Loratadine, marketed as the main ingredient in Claritin products, is a second-generation antihistamine that is used to treat allergy symptoms. Allergies flare up as a result of histamine chemicals released in the body, caused by triggers such as cat hair, mold, food or grasses. Loratadine stops the activity of histamine at body receptors so that the allergic reaction is blocked. Although it can be used safely for continuous daily use in children and adults with chronic allergies, loratadine does have a handful of side effects similar to older antihistamine products.
Dry Mouth
Allergy symptoms like a runny nose, watery eyes and fluid buildup in the ears are all resolved with use of loratadine. However, the same chemical actions that dry up these body parts also lead to dry mouth in more than 5 percent of people who take loratadine. Drinking extra fluids and using lozenges are usually enough to improve this side effect.
Stomach and Headaches
As with many prescription and over-the-counter medicines, headaches and stomach upset are two of the most common side effects of loratadine use. Neither side effect is long lasting, and both are considered mild in nature but frequent enough to be a major side effect.
Altered Nervous System
Much like the first-generation antihistamine diphenhydramine (Benadryl), loratadine may cause drowsiness in adults as a direct result of its antihistamine activity. However, the drowsiness is usually more mild than with Benadryl and decreases with continued use. Children younger than six years old may experience the same side effect, or they may become hyperstimulated and nervous or edgy as a result of a paradoxical reaction to the histamine block.
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