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What side effects can this medication cause?
Although side effects from Claritin are not common, they can occur. You may have discolored urine; this effect is harmless. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- headache
- dry mouth, nose, and throat
- drowsiness
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- rapid heartbeat
- diffic
ulty urinating
- vision problems
- dizziness
- muscle weakness
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What special precautions should I follow?
It is especially important that your health care professional knows if you are taking any of the following:
- Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], isoca
rboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])¡XIf you are now taking, or have taken within the past
weeks, any of the MAO inhibitors, the side effects of the Claritin, such as drowsiness and dryness of mouth, may become more severe; these medicines should not be used together
- Erythromycin (e
.g., E-Mycin) or
Ketoconazole (e.g., Nizoral)¡XUse of these medicines with fexofenadine may cause an increased amount of fexofenadine in the blood.
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Cautions
Older adults¡XElderly patients are usually more sensitive to the effects of Claritin antihistamines. Confusion; difficult or painful urination; dizziness; drowsiness; feeling faint; or dryness of mout
, nose, or throat may be more likely to occur in elderly patients. Also, nightmares or unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability may be more likely to occur in elderly patients.
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What is this medicine
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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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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Overdosage
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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