Claritin is used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever and allergies to pollen, dust or pet dander. You may be suffering from sneezing, runny nose or itchy, watery eyes from allergies. Claritin can help relieve those symptoms but cannot prevent them from occurring during allergy season. You may also experience some side effects from the medication. These side effects may be irritating or require medical attention.
Allergic Reaction
It is rare for you to be allergic to Claritin, an antihistamine medication. However, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, if you experience hives; rash; itching; or swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, hands, arms, feet, ankles or lower legs you should seek immediate medical attention. Claritin may also trigger wheezing, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a hoarse voice quality. These symptoms also require immediate attention.
Headache
Headache was the most common side effect reported in clinical trials performed by the manufacturer, Schering. In its clinical studies reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, headache occurred at almost the same rate in the group who took Claritin as those who were taking a placebo. Headaches you may experience from the medication should reduce in frequency and intensity as your body gets used to the drug.
Sleep
According to the U.S. Library of Medicine, Claritin was originally produced as an antihistamine that didn't cause drowsiness or fatigue. However, it may have the opposite effect. Some people have reported difficulty with sleeping and falling asleep that can lead to increased fatigue and drowsiness during the daytime hours. While the medication may not cause drowsiness it appears to be an issue when the medication does not allow you to sleep properly at night. iGuard, a service offered to patients to monitor drug interactions and side effects, reports that drowsiness is the second most reported side effect of Claritin.
Dryness
Claritin clears the excess secretions produced because of your allergic reaction to pollen and pet dander but it also reduces secretions throughout the rest of your body as well. This reduction will produce some side effects that can be bothersome. According to the U.S. Library of Medicine you can experience diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea and dry mouth related to the reduction in secretions. This dryness can also lead to blurred vision and red eyes from reduced tear secretions. When you decrease the secretions in the body your nose will also become drier. This lack of moisture in the nasal membranes can lead to cracking and nose bleeds. According to iGuard, dryness is the most commonly reported side effect of the 34,000 patients they are tracking who use Claritin.
