An over-the-counter (OTC) drug called Claritin is used to treat hay fever and seasonal allergy symptoms.
Sneezing is among the hay fever symptoms as well as a running nose and in some cases dry eyes.
Alcohol and Claritin should not be combined.
The best course of action for those on Claritin and comparable drugs is to completely avoid alcohol.
In this post, we’ll look more closely at the interactions between alcohol and Claritin as well as any potential negative effects.
Read on to discover more.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ Loratadine is an antihistamine found in Claritin.
✅It is employed to treat seasonal allergy problems.
✅ It has a lesser potential for sleepiness because it is a second-generation antihistamine.
✅ When combined with alcohol, Claritin is less likely than other antihistamines to have major side effects.
✅ Dizziness and tiredness remain potential side effects, though.
✅ Additionally, Claritin may prevent your liver from properly metabolizing alcohol, raising your risk of overdosing if you consume too much alcohol.
✅ It’s advisable to stay away from alcohol when taking Claritin due to these dangers.
Understanding Claritin
The brand-name form of the medication loratadine is called Claritin. There are also generic forms of loratadine. The following upper respiratory symptoms can be alleviated by medications with loratadine as their active component:
Running nose
Sneezing
Wet, irritated, or red eyes
Scratchy throat, mouth, or nose
Allergens such as dust or pollen are the source of these symptoms.
Your immune system may incorrectly see an allergen as a harmful invader when it enters your body. Histamine and other chemicals are then released to combat the invader. Histamine sets up an immunological reaction that helps your body get rid of the allergen. You begin to itch, sniffle, and sneeze. Antihistamines are a class of medications that includes loratadine. It functions by stopping histamine from interacting with your body’s histamine receptors. So, allergy symptoms are reduced.
Antihistamines come in first- and second-generation varieties. Compared to second-generation antihistamines, first-generation antihistamines are more likely to make you sleepy. A second-generation antihistamine is loratadine. Although it is a potential adverse effect, sleepiness is uncommon.
Can you safely consume alcohol while taking Claritin?
Alcohol can interact with antihistamines like Claritin, says the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The fundamental problem is that both alcohol and antihistamines are depressants of the central nervous system. Both may cause you to experience:
Uncoordinated
Weak
Sleepy
Together, these impacts pose a threat.
When alcohol is combined with first-generation antihistamines like Benadryl, these effects are more evident. It’s not necessarily safe to combine second-generation antihistamines with alcohol, despite the fact that products like Claritin are less likely to have major adverse effects.
Your response to combining alcohol and Claritin will depend on a variety of variables, including:
Age
Sex
General wellbeing
Serious alcohol-medication interactions are more likely to occur in women and older persons. It may also be hazardous to combine alcohol and Claritin if you suffer from specific conditions, such as:
Problems with alcohol use include the following conditions:
Diabetes
Epilepsy
Swollen prostate
Heart conditions
Kidney illness
Liver illness
Thyroid issues
The way your body absorbs medications is also impacted by alcohol. It might reduce how well the antihistamine treats your allergy symptoms. If this occurs, wait until the alcohol is gone before taking any more Claritin.
What negative consequences can Claritin and alcohol have together?
Claritin and alcohol both reduce nervous system activity. These negative consequences could emerge as a result.
Dizziness
Claritin and alcohol both lower heart rates. Your heart must work harder to pump blood to the rest of your body as a result. You may experience:
Faint
Lightheaded
Weak
Your ability to regulate your motions can be more difficult.
Drowsiness
If you combine alcohol and Claritin, you can experience fatigue or sleepiness. Even though Claritin typically doesn’t make you sleepy on its own, this adverse effect is more common when alcohol is consumed.
The heightened danger of overdosing
Claritin and alcohol both take longer for your liver to digest when combined. You can experience higher levels of intoxication than usual. Your risk of an alcohol overdose may increase if you consume too much alcohol.
Do other drugs and Claritin interact with one another?
There is little chance of harmful drug interactions when taking Claritin in general. Before using this drug, it’s still a good idea to consult your doctor or pharmacist. If you’re taking any additional prescription or non-prescription drugs, including vitamins and herbal supplements, let them know. You can lessen any interactions with Claritin with their assistance.
The following medicines may interact with Claritin:
Amiodarone (Pacerone)
Carbagevpin (Tegretol, Tegretol XR, Epitol)
Cimetine (Tagamet)
Daruvir (Prezista)
Dasatinib (Sprycel)
Ethambutol (Erygel, Eryped)
Ketoconazole
Midazolam (ProAmatine)
Ralloxin (Ranexa)
Rifampicin (Rifadin)
Ritonavir (Norvir)
Saint John’s wort
In addition, since Claritin might make sleepiness from other prescriptions worse, you should discuss this with your doctor before taking Claritin with other drugs that can make you drowsy.