them are observed. If you feel worse, you should definitely consult a doctor for a comprehensive diagnosis. Since there is a likelihood of side effects, before purchasing a medicine you need to study the instructions for use of Claritin and reviews.
Consequences of an overdose
Cases of overdose are quite rare. Negative symptoms occur when taking more than 40 mg of the drug per day. In this case, symptoms such as:
- headache;
- drowsiness;
- cardiopalmus.
It is very careful to choose the dosage of the medicine for the child. Self-medication in this case can be very dangerous to health. In children weighing less than 30 kg, signs of an overdose may occur, such as:
- violation of muscle tone;
- cardiopalmus;
- lip twitching;
- teak and cramps;
- chaotic movements of the limbs.
Medicinal measures in case of overdose are aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms. You need to try to withdraw the existing drug as soon as possible. Be sure to wash the stomach with saline, and also take adsorbents.
special instructions
Despite the fact that the drug “Claritin” does not cause a sedative effect, however, some people may experience slight drowsiness when using it, which can significantly affect their performance, the ability to drive a car or work with complex mechanisms. That is why it is important to know exactly how this tool will act and only then perform certain dangerous types of work. If the drug causes a feeling of drowsiness, then it is forbidden to take other medicines that also have a sedative effect.
Before conducting special tests to diagnose allergies, you need to stop taking antihistamines about 2 days before the proposed procedure. This must be done, since antihistamines remove or reduce skin allergic manifestations.
In some cases, during the treatment with Claritin, the consumption of alcohol can provoke an increase in pressure, attacks of tachycardia, as well as headaches. However, during the study period, there was no negative effect on the nervous system during the interaction of Claritin with alcohol, and alcohol did not affect the healing qualities of the medicinal composition.
Interaction with other drugs
There is no reliable data regarding the interaction of the drug with other drugs that are taken at the same time. However, if the patient is already taking other medications, it is absolutely necessary to coordinate the reception of Claritin with the attending physician in order to adjust the treatment regimen. Perhaps the doctor will stop taking other drugs, based on an objective assessment of the patient’s well-being.
It is worth noting that “Ketoconazole” and “Erythromycin”, when used simultaneously with “Claritin,” increase the concentration of loratadine several times, which does not have too great clinical significance, but it can provoke an overdose.
Analogs and reviews
When taking Claritin and its analogues, the instructions for use should be studied first so that you can evaluate the possibility of using this or that medicine. On the modern market there are many drugs with a similar effect and composition. Among them, structural, that is, having the same basic active substance, is distinguished. There are many drugs that include loratadine. These drugs include:
- Alerpriv;
- "Erolin";
- Clarifer.
Also, among analogues, funds are allocated that have the same pharmacological effect on the body, but they have different active substances. The drug "Claritin" has a lot of substitutes. These include first-generation antihistamines, in particular, such as Diphenhydramine, Suprastin, Fenistil, Tavegil. With their admission, you can very quickly achieve a positive result, but it is worth remembering about side effects that are not excluded. All these drugs are prohibited for the treatment of young children, and are also dangerous for lactating women and pregnant women, people with chronic diseases.
The drug “Zirtek” is considered a more advanced analogue, since it refers to second-generation drugs. It has almost no side effects, but the healing qualities are slightly weaker than with first-generation drugs. "Claridol" is intended for the treatment of allergies, manifested in acute and chronic form. This medicine has exactly the same characteristics as Claritin.
Another good analogue is the drug "Loratadine", which is available in the form of syrup, conventional tablets and effervescent instant tablets. This drug is prescribed to quickly eliminate the signs of allergies.
In the presence of an allergic reaction, Cetrin may also be prescribed. The main active ingredient is cetirizine, which refers to histamine receptor blockers. This medicine can also be used when taking other drugs, however, it is necessary to take into account the available indications and contraindications.
"Erius" refers to a new generation of antihistamines, has a good therapeutic effect, and also has a minimum of side effects. In addition, this medicine is characterized by a wider spectrum of action, as it is active in eliminating allergic cough.
According to the instructions for use of "Claritin" and reviews - this is a very good tool. Many patients note the effective therapeutic effect of the drug, as well as its affordable cost. The composition does not affect the nervous system and does not provoke side effects.
Before purchasing the composition, the instructions for the use of Claritin tablets and adult reviews of the drug must be studied in order to have an accurate idea of ​​the drug. It is worth noting that there are also negative reviews about the drug. Some patients say that Claritin does not eliminate the signs of allergies.