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Cautions
Claritin may cause dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat. Some Claritin are more likely to cause dryness of the mouth than others . For temporary relief of mouth dryness, use sugarless candy or gum,
melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mou
th may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections.
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Why is this drug prescribed?
Claritin are used to relieve or prevent the symptoms of hay fever and other types of allergy. They work by preventing the effects of a substance called histamine, which is produced by the body. Histam
ine can cause itching, sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. Also, in some persons histamine can close up the bronchial tubes (air passages of the lungs) and make breathing difficult.
Some o
f the Claritin are also used to prevent motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. In patients with Parkinson's disease, diphenhydramine may be used to decrease stiffness and tremors. Also, the
syrup form of diphenhydramine is used to relieve the cough due to colds or hay fever.
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Possible Side Effect
ChildrenˇXSerious side effects, such as convulsions (seizures), are more likely to occur in younger patients and would be of greater risk to infants than to older children or adults. In general, child
en are more sensitive to the effects of antihistamines. Also, nightmares or unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability may be more likely to occur in children.
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What special precautions should I follow?
Hydroxyzine is not recommended for use in the first months of pregnancy since it has been shown to cause birth defects in animal studies when given in doses many times higher than the usual human dose
. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor.
Desloratadine and fexofenadine have not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that these medicines cause b
irth defects or other problems when given in doses higher than the usual human dose.
Azatadine, brompheniramine, cetirizine, chlorpheniramine, clemastine, cyproheptadine, dexchlorpheniramine
, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, and loratadine have not been studied in pregnant women.
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How should this medicine be used?
When taken at the recommended dose, once a day CLARITIN does not cause drowsiness which is common with all over-the-counter and some prescription antihistamines. (Drowsiness rates vary among products.
) All antihistamines that cause drowsiness must caution users about operating motor vehicles or heavy machinery. CLARITIN, on the other hand, is not required to carry such warnings.
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Symptoms of overdose
Clumsiness or unsteadiness; convulsions (seizures); drowsiness (severe); dryness of mouth, nose, or throat (severe); feeling faint; flushing or redness of face; hallucinations (seeing, hearing,
or feeling things that are not there); shortness of breath or troubled breathing ; trouble in sleeping
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