Claritin/Claratyne Information
The most common form of allergy is hayfever, a seasonal disorder occurring during spring and summer caused by airborne pollens. Typical symptoms include sneezing, runny nose and itchy watery eyes. Other allergies are caused by eating certain foods, by contact with certain drugs or chemicals, or can be caused by house dust mites or animal fur. These reactions are caused by an allergic reaction between the allergen and certain cells in the body. This reaction triggers the release of a number of chemical substances that irritate the body. One of these chemicals is histamine.
There are a number of medicines available for treating allergies, the most common being antihistamines. Some antihistamines also counteract the effects of other irritating chemical substances as well as those of histamine. These are called anti-allergics.
Clatatin/Lora-Tab (Claratyne or Loratadine) is a rapid acting, non-sedating, once-a-day anti-allergy medicine.
Intended Use:
Claratyne also known as Claritin is a medicine that belongs to a class of medicines known as antihistamines. It is a non-sedating antihistamine that only needs to be taken once a day. These help reduce allergic symptoms by preventing the effects of histamine, which is produced by the body.
Claratyne (Claritin) relieves symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis, (hay fever) such as sneezing, runny or itchy nose, and burning, watery or itchy eyes. It is also used for the relief of symptoms and signs of chronic urticaria, (hives) and other allergic skin disorders. It is not considered addictive.
Dosage:
Adults and children over 12: 1 tablet daily.
Children 2 years and over with bodyweight > 30kg: 1 tablet once daily.
Children 2 years and over with bodyweight < 30kg: 5mg (half a tablet) once daily.
Active Ingredient:
Loratadine 10mg.
Precautions & Contraindications:
Do not use Claratyne (Claritin, Loratabs) if you are allergic to it or any of the ingredients listed above, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not suitable for children less than 2 years old, or if you have liver disease or eye problems (such as high pressure in the eye or glaucoma), sugar diabetes, prostate enlargement, or problems with your liver, kidney or bladder.
Adverse Effects:
Rare occurence of headaches, stomach upset, drowsiness, and dry mouth.
Special Precautions:
- Avoid the things that you know you are allergic to. Keep a diary of where and when you get hayfever, especially with plants or flowers eg. Pine tree or grass pollen
- Keep your home and car windows closed during windy days or when the pollen season is high
- Avoid mowing lawns or walking in long grass. Wear sunglasses and face masks when necessary
- Reduce house dust mite by vacuuming often and shampooing the carpet regularly. Hot-wash your bedding material
- Wear a face mask when vacuuming
- Keep pets outdoors and vacuum their hair or fur off the floor or furniture
- Keep your house, car and workplace smoke-free
- Avoid dry dusting - instead use a damp cloth to wipe over surfaces
- Avoid sudden changes in temperature - wear warm clothes and maintain the temperature of your surrounding
- Use your preventer medicines regularly. Start them a few days before the start of the pollen season if you get seasonal hayfever