Claritin

Allergy is one of the most common medical problems affecting almost all living creatures in the whole world. It affects humans, animals, and plants as well, then making it truly the most common and even the most rampant of all medical conditions known to man. It attacks any time of the day or night, without you knowing it, and whether you believe or not, every change of season signals the dawn of allergies.

To prevent allergies from becoming more and more rampant, experts recommend patients suffering from this condition to try taking one of the said effective solutions – Claritin. This is but a powerful medication formulated and introduced to provide allergy sufferers the chance to live life free from all troubles and worries.

Claritin is basically a non-prescription medication. It is first marketed by a company named Schering-Plough and is known by its generic name, Loratadine. Being a non-prescription medication, it’s no surprise to find this item labeled as over the counter drug. It comes in the form of tablets, and is recommended for daily use until the desired result is achieved.

There is a variety of allergy conditions to which Claritin is used for. In the first place, it is recommended to treat hives or urticaria. It is also deemed helpful for treating runny nose, sneezing, watering and itching of the eyes, and other common allergic symptoms. You may also find other doctors suggesting it to be used nasal or non-nasal allergy symptoms like the popular seasonal allergy, rhinitis.

Now, how does Claritin work to treat such allergic conditions? Well, once the drug is absorbed into the body, it passes through the gastrointestinal tract and undergoes the so-called “first pass hepatic metabolism”. It binds with the plasma proteins in the body in a moderate way. This binding is what allows the substance to attack any harmful elements that cause allergy, and what’s more interesting is that its effects last for more than eight hours. The allergens and other elements causing the allergy are then released through the urine and feces.

The best thing to know about Claritin is that unlike the other antihistamines, this drug does not leave any possible threat to the brain for the reason that it makes no way for it to enter the brain from the blood. This is what allows the drug to be capable of preventing drowsiness.

To make such function possible, it is necessary for every allergy sufferer considering the drug to only take it according to what is directed. Generally, this over the counter medication is offered to be used once a day. Those who are suffering from liver and kidney failure are only allowed to take lower doses of this medicine than those who are not affected by such conditions. For more emphasis, adults are allowed to take Claritin to a dose of about ten milligrams everyday. This holds true for children aging over six years old.

Once taken not in a proper way, Claritin side effects may develop. The most experienced of these side effects are headache, dry mouth, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain or aches, nervousness, itchiness and dry skin, dizziness, and urine discoloration. For the more serious, be aware that Claritin may cause irregular heartbeat, breathing difficulty, throat closing, hives and rashes, swelling of the mouth and face, as well as seizures. These side effects may further worsen of the drug is taken during pregnancy, the reason that pregnant women are not easily permitted to take Claritin during pregnancy period. Well, if any of these symptoms are felt, make sure to call your doctor as immediate as possible. That, by far, is the most important thing you can do for yourself or for others.