What makes allergy pills non drowsy

A person should seek emergency medical attention if any of the following symptoms are present:. Some antihistamines are safe for children, but it is a good idea to talk with a doctor or check the label carefully before giving antihistamines to a child.

In , a review found that some antihistamines may be problematic during pregnancy. However, the authors noted that there was no evidence linking cetirizine or loratidine to birth defects. A study published in noted that 10—15 percent of women use antihistamines during pregnancy. Most appear to be safe, but some may have adverse effects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC urge people to ask a doctor before using an antihistamine or any other drug during pregnancy.

Claritin and Zyrtec are popular over-the-counter antihistamines. Doctors consider them safe and effective treatments for minor allergies. Both are second-generation antihistamines. These cause less drowsiness than first-generation antihistamines. No research has concluded that Zyrtec or Claritin is more effective, but some people report better responses with one or the other.

The slight differences between the two may make one drug more appropriate for some people. People can purchase Zyrtec, Claritin, and other popular brands without a prescription from supermarkets, pharmacies, and online stores. Various treatments and strategies can help keep allergies at bay, including allergy shots.

These injections help a person get used to an allergen over…. An allergic reaction on the face can cause symptoms, such as red, raised bumps, swollen lips, and wheezing. They are often caused by beauty products…. Allergies and colds share similar symptoms, such as a runny nose and a sore throat. What are the similarities between the two conditions, and how long…. Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is an allergy that causes sneezing, watery eyes, and itching, often in response to pollen.

Find tips here for…. An allergy develops when the immune system becomes hypersensitive to a food or other substance. Learn how to identify and manage allergies here.

Zyrtec vs. Claritin for treating allergies. Medically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, Pharm. Loratadine is available on prescription. You can also buy it from pharmacies and supermarkets. Take our survey. Loratadine is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist before taking loratadine if you:.

If you or your child have been prescribed loratadine, follow your doctor's instructions about how and when to take it. If you've bought loratadine from a pharmacy or shop, follow the instructions that come with the packet. For children, your doctor will use your child's weight or age to work out the right dose. Children aged between 6 and 12 years can only take loratadine tablets if they weigh more than 30kg. Give children loratadine liquid instead of tablets if they are under 6 or weigh 30kg or less.

Loratadine comes as 2 different types of tablet: ordinary and melt-in-the-mouth tablets. Swallow ordinary loratadine tablets with a drink of water, milk or juice.

If the tablet has a score line across the middle, you can break it in half if you find it hard to swallow it whole. Do not chew it. Melt-in-the-mouth tablets dissolve instantly on your tongue without needing a drink. Be careful not to crush them when you take them out of the packet. Loratadine liquid may be easier for children to take than tablets.

The medicine will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure out the right dose. If you do not have a syringe or spoon, ask your pharmacist for one.

Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount. You may only need to take loratadine on a day when you have symptoms, for instance if you've been exposed to a trigger such as animal hair. Or you may need to take it regularly to prevent symptoms, such as hay fever during spring and summer.

Try to take loratadine at about the same time every day. Choose a time that is easy to remember. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose.

In this case, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. Loratadine is generally very safe. If you or your child take too much, it is unlikely to harm you.

Go to Like all medicines, loratadine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. The most common side effect of loratadine is feeling sleepy.

This happens in more than 1 in people. In rare cases, loratadine may cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis. These are not all the side effects of loratadine. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. Loratadine can be taken in pregnancy.

There is no good evidence that it can harm your baby. If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take loratadine while breastfeeding. There is some information available which shows that only tiny amounts get into breast milk. It has been used for many years in breastfeeding women without side effects in their babies.

If your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or seems unusually sleepy, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, health visitor or midwife.

Some medicines affect how loratadine works or can increase the chances of you having side effects. There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with loratadine. But there might be a problem with some of them, especially ones that cause sleepiness or a dry mouth, or make it difficult to pee.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. When you come into contact with something you have an allergy to, such as pollen, animal hair or fur, house dust or insect bites, your body produces a chemical called histamine.

Usually, histamine is a useful substance but in an allergic reaction it causes unpleasant symptoms including itchy, watery eyes, running or blocked nose, sneezing and skin rashes. Loratadine is a non-drowsy antihistamine, so it does not make you feel as sleepy as other medicines like it. Restlessness is one side effect of Zyrtec, though, so it may not be the best option to take before bedtime.

Second- and third-generation antihistamines, like Claritin and Allegra, are advertised as non-drowsy antihistamines. Studies have found that while second- and third-generation antihistamines can have some sedation effects on individuals, it is to a lesser extent than the first-generation antihistamines. Several non-drowsy allergy medicines can treat allergies.

These include non-drowsy antihistamines, such as:. A pharmacist can offer medical advice regarding which allergy medicine to take while pregnant and how to combine allergy medicine.

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