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Below are Claritin (Loratadine) reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. Based on a total of 20 ratings/reviews, Claritin has an overall score of 5.75. The effectiveness score is 6.10 and the side effect score is 7.70. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. This information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as clinical evidence. | Claritin review by 27 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | chronic sinus congestion |
Dosage & duration: | | 1 pill every 4-6 hours or as needed taken as prescribed/when needed for the period of off and on until sinuses cleared |
Other conditions: | | none |
Other drugs taken: | | none | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | The drug cleared my sinuses but took some time to become effective after use. The effect only lasted about half a day. I would take this off and on for about 3 months. |
Side effects: | | I felt like I was hopped up the whole time. My skin would feel crawly and I would be generally jittery and not able to focus. I lost concentration and felt high the whole time. It also made me feel really dehydrated. |
Comments: | | The medication was for my use during a sinus infection at first to help relieve congestion. When the sinus infection subsided I still had congestion fairly often so was prescribed to take is as needed. I would usually take one in the morning when it was worst. I stopped after a few months due to side effects and made diet changes to relieve it. |
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| Claritin review by 37 year old male patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Ineffective |
Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | allergies |
Dosage & duration: | | 2 for 2 days, 4 for 2 days, then all (dosage frequency: once a day) for the period of 1 week |
Other conditions: | | asthma |
Other drugs taken: | | none at that time | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | There were no benefits. |
Side effects: | | Absolutely none. |
Comments: | | I bought a 24-count box and took two as recommended each day. 2 days later having felt nothing, I took 4 for 2 days. Again 2 days later I still had not received any relief, so I took the entire box. Absolutely nothing happened. This was the name brand drug, not a generic. |
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| Claritin review by 47 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Marginally Effective |
Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | allegry |
Dosage & duration: | | t (dosage frequency: 1 per day) for the period of 2 months |
Other conditions: | | none |
Other drugs taken: | | none | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | cleared head and sinsus |
Side effects: | | 1rst week no sleep
after 1rst week - tired |
Comments: | | taken daily for sinsus pressure |
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| Claritin review by 30 year old male patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | allergies |
Dosage & duration: | | 10mg taken daily for the period of 6 years |
Other conditions: | | asthma |
Other drugs taken: | | singulair | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | Reduced asthma |
Side effects: | | Bruising |
Comments: | | One tab a day of singulair and claritin |
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| Claritin review by 29 year old male patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | allergy |
Dosage & duration: | | 10 mg taken daily for the period of 4 months |
Other conditions: | | none |
Other drugs taken: | | none | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | I live in a home with 3 cats and a dog, and was unable to breath in the morning secondary to all the animal dander. After starting the claritin, I noticed a decrease in my allergy symptoms after about a week. |
Side effects: | | Really no side effects noted, sometimes gave me a dry mouth |
Comments: | | One pill in the morning once a day. I saw results after about a week. No more eye puffiness, swelling, runny nose or itching |
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| Claritin review by 35 year old male patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | Cold |
Dosage & duration: | | 5mg taken every 12 hours for the period of 3 weeks |
Other conditions: | | None |
Other drugs taken: | | Advil | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | Dr recomended this for a cold. The traditional decongestants and anti-histimnies had not worked and I was not aware that this allergy medication would have been so effective. |
Side effects: | | It would keep me restless at night causing bouts of sleeplessness. |
Comments: | | Dr Rx recommendation to take 5 mg of Loratadine every 12 hours until symptoms reside. Extended Release Tablets was indicated for my relief of the nasal and \ symptoms of allergic rhinitis including nasal congestion due to the common cold. |
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| Claritin review by 44 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | allergies |
Dosage & duration: | | 1 pill 1x day taken as above for the period of 3 years |
Other conditions: | | asthma |
Other drugs taken: | | n/a | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | well controlled seasonal allergies and improved breathing. I was able to use this medicine for allergies but also noticed that my general breathing, especially while working out, also improved. Years later I was diagnosed with reactive airway disease instead of asthma. I had noticed I had a much harder time jogging during the seasonal changes until I started taking the Claritin. Then running became much easier, so it now makes sense to me that the Claritin helped so much. |
Side effects: | | none that I recall - was before claritin became OTC. I really liked taking the claritin because I had no side effects, unlike some other allergy medicines I had taken earlier, and unlike some OTC I had tried earlier. When taking the Claritin I felt that I was not really taking anything. It was just easier to go about my daily routine and enjoy sports a lot more. I have really appreciated how Claritin has helped me. |
Comments: | | The treatment details were very simple as far I can remember. One pill once a day. I stayed on the Claritin for at least three years. I do not recall any side effects or problems during this time. Eventually it seemed as if I didn't have any allergies because I had gotten so used to the positive effects of taking this medication. |
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| Claritin review by 30 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | Seasonal Allergies |
Dosage & duration: | | 10 mg taken 1 per day for the period of as needed |
Other conditions: | | none |
Other drugs taken: | | none | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | After 4 to 5 days on the medication, Claritin greatly reduces itchiness, sneezing, scratchy throat associated with seasonal allergies |
Side effects: | | I experienced absolutely no adverse side effects. None whatsoever. No side effects at all. It does not take me 50 words to explain there were no side effects, but there were no side effects. |
Comments: | | Take 1 Claritin tablet every day during allergy season. I take the dose every moring. Again, 1 pill per day each morning during allergy season |
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| Claritin review by 25 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | allergies |
Dosage & duration: | | 1 pill taken whenever needed for the period of approx. 5 years |
Other conditions: | | none |
Other drugs taken: | | none | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | Allergy symptoms subsided fairly quickly. |
Side effects: | | There were no detectable side effects. |
Comments: | | Allergy was caused by exposure to multiple cats in the household in which patient lived. The first year or two the patient had to take pills every day due to severity of allergy symptoms, which included runny nose, sneezing, red, watery eyes. Later, when the patient moved to a place without carpeting and with build-in humidifier (same number of cats -3) the outbursts of allergy diminished. Now she takes one pill on a as needed basis, which is approximately 2-3 times a month. |
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| Claritin review by 26 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Marginally Effective |
Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | Spring Allergies, allergy cough |
Dosage & duration: | | regular does, 1 tablet taken only 1 time for the period of only once |
Other conditions: | | Allergies (sneezing, runny nose) |
Other drugs taken: | | none | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | I only took it one time, and experienced a side effect (dry mouth). Did not really kick in, but I guess this med. is not supposed to work immediately |
Side effects: | | I had a dry mouth and my eyes were dry. |
Comments: | | Basically I had allergies and severe allergy seasonal cough. Doctor told me to try Claritin. I only took it once just to see if the drug would work. The drug did not work right away. As it is stated in the label, this drug takes time (perhaps about a week) in order to be effective. I ended up not taking anything. As soon as mid June came around, the allergies and cough that lasted about 3 months all went away. |
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| Claritin review by 30 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | allergies |
Dosage & duration: | | 1 pill a day taken once a day for the period of everyday seasonally |
Other conditions: | | none |
Other drugs taken: | | only birth control | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | It helped with the itchy watery eyes and congestion |
Side effects: | | none |
Comments: | | used the claritin D 24 hours seems to work better than the 12 hour. overall with continued use my allegies seem to diminish, liek the sneezing and runny nose, itchy eyes. I mostly have seasonal outdoor allegies. I'm ot allegic to pets or other similar things so I'm not sure how effecive it would be on those symptoms. |
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| Claritin review by 60 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
Side effects: | | Mild Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | alergy |
Dosage & duration: | | 10 mg taken 2ce a day for the period of 2 years |
Other conditions: | | none |
Other drugs taken: | | none | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | The medication did provide some lessening of allergy symptoms. It helped my nose not to water as much. However, I still had congestion and some days where my allergies were quite uncomfortable. It seemed the effects lessened as time went on so the medication was less effective than at the beginning. Also my eyes still itched. My throat also itched. |
Side effects: | | I suffered from a dry throat, sore throat, and stuffy nose. My nose seemed to get too dry. But it still felt congested. It just didn't run as much. Also, my bronchial tubes had a hard time dilating at times and I wheezed. It did not lessen my asthma symptoms even though I didn't have bouts of asthma on a regular basis. I don't think I had any other side effects. |
Comments: | | I took the pills every morning and night, about twelve hours apart between doses. the medication did not keep me awake or make me jittery. The medication also did not make me drowsy like some other allergy medications. The medication, however, did not always relieve my symptoms. I ultimately tried another medication to see if I could get better results. I also had to use an inhaler for wheezing since the medication did not help that symptom. |
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| Claritin review by 44 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Marginally Effective |
Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | seasonal allergies |
Dosage & duration: | | 10mg 1/day taken daily for the period of 5 |
Other conditions: | | none |
Other drugs taken: | | none | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | reduction in allergy symptons- less nasal congestion, and itchiness in eyes was reduced-- |
Side effects: | | within 72 hours after starting the medication, realized I was experiencing progressively more intense lower back pain-lower back pain-- as though I was being punched in the kidneys- read the contraindictions which noted potential for back pain and made the ocnnection to the medication. |
Comments: | | discontinued use and within 24 hours thew side effects were subsiding, and completely resolved within 3 days. |
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| Claritin review by 32 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
Side effects: | | Moderate Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | indoor allergies |
Dosage & duration: | | 10mg taken 1 time in 24hr for the period of 2 weeks |
Other conditions: | | Depression |
Other drugs taken: | | None | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | I recently saw my PCP for my annual exam and had 2 major concerns to discuss with her. The first was some depression issues and the second was that I had recently developed indoor allergies. As is standard my PCP recommended antidepressants and therapy for the depression and Claritin (24hr non-drowsy) for the allergies. The problem is that I am nursing my son and no antidepressants are "safe" for nursing mothers (or rather, for our nursing children). On the other hand, my MD approved Claritin although I was nursing. At the end of the session she told to to start on Claritin and come back for the antidepressants once I weened my son. So I started the Claritin and my depression abated. All of my "depressive" symptoms were relieved (the inability to sleep at night but feelings of tiredness all day, the aches, the inability to concentrate...). Since I started taking Claritin it was like a switch was flipped and the quality of my life has increased significantly. I feel "normal" for the first time in a long time. In terms of my allergies, the sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes have lessened but my red eye concern (the swelling and redness of the area surrounding my eyes) has not been relieved. Regardless, I am happy with the product.
I share this in the hope that some scientist out there uses this information to help our elusive understanding of depression and its treatment. Perhaps an alternative for postpartum depression? Many mother's feel guilty weening shortly after birth in order to treat their sadness and if Claritin is approved by your MD for use while nursing, why not try it? Or even as an alternative to conventional depression meds. |
Side effects: | | It ended my year long depression. |
Comments: | | Please see above. |
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| Claritin review by 27 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Ineffective |
Side effects: | | Extremely Severe Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | allergies |
Dosage & duration: | | 10 mg. taken daily for the period of 1 year |
Other conditions: | | none |
Other drugs taken: | | none | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | none - did nothing to help allergies. i just had a dryer, more painful version of my allergies with new allergies/irritations developing on top of my original ones. this stuff is dangerous and the side effects that many people are experiencing are not listed on the package. a class action lawsuit needs to happen. |
Side effects: | | I had some horrifying mental and physical side effects. ruined a year of my life. read this - it mentions everything i dealt with: http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=19658&name=CLARITIN |
Comments: | | took one 10 mg pill nightly. |
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| Claritin review by 38 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Ineffective |
Side effects: | | Extremely Severe Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | allergy |
Dosage & duration: | | standard (dosage frequency: took the damn thing one time) for the period of Jst once, that was enough |
Other conditions: | | Trigeminal Neuralgia |
Other drugs taken: | | Carbatrol,Baclofen | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | No benefits. |
Side effects: | | SEVERE head ache pain that so far has lasted two days...still counting...did I mention nausea? Stomach pain? |
Comments: | | The severe headache that was caused by the Claritin triggered my trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain)...I wish to GOD I had never heard of this medication...too expensive, didn't work AND caused me severe pain...would like to blow up the factory!!!! Like hmm...can I pay to have some pain? geee..thanks....Stick to Benadryl...I'd rather be sleepy.... |
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| Claritin review by 48 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Moderately Effective |
Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | allergy |
Dosage & duration: | | 5 mg daily taken 1 year for the period of 1 year |
Other conditions: | | None |
Other drugs taken: | | None | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | reduced headaches and sneezing |
Side effects: | | mild fatigue |
Comments: | | I took it for a while. It worked OK for a while then stopped working. I would take it again a I understand tht it you take the drug for extended periods one can develop resistance to the drug. I experienced ono adverse side effects. |
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| Claritin review by 40 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Ineffective |
Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | allergies sneezing , watery runny nose |
Dosage & duration: | | 10mg taken 1 every 24 hrs. for the period of 2 days |
Other conditions: | | none |
Other drugs taken: | | none | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | none |
Side effects: | | none |
Comments: | | all day sneezing and continually runny nose secondary to seasonal allergy.
This medication stopped the sneezing for about 4 hrs. Then it resumed as did the continuous runny nose.
Directions say take 1 only every 24 hrs. I won't buy this medication again. No noticeable side effects at all except it certainly didn't work at all. |
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| Claritin review by 20 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Highly Effective |
Side effects: | | Severe Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | Irritated and sore throat,nose,eyes and sneezing. |
Dosage & duration: | | 1 a day. (dosage frequency: 1a day.) for the period of Every day. |
Other conditions: | | Abdominal migraines. |
Other drugs taken: | | Pitzofen and erythamiycin. | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | I suffered swollen and extremely sore throats with lots of mucus gathering up at the back of my throat. Because of this, I ended up having my tonsils and adenoids removed separately but this did not help at all. I also relieved several treatments for antibiotics but this was wasted as all they did was lowered my immune system. After being diagnosed with an airborne allergy, I took one tablet daily, they worked on the first day and completely helped. |
Side effects: | | The drowsiness was overwhelming, I was sleeping for about 16hours a day with no relief after and my appetite increased rapidly. I was consuming about three times my usual intake. |
Comments: | | Overall, they worked but the side affects were incredibly bad.
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| Claritin review by 27 year old female patient | | Rating |
Overall rating: | | |
Effectiveness: | | Considerably Effective |
Side effects: | | No Side Effects | | Treatment Info |
Condition / reason: | | eczema |
Dosage & duration: | | 10 mg taken daily for the period of 6 months |
Other conditions: | | child hood asthma |
Other drugs taken: | | none | | Reported Results |
Benefits: | | I saw great symptom reduction in my facial eczema which included itchiness and redness. Previously I was treating my eczema with topical corticosteroids like hydrocortisone and fluticasone. I had been using topical steroids for years and had developed cystic acne. After a few courses of antibiotics for acne treatment I realized using antibiotics was pointless if I continue to use topical steroids. I decided to try an anti-histamine which surprisingly helped greatly. Enough so i could discontinue my hydrocortisone. Using loratadine helped my eczema be tolerable but not "cured". I also managed my eczema with a lot of moisturizing. |
Side effects: | | none, had a period of constipation for a couple of weeks, months after starting loratadine which has ceased currently. It has been 3 months since that time so it could be from something else which I could never pin point |
Comments: | | I take 10 mg of a grocery store brand loratadine nightly. I try to not take it with milk, I felt like it was not working the next day when I did take it with milk. |
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