Claritin Products (Loratadine) Questions and Drug Interactions from BJC HealthCare - BJC Help For Your Health

Claritin Products (Loratadine) Questions and Drug Interactions

CAUTION: The two most common side effects of Claritin are dry mouth and sleepiness. Drink plenty of water when taking Claritin and be careful if you need to be alert. Make sure all your health care providers have a complete list of your medications, including over-the-counter medications, herbals and vitamins.

Claritin is first, followed by Claritin D.

Can I take Claritin (loratadine), a long-acting nonsedating antihistamine, with:

Advil Cold and Sinus?	Yes, if you have Advil Cold and Sinus that has ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine, and plain Claritin. Read the labels. If there is antihistamine in your Advil Cold and Sinus or if you have loratadine with decongestant, do not take them together. This would be a duplication of therapies. Take Advil with food if it bothers your stomach, and drink plenty of water with Claritin.
Albuterol (Proventil), Azmacort (Triamcinolone) and Dextromethorphan?	Yes. Use Azmacort as instructed. Some patients regularly use albuterol and Claritin; others use them as needed. Take DM as needed for cough. Drink plenty of water, and always rinse out your mouth after using inhalers.
Allegra (Fexofenadine)?	No. Allegra and Claritin are long-acting nonsedating antihistamines. There is no benefit or reason to take both. You would duplicate the therapy as well as increase the side effect chance. Take one or the other.
Ambien?	Yes. Take Claritin in the morning. Take Ambien as needed, when you can devote at least eight hours for sleep. Avoid alcohol with both of these.
Atacand Plus, Cresadex and Eutirox?	Yes. Atacand Plus (Atacand/HCTZ or candesartan with hydrochlorothiazide) is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist/thiazide combination. Cresadex (Crestor or rosuvastain) is a lipid-lowering statin drug. Eutirox (levothyroxine or Synthroid) is for thyroid hormone replacement, and Claritin is for allergies. Take Eutirox early each morning, Atacand and Cresadex daily as prescribed and loratadine as needed.
Atenolol?	Yes. Both can cause drowsiness.
Ativan (Lorazepam)?	Yes. The Singulair should be taken just once per day. The Ativan is normally taken only when needed.
Azithromycin and Benadryl (Claritin 24-Hour)?	Azithromycin (Z-pak) is normally given early every day until finished. Taking Claritin and Benadryl is duplication of antihistamines. Claritin is less likely to cause drowsiness and has a much longer duration of action. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is a short-acting antihistamine with a high incidence of drowsiness. That is why this drug is used to help people sleep. I would not take both unless advised by physician. It makes more sense to take 12-hour Claritin in the morning and Benadryl at bedtime.
Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)?	Claritin is a long-acting, nonsedating antihistamine. Benadryl is a short-acting, sedating antihistamine. If your doctor has instructed you to take both, take loratadine in the morning and diphenhydramine at bedtime.
Benzonatate (Tessalon) and Synthroid (Levothyroxine)?	Yes. Take Synthroid before breakfast each day. Take benzonatate as needed with water.
Buscopan (Hyoscyamine Butylbromide)?	Yes. Buscopan is a hyoscyamine not approved for use in the United States. It is available in most other countries. Drink plenty of water with both, and take only as needed.
Cephalexin (Keflex)?	Yes. They may be taken together if needed. Take the cephalexin until finished or the doctor prescribes otherwise.
Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-trimeton)?	No. Claritin is a long-acting, nonsedating antihistamine. Chlorpheniramine is a short-acting and possibly sedating antihistamine. Talk to your physician.
Citalopram (Celexa) and Generic Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine)?	Yes. Each of these drugs works on different receptors in different parts of the body. There are times, particularly with certain types of allergies, when people get both congested and have allergy reactions.
Ciprofloxacin and Lisinopril?	Yes, but avoid Claritin D, which has a decongestant, if you are taking lisinopril for hypertension. Finish the ciprofloxacin, unless instructed otherwise by your physician.
Cough Syrup with Codeine?	There is increased chance of side effects with Claritin and codeine, though they are often used together. You may feel drowsy when taking these together. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how these drugs affect you. If this combination causes too much drowsiness, consider using dextromethorphan cough syrup instead of codeine.
Coumadin?	Yes. Have your blood checked regularly while taking Coumadin.
Cytotec?	Yes. There are no direct drug interactions between Cytotec (misoprostol) and Claritin (loratadine).
DayQuil?	If you are using regular Vicks DayQuil and plain loratadine (Claritin or Alavert), there is no problem. If you have DayQuil with antihistamine, do not take loratadine. This would be duplication of antihistamines. Always read product labels and talk with a pharmacist to help you decide which product is right for you.
Dimetapp?	No. This would be a duplication of antihistamines. Take Dimetapp (decongestant-antihistamine combination) if you have both symptoms. Take Claritin if you have allergy symptoms.
Flexeril?	Yes. Taking these together can cause additional drowsiness.
Flonase (Fluticasone)?	Yes.
Flonase (Fluticasone) and Omeprazole?	Yes. They may be used together, if needed.
Flonase (Fluticasone), Regular-Strength Tylenol and Minocycline?	Yes. Take minocycline (Minocin) with food to avoid stomach upset. Do not take this with multiple vitamins that contain minerals, as they decrease absorption of the antibiotic.
Ibuprofen?	Yes.
Indomethacin (Indocin)?	Yes. Take indomethacin with food or milk.
Lexapro?	Yes.
Lyrica (Claritin 24-Hour)?	Yes. Take Lyrica at the same time daily, and do not stop taking this without the instruction of your physician.
Maximum-Strength Mucinex and Amlodipine (Norvasc)?	Yes. They may be taken together if needed. Take amlodipine every day as instructed. Drink plenty of water with Mucinex.
Meloxicam (Mobic)	Yes. Take the meloxicam with food or milk to prevent GI irritation.
Motrin (Ibuprofen)?	Yes. Take Claritin before breakfast. Take Motrin after food or milk to avoid stomach upset.
Motrin (Ibuprofen), Echinacea, Goldenseal and Sertraline (Zoloft)?	Concurrent use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Zoloft) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (Motrin) can result in increased risk of bleeding. Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) instead of Motrin, if you are treating pain or fever. If you are treating inflammation or arthritis, talk to your doctor. Claritin, echinacea and goldenseal should not cause problems.
Mucinex D (Guaifenesin with Pseudoephedrine)?	Yes. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, talk to your doctor before taking decongestants. Drink plenty of water. Take only as needed.
Mucinex DM (Guaifenesin with Dextromethorphan)?	Yes. Drink plenty of fluids. Use Tylenol, aspirin or an NSAID for fever or headache.
Naproxen?	Yes. Take naproxen, an anti-inflammatory, with food or milk, and drink plenty of fluids with the antihistamine.
Nasal Spray?	Yes. Claritin is safe with any prescription nasal or sinus allergy spray.
Phentermine (Adipex)?	Yes. Plain Claritin. They may be taken together. Do not take Adipex with the Claritin D product or any oral decongestant.
Phenylephrine?	Yes. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, talk with your doctor before taking any decongestant.
Phenylephrine Hydrochloride?	Yes. Phenylephrine HCl is an over-the-counter nasal decongestant that may be taken with Claritin or any antihistamine that works for you. Do not take phenylephrine, if you have high blood pressure or heart problems. Drink plenty of water with both.
Prozac?	Yes.
Robitussin?	Yes. Drink plenty of water while taking either one.
Robitussin DM?	Yes. Take only as needed and with plenty of water.
Robitussin Night Time Cough & Cold?	No. You should not mix these two medications, as it would be duplicating both the antihistamine and decongestant.
Sinutab PE?	Yes, as long as the Claritin is the single ingredient product. They may be taken together. If you have any sort of heart problems or high blood pressure, talk to your doctor before taking any oral decongestant (Sinutab).
Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine)?	Yes. You may take both as long as it is plain Claritin.
Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) and Aleve?	Yes, as long as you have plain Claritin and Aleve. Drink plenty of water with Claritin and Sudafed, and take Aleve (naproxen sodium) with food or milk.
Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) and Singulair?	Yes. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, talk to your physician before taking Sudafed. Singulair should be taken each day to be effective.
Sudafed Maximum Strength?	Yes, if you have plain Sudafed and plain Claritin. Claritin and Sudafed come in multiple combination products and may have both drugs, or similar drugs, in the formula. Read the ingredients carefully.
Sudafed PE?	There are no direct drug interactions between Sudafed PE and Claritin. There is a similar combination product on the market, Claritin D. Speak to your doctor or other health care provider, if you have high blood pressure or heart problems, before taking any oral decongestant. Take only as needed.
Tessalon (Benzonatate)?	Yes.
Tylenol?	Yes. Take no more than 3000mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours.
Tylenol Cold MS?	Yes, as long as you have plain Claritin. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, talk to your physician before taking this formulation of Tylenol. The phenylephrine in it could cause problems.
Tylenol Severe Cold?	You should not take Claritin (loratidine) with another antihistamine in 12 hours at least. Tylenol makes a Severe Cold Non-drowsy that does not contain antihistamines.
Warfarin?	Yes. Take warfarin in the evening or at bedtime and Claritin in the morning for best results. Have your blood checked regularly while taking warfarin.
Wine Before Lunch?	A 500ml glass of wine with loratadine would not be a good mix. If you take Claritin in the morning -- or better yet at bedtime -- a small glass of wine will not affect or be affected by this medication.
Zantac?	Yes.
Zithromax?	Yes. Take Zithromax each morning until complete.
Zoloft?	Yes. Zoloft (sertraline) should be taken every day. Do not stop unless instructed by your physician. Zoloft can cause drowsiness.
Zyrtec (Cetirizine)?	No. Both are long-acting antihistamines. Take one or the other. Or take each on alternate days. Take with plenty of water. Do not take if you have allergies or problems with prostate or urinary retention.

Can I take loratadine 10mg, clindamycin 150mg and prednisone 20mg all at once?
They may be taken together. Take the clindamycin and prednisone as the doctor has instructed. The prednisone should be taken with food or milk to prevent stomach upset. Avoid a lot of sun light while taking the clindamycin antibiotic.

I take lisinopril and pravastatin. Can I take Claritin or Allegra?
There are no direct drug interactions between lisinopril (Zestril or Prinivil), pravastatin (Pravachol) and Claritin (loratadine) or Allegra (fexofenadine). Do not take both antihistamines (Claritin and Allegra) the same day.

Is it safe to take Claritin before surgery?
There are no precautions indicating that Claritin (loratadine) could not be taken up to the day of surgery. It does have a reasonably long half-life, so if you are having anaesthesia, it would be important for the doctor to know when you took your last dose prior to surgery.

I have not had a Claritin dose in 24 hours. Is it OK to take Alka Seltzer Plus Cold Formula?
This is fine since the Claritin (loratadine) at best, has a 24 hour duration of action. Follow the directions on the Alka Seltzer product and only take if needed.

Does the effectiveness of Allegra or Claritin diminish after five days? Should I alternate the use of both during the ragweed season?
From a scientific perspective, there is no definitive information indicating that the effectiveness of any long-acting antihistamines, like Allegra (fexofenadine) and Claritin (loratadine), would diminish. And there is no reason why you could not alternate days, taking either of the drugs on any given day. As long as you do not take both the same day, you should be fine. You may want to speak to your doctor or allergist regarding other forms of allergy therapy, if you are having difficulty.

Can I take Claritin in the morning and Unisom at night?
Claritin and Unisom (diphenhydramine) are both antihistamines. Claritin is a long-acting, nonsedating product. Unisom is a short-acting, sedating product. The sedation side effect is used to help facilitate sleep. As both are antihistamines, taking them together could cause prolonged drowsiness. Take the Unisom only as needed. Be careful when you get up in the mornings.

Can I take Claritin D (loratadine with pseudoephedrine) with (If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, talk to your physician before taking any decongestant like pseudoephedrine.):

Lorazepam (Ativan)?
Yes. Lorazepam can cause drowsiness and with Claritin decongestant, the effect could be additive. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, talk to your physician before taking any decongestant (like pseudoephedrine).

Nasonex (Mometasone)? Yes. Nasonex spray is a topical steroid. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, talk to your doctor before taking any oral decongestant. Follow the directions on the box of the inhaler to ensure proper use of this product.

NyQuil? No. You should not take both the Claritin D and Vicks NyQuil (any formula) at the same time. Both products contain antihistamines and decongestants. You would increase the side effects without increasing any benefit.

Pepcid Complete? Yes. They may be taken together.

Robitussin DM? Yes. Drink plenty of water with both and take them only as needed. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, talk to your physician before taking any decongestant (like pseudoephedrine).

Wellbutrin (Bupropion)?
Yes. They may be taken together if needed. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, talk to your physician before taking any medication with a decongestant.

Zoloft (Sertraline)? Yes. They may be taken together. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, talk to your physician before taking any oral decongestant.

It's been 24 hours since I have taken Claritin. Is it alright to take diclofenac?
Yes. Always take diclofenac with food or milk.

I took a Claritin D (12 hour) about three hours ago. It's not working. Can I take NyQuil?
The longer you can wait, the less likely for interaction and duplication of side effects to occur. Claritin D (loratadine with pseudoephedrine) is designed to last for at least 12 hours. Vicks NyQuil (acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, pseudoephedrine) is shorter-acting, but more likely to cause drowsiness. Adding to the Claritin can increase this situation. You may feel drowsy or more tired when taking these together. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how these drugs affect you. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, talk to your doctor before taking either of these.

What is the most effective time of day to take loratadine to minimize side effects?
What side effects are you experiencing? The two most common problems are dry mouth and sleepiness. If you take the loratadine (Claritin) once daily and you have dry mouth, the time of day matters none. Drink more water. If the drug makes you sleepy, take it prior to bedtime each day. It is designed to be long lasting in affect and the side effects wear off in several hours.

Can I take citalopram with either Sudafed or loratadine or both?
There are no direct drug interactions between citalopram (Celexa), Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) and loratadine (Claritin). Avoid Sudafed if you have high blood pressure or heart problems. If you need both the decongestant and the antihistamine, consider Claritin D or generic. Usually you would save money taking the combination, but don't use if you do not have both symptoms.

Can a stroke and heart attack person take Robitussin and Claritin?
If you recently had either of these problems, talk to your physician before adding new medications. If you are a survivor of both conditions, and everything is stable and under control, taking either plain Robitussin (guaifenesin) or Claritin for a temporary condition for a short time should pose no problems. Do not take any decongestant product. If changes occur or your symptoms do not improve, contact your physician.

Is it OK to take generic Claritin with ibuprofen? How about with Pamprin Multi-Symptom?
There are no direct drug interactions between these three products. There is duplication with the two antihistamines. One is nonsedating (Claritin, loratadine); and the sedating type, mepyramine, is in the Pamprin. If you are taking Claritin for allergies, keep taking this regularly. Take the ibuprofen with food or milk to prevent GI problems.

Is it OK to take 24-hour allergy Claritin and Robitussin (cough & cold) CF?
If this is the plain Claritin 24 hour, yes these would be fine together. The Robitussin CF (guaifenesin, dextromethorphan and phenylpropanolamine) is a cough, expectorant and decongestant product. You may take any plain antihistamine with this product including Claritin (loratadine). Drink plenty of water with both products and take only as long as needed.

Can I take Claritin Non-Drowsy and Coricidin Cough and Cold together?
Coricidin has a sedating antihistamine in the formula (brompheniramine). It is short-acting vs. the long-acting Claritin. I would not take these together. If you don't have to worry about drowsiness, take the Coricidin. If you cannot be drowsy, take Claritin with a plain dextromethorphan product to stop the cough.