Clarityn

What is Clarityn?

Clarityn is a medication for allergies. It treats and prevents sneezing, itchy eyes, and other symptoms caused by allergic rhinitis and hives. It also helps with seasonal allergies like hay fever. Depending on your allergies, you might experience hives, eczema, or other skin reactions, while other people may experience a runny nose or itchy eyes.

In the case of hayfever, symptoms are brought on by pollen and other things you may be exposed to in an outdoor environment. For some people, pets or certain substances like fragrance and fabric can cause an allergic reaction. In all these cases, Clarityn can provide quick and effective relief.

How does Clarityn work?

Loratadine, the active ingredient in Clarityn, is an antihistamine. It works by blocking the effects of histamine, which helps relieve symptoms of allergies and hives.^[1] This reduces the symptoms that result from an allergic reaction, like the itching from hives or the watery eyes and sneezing from hay fever. Unlike older antihistamines, it also doesn’t make you drowsy.

What doses of Clarityn are there?

Clarityn tablets come in one dose of 10mg. The recommended dose is one 10mg tablet a day. It’s best to take it around the same time every day if you’re taking it regularly. If you don’t feel like this dose is helping to control your symptoms, go back and talk to your clinician. You may need to try a different antihistamine, or a higher dose might be better for you depending on your needs.

If you struggle to swallow tablets, Clarityn also comes as a 1mg/ml syrup, for which the recommended dose is 10ml once daily.

How to take Clarityn

Swallow the tablet whole with water. You can take it with or without food. If you’re taking it every day to control your symptoms, try to take it around the same time so the symptoms are under control all day.

How long does it take Clarityn to work?

Clarityn kicks in relatively quickly. You should begin to feel your allergy symptoms improve within one to three hours. If you don’t experience adequate relief, let your clinician know. They may recommend another antihistamine to treat your allergies.

If you know you’re going to come into contact with an allergen on a particular day (if there’s a high pollen count or you’re visiting a friend with a pet, for example) the effects of Clarityn peak after around eight to twelve hours. So you can take it in the morning and you should be protected for most of the day.^[1]

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Clarityn?

If you forget to take your Clarityn on time, take it as soon as you remember. Don’t take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip your missed dose and take your medicine as normally scheduled.

Taking more Clarityn than you should can cause side effects including headache, rapid heartbeat, and drowsiness. But it’s usually not cause for alarm. If you’ve taken too much and are concerned, seek appropriate medical care to make sure you’re okay.