Both medications can be used for seasonal or perennial allergies. These antihistamines have been shown to be less effective in non-allergic conditions. They are not usually recommended to treat symptoms of the common cold or bacterial infections. Both drugs may be used off-label to treat asthma that is triggered by allergies. However, other drugs may be more useful in these cases. Clinical trials have shown that both Zyrtec and Claritin are more effective in relieving the symptoms of allergy compared to a placebo pill.
However, there are a few studies that compare the effectiveness between Claritin and Zyrtec. Zyrtec has a quicker onset of action compared to Claritin and may be more effective than Claritin in reducing allergy symptoms, according to one clinical trial.
However, cetirizine, the active ingredient of Zyrtec, has been shown to produce more drowsiness than loratadine.
In a randomized, clinical trial , those taking cetirizine for allergic rhinitis experienced more somnolence during the workday compared to loratadine. The choice of anti-allergy medication to use ultimately depends on your specific condition and symptoms. Your doctor will be able to suggest the best medication for you after evaluating your symptoms. Zyrtec is available as a generic medication.
For this reason, it is not typically covered by Medicare or insurance plans. With a SingleCare coupon card, this price can be lowered substantially.
Get the SingleCare prescription coupon cards. Claritin is taken as a once-daily antihistamine that can be purchased as a generic OTC drug. It is not usually covered by Medicare or insurance plans. Second-generation antihistamines such as Zyrtec and Claritin are less likely to cause sedating side effects; however, of the two, Zyrtec has been reported to cause a higher incidence of drowsiness.
Other adverse effects of Zyrtec include fatigue, lethargy, dizziness, dry mouth, headache, constipation, cough, and nausea. Common side effects of Claritin include headache, fatigue, dry mouth, stomach pain, nervousness, diarrhea, skin rash, nose bleeds, and blurred vision. Other serious side effects may include abnormal heart rate, palpitations, severe faintness, or seizures.
It is important to contact your healthcare provider and seek care immediately should you experience any of these serious side effects. This may not be a complete list of adverse effects that can occur. Please refer to your doctor or healthcare provider to learn more.
Most antihistamines, including Zyrtec and Claritin, are metabolized by the liver and excreted in the kidney. These drugs are broken down by the P cytochrome enzyme in the liver which is involved in the metabolism of a number of other drugs. For this reason, both Claritin and Zyrtec have a number of drug interactions. Zyrtec and Claritin should be avoided with another sedating antihistamine such as Benadryl diphenhydramine.
Taking these two medications together can increase CNS side effects like sedation and impairment in judgment, concentration, and memory.
You should also avoid using Zyrtec or Claritin with alcohol which can also increase drowsiness. Other sedating medications that Zyrtec is likely to interact with include benzodiazepines, some anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, and certain antidepressants among other drugs. This is not a complete list of drug interactions. Please consult your doctor before taking these medications.
Antihistamines should not be taken if there is a history of an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the medication. Before taking either Zyrtec or Claritin, you should consult your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease. This is because these drugs are processed and excreted in the kidneys. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. It's common for people with hives urticaria or hay fever allergic rhinitis to wonder which over-the-counter antihistamine they should take: Claritin loratadine , Zyrtec cetirizine , or Allegra fexofenadine.
All of these antihistamines have been available OTC without a prescription for a number of years. But if you're thinking these antihistamines are the same, they're actually not. Depending on the allergic condition being treated, the age of the person, as well as other underlying issues such as pregnancy , the best choice of antihistamine might be different. When you've been exposed to a substance you're allergic to such as pet dander, dust mite, ragweed, or peanuts , your body produces histamine , which is a chemical messenger released by cells in the immune system to alert and activate other cells and proteins of the immune system.
Histamine causes the typical allergy symptoms of sneezing, stuffy and runny nose, watery and itchy eyes, and an itchy throat that you associate with exposure to whichever allergens you are sensitive to.
Antihistamines reduce the amount of histamine circulating in your system, thereby reducing symptoms. Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all considered newer generation antihistamines. First-generation antihistamines, such as Benadryl diphenhydramine and Atarax hydroxyzine , can be helpful for allergies and hives as well, but their use is limited due to side effects such as fatigue and sedation sleepiness.
So while Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all newer generation antihistamines that can treat hay fever or hives, there may be some advantages for each of these over the others. Claritin and Zyrtec have been shown to have a good safety profile in studies of pregnant animals, but there are no human studies available. During pregnancy, they are preferred over Allegra, which has shown adverse fetal effects in animal studies. Allegra is considered to be safer for breastfeeding mothers compared to Zyrtec and Claritin.
However, all three are deemed to be safe during lactation. All three antihistamines may cause side effects such as:. That said, the side effect profile may vary slightly among them. For instance, Allegra is completely non-sedating doesn't make people sleepy , while Claritin is minimally sedating makes only a small number of people sleepy.
Zyrtec, on the other hand, causes sedation in approximately one in six people who take the medication. While you should consult your healthcare provider about the best way to take any medication, there are widely accepted dosing recommendations for all three of these antihistamines.
First and foremost, each works best when taken daily rather than intermittently. All of these antihistamines are indicated for adults and children 2 years of age and older, with Zyrtec and Claritin dosed once a day for all ages. Allegra is dosed twice a day for children age 2 to 11, and once a day for adults and children age 12 years and older. Finally, since Allegra can be used in children as young as 6 months of age, it's sometimes the ideal choice for young children. Besides dosing, there are some slight differences in how quickly or well the drugs work.
For example, while Claritin is effective for treating hay fever and hives, other antihistamines, such as Zyrtec and Allegra, work better and faster and last longer.
Zyrtec and Allegra work quickly for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and hives, typically within less than an hour. On the other hand, studies show that Claritin takes many hours to start working.
Studies show that Allegra is nearly as good as Zyrtec at treating hayfever. However, Zyrtec and its isomer Xyzal levocetirizine appear to be better medicines for the treatment of hives. What is the strongest allergy medicine? Claritin Hour Allergy Reditabs at Amazon.
Xyzal Allergy Relief Tablets at Target. Zyrtec Prescription-Strength Allergy at Amazon. Benadryl Ultratabs Antihistamine at Amazon. Can Claritin cause anxiety? Serious Side Effects of Claritin-D You should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following serious side effects: Pounding heartbeat or fluttering in the chest.
Severe dizziness, anxiety, restlessness, nervousness, or tremors. What should you not take with Claritin? View interaction reports for Claritin loratadine and the medicines listed below. Advil ibuprofen albuterol. Benadryl diphenhydramine Fish Oil omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids Flonase fluticasone nasal gabapentin.
Does Claritin cause weight gain? Newer drugs, including cetirizine Zyrtec , fexofenadine Allegra and loratadine Claritin , are less likely to cause weight gain, according to Long. Does Claritin make you sleepy? Both Zyrtec and Claritin may make you drowsy or tired. For that reason, you shouldn't take these medications if you also take muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, or other drugs that cause drowsiness. Taking them at the same time that you take sedating drugs can make you extremely sleepy.
Can I take Claritin after taking Benadryl? Pick one and take it daily. And Allegra won't pay for studies saying it is safe to take with Claritin.
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