During the period of bearing a baby, the body of the expectant mother experiences increased stress. In combination with hormonal changes, as well as against the background of a natural decrease in immunity, atypical reactions to certain irritants may occur. Hypersensitivity to any chemical compound (including those of natural origin) - allergy - during gestation can either be an exacerbation of a chronic process or occur for the first time. In order to eliminate or reduce the severity of allergic manifestations, antihistamine drugs are used. Claritin is one of these medications. This article will tell you whether it is possible to use it while expecting a child?
Claritin during pregnancy: pros and cons of the drug
During pregnancy, the female body becomes more vulnerable to various diseases.
Against the background of hormonal shifts and a general decrease in immunity, complications arise that a woman might not have previously suspected. Some of them, in the absence of proper treatment, can become chronic. The immune system is the most vulnerable part of a pregnant woman's body. That is why, during pregnancy, an existing allergy often appears or gets worse - inadequate, hypersensitivity to any substance. Its treatment during pregnancy is extremely difficult, since many medications have a negative effect on the child.
Claritin is one of the few drugs approved for use by expectant mothers under strict medical supervision.
Composition and release form
The active ingredient in Claritin is Loratadine, a histamine receptor blocker. Histamine is a substance that causes unpleasant allergy symptoms: tearing, itching, runny nose, etc. These manifestations of the disease occur when histamine binds to its receptors. Loratadine attaches to these receptors and thereby prevents histamine from attaching to them.
Claritin is available in two dosage forms: tablets and syrup. This drug begins to act half an hour after administration, its maximum activity is observed after 10 hours. Claritin stops relieving allergy symptoms more than a day after the start of use. Loratadine is a modern drug and does not cause drowsiness or lethargy because it does not penetrate the brain.
Claritin can be used during pregnancy for the following indications:
- Hay fever is an allergy to pollen.
- Allergic skin diseases.
- Quincke's edema.
- Reaction to insect bites.
- Pseudo-allergic reaction to foods (strawberries, citrus fruits, etc.).
- Itching of various origins.
- Allergic conjunctivitis.
- Seasonal rhinitis.
Reviews about the use of Claritin
According to many people suffering from allergies, Claritin is a good fast-acting remedy . It is used most often to relieve acute allergy symptoms. Many people keep it in their first aid kit for emergencies.
The price is quite high for this drug. Because of this, there are negative reviews. Another negative review may be due to taking Claritin without a doctor’s prescription. The drug will help against allergies , but rash, itching, runny nose, etc. can be signs of other diseases. If it turns out that a person suffers not from an allergy, but from another disease, then after taking the medicine the symptoms will not disappear. Therefore, before using any medications, you should definitely contact a specialist and take the drug only as prescribed.
The syrup also has many positive reviews. The syrup is convenient to use and, just like tablets, it helps quickly and does not cause drowsiness in children. There are also negative reviews about Claritin syrup, but mostly they are all due to the price of the product.
Instructions for use
Claritin is extremely undesirable for use during pregnancy in the 1st trimester
, since during this period the formation of all fetal organs occurs. In addition, in the early stages of gestation, the placenta is not formed, which protects the unborn child from harmful substances. However, it has been established that Loratadine does not have a teratogenic effect (the development of congenital anomalies) and a toxic effect on the fetus. But still, the use of any medications in the 1st trimester of pregnancy is possible only according to strict indications.
Claritin during pregnancy in the 2nd trimester is used when the expected benefit to the mother is higher than the possible harm to the fetus
. This drug is taken once a day at a dose of 10 mg, which corresponds to 1 tablet or 2 teaspoons of syrup. Claritin in both dosage forms should be taken with clean, non-carbonated water; its use does not depend on food intake. If there is no improvement within 3 days, the drug should be discontinued due to its ineffectiveness.
Claritin during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester is used according to indications
, since its harmful effects on the fetus have not been established. Loratadine does not affect labor, so it can be used at the very end of pregnancy. The dosage of Claritin in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy is 10 mg per day.
Do not forget about the comprehensive treatment of allergies, since medications only relieve unpleasant symptoms. Pregnant women suffering from rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and urticaria should avoid contact with the allergen, and if this is not possible, reduce its frequency as much as possible.
For all types of allergies, daily wet cleaning and getting rid of carpets in the house are useful. It is undesirable to keep pets, because even if there is no reaction to them at the moment, it is possible that it will not appear in the future due to disorders in the immune system.
Claritin in the treatment of urticaria
Claritin belongs to a new generation of drugs and copes well with the symptoms of not only “classic” types of allergies such as runny nose, lacrimation, nasal congestion, sneezing, but also with urticaria, a disease that has a fairly specific but recognizable clinical picture.
Urticaria is characterized by itchy rashes on the skin. Small spots turn into blisters and burst, which causes serious discomfort for the sick person. Itching and blisters do not disappear on their own; they require therapeutic treatment, which consists of using the drug Claritin according to the instructions included with the drug or other antihistamines. Claritin is better than other drugs, since it does not have any “side effects”, it allows you to relieve the symptoms of the disease (itching) within half an hour after taking the tablet, and also reduce the inflammatory process on the skin. Urticaria is divided into two stages: subacute and chronic.
note
The subacute stage is curable through complex therapy with oral and local antihistamines. Chronic urticaria is characterized by frequent relapses, mainly in the spring-summer period and are associated with exposure to internal and external irritants. Chronic urticaria is quite treatable and it is difficult to talk about a complete recovery of the patient.
In order to prevent the disease (for example, on the eve of flowering of plants), you should start taking Claritin in advance, which has a cumulative effect. This way, it will be possible to either completely eliminate a relapse or minimize the consequences of the disease, smoothing out its main symptoms.
Analogues of Claritin
Complete analogues of Claritin, the active ingredient of which is Loratadine, are the following drugs: Vero-Loratadine, Lomilan, Tirlor, Erolin. These medications have similar indications and contraindications. Their use in the 1st trimester of pregnancy is undesirable; in later stages of gestation they are used according to indications under the supervision of a physician.
The safest analogues of Claritin are Diazolin, Avil, Zyrtec and Telfast. These drugs do not have a teratogenic or toxic effect on the fetus and do not affect labor. For very strict indications, the drugs Suprastin and Cetrizin can be used, since there is no reliable information about their effect on the fetus.
Prices for the drug Claritin: syrup and tablets
Having studied Claritin's instructions for use , price is no less important for many. Let's clarify the average price of this product. Here are examples of prices for Claritin in different regions. Tablets 10 pcs. cost on average 250 rubles in Moscow, 230 rubles in St. Petersburg, 220 rubles in Krasnodar, 220 rubles in Samara, Yekaterinburg, 210 rubles in Tyumen.
Tablets 30 pcs. have an average price in Moscow of 530 rubles. in St. Petersburg 600 rub., in Krasnodar 570 rub., in Samara 230 rub., in Yekaterinburg 560 rub., in Tyumen 560 rub.
Claritin syrup has an average price in Moscow of 250 rubles, in St. Petersburg 270 rubles, in Krasnodar 260 rubles, in Samara 260 rubles, in Yekaterinburg 260 rubles, in Tyumen 250 rubles.
Dosage and duration of use - instructions
Claritin on the pharmaceutical market is presented in the form of tablets and syrup - taken regardless of meals at any time. The dosage depends on the patient’s age, as well as diagnosed concomitant pathologies. Children under 3 years old are given syrup, older patients - in the form of tablets and syrup:
- Adults and adolescents over 12 years old - take 10 mg once a day. 10 mg is 1 tablet or 2 scoops of syrup.
- When diagnosing liver disease or kidney problems - 10 mg every 2 days, dividing it into 2 times. In case of renal failure, it is indicated for use if the filtration level is less than 30 ml/min.
- For children aged 2 to 12 years, Claritin is prescribed based on body weight. For a child weighing up to 30 kg, the daily dose is 5 mg per day. If you weigh more than 30 mg, the norm per day is no more than 10 mg.
Regarding overdose, side effects can develop if the dosage is exceeded by more than 40 mg. In this case, the following side effects and reactions show themselves - headache and drowsiness, rapid heartbeat and impaired muscle tone. Treatment of negative side symptoms is aimed at eliminating them. Most often, this means stopping the drug, gastric lavage, and prescribing cleansing using sorbents.
Side effects
Side effects from taking Claritin are usually observed with long-term use. Negative reactions to the drug include:
- nausea;
- headache;
- increased irritability;
- drowsiness;
- skin rash;
- exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases;
- liver and kidney dysfunction;
- feeling of dry mouth.
You can learn more about other possible consequences of treatment in the instructions for use for Claritin.
Possible consequences of treatment are described in more detail in the instructions for use of Claritin.
Is it possible to take Claritin during pregnancy - consequences
As doctors and developers note, it is not recommended to take it in the first trimester of pregnancy.
It is during this period of growth and development of the fetus that all systems and organs are formed and laid down; it is not sufficiently protected by the placenta from harmful chemical compounds. Despite the fact that the active components do not cause abnormalities in the growth and development of the fetus, use is indicated only if the positive therapeutic effect outweighs the possible harm. Doctors adhere to this principle of the predominance of benefits over negative consequences when prescribing in the second trimester. During this period, a dosage of no more than 10 mg per day is indicated in the form of tablets, washed down with clean water or in the form of syrup.
To summarize, we can say that Claritin can be prescribed to a pregnant woman due to pharmaceutical indications, but under strict control and after preliminary consultation with a gynecologist, if the positive therapeutic effect exceeds the harm caused by the drug.
Regarding possible consequences, the active components do not have a destructive effect on the development and growth of the fetus, the main thing is not to exceed the dosage prescribed by the doctor. If it is exceeded, nausea and dizziness, headaches and vomiting, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, and muscle cramps are possible. When prescribing a dosage, the doctor takes into account the individual characteristics of the woman’s body and concomitant diseases. If negative symptoms occur, elimination of negative symptoms is prescribed, first of all, refusal to take the drug and gastric lavage, as well as administration of saline solution.
Also find out whether Tavegil is allowed during pregnancy, and in what cases it may be prescribed.
Why is Ginipral prescribed during pregnancy, and in what form the drug is more effective, read on.
Efficacy of Claritin
Claritin begins to act within 30 minutes after use and its effect continues throughout the day. The drug helps eliminate the effects of allergens by blocking histamine receptors.
An allergic reaction occurs due to the substance histamine, which is found in our body. When an allergy occurs, histamine triggers various reactions in the human body: mucous secretion (runny nose, tears), rash, itching, sneezing, etc. The drug blocks the actions of histamine and all allergy symptoms stop. And, in the future, you should continue taking Claritin so that the histamine reaction does not manifest itself again.
In what form is Claritin produced and what does the drug contain?
According to the instructions for use of Claritin, the drug is released in two forms: syrup and tablets. Claritin is produced by pharmaceutical. organization SCHERING-PLOUGH LABO NV
The syrup looks like a clear solution, without the use of dyes , and sometimes has a yellowish tint. There should be no sediment or impurities in the syrup. The volume of Claritin in the form of syrup is available in two glass vials of 120 ml and 60 ml. A measuring spoon must be included with the syrup.
Claritin tablets are presented in the shape of a white oval. On the one hand, there is a line mark on the tablet, on the other side there is a manufacturer's sign indicating 10 mg. Claritin is available in different packages of 30, 20, 10 and 7 tablets.
Claritin contains the main active substance - loratadine. Its volume is 1 ml in 1 ml of syrup and 10 mg in one Claritin tablet. excipients in the tablets are lactose, corn starch and magnesium sterate, and Claritin syrup includes citric acid, propylene glycol, glycerin, sucrose, peach flavor, sodium benzoate.
Analogues of the drug
Claritin analogues are more affordable and act as an alternative replacement for Claritin if the latter is not available in the pharmacy. Drugs that are analogues of Claritin should not be confused with synonyms - the latter may have initial compositions and active ingredients identical to the original, but at the same time have a different registered name due to existing restrictions on the medical license.
Analogs are drugs that are similar in their action, but have slightly different active components and may differ from the original in question in terms of the level of positive therapeutic effect they provide. Therefore, only a specialist is obliged to select an analogue and an equivalent replacement.
Regarding drugs similar to Claritin, the following popular and effective drugs are presented on the domestic pharmacological market. The most affordable is Loratadine Verte, the cost of which varies between 32-35 rubles, followed by Zyrtec in the ranking - the cost varies between 190-200 rubles, Clarotadine - the price varies between 95-100 rubles.
Claritin price, where to buy
The price of Claritin tablets is 130-570 rubles.
The price of Claritin syrup varies between 220-380 rubles.
The price of Claritin in Ukraine (in cities such as Kyiv and Kharkov) ranges from 156 UAH.
You can buy the drug in St. Petersburg for a price starting from 140 rubles. At the same time, the cost in Russian regions is somewhat lower. You can find out how much medicine for allergies of any form costs at a reference pharmacy in the city you are interested in or on pharmacy websites.
- Online pharmacies in RussiaRussia
- Online pharmacies in UkraineUkraine
- Online pharmacies in KazakhstanKazakhstan
ZdravCity
- Claritin syrup 5mg/5ml 60mlSchering-Plough Labo NV
RUB 259 order - Claritin tablets 10 mg 10 pcs. Schering-Plough Labo NV
RUB 227 order
- Claritin tablets 10 mg 30 pcs. Schering-Plough Labo NV
RUR 573 order
Pharmacy Dialogue
- Claritin (60ml bottle)Shering-Plough Labo
RUB 261 order
- Claritin tablets 10 mg No. 30Shering-Plough Labo
RUR 635 order
- Claritin tablets 10 mg No. 10Shering-Plough Labo
RUB 245 order
- Claritin tablets 10 mg No. 10Shering-Plough
230 rub. order
- Claritin tablets 10 mg No. 30Shering-Plough
612 rub. order
Europharm* 4% discount using promo code medside11
- Claritin 10 mg 30 tabletsShering-Plow Labo N.V. Belgium
675 rub. order
- Claritin 10 mg 10 tabletsShering-Plow Labo N.V.
RUB 251 order
- Claritin syrup 60 mlSchering-Plough Labo NV
280 rub. order
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Pharmacy24
- Claritin syrup 60 ml Schering-Plough Labo N.V., Belgium
94 UAH.order - Claritin 10 mg No. 10 tablets Schering-Plough Labo N.V., Belgium
91 UAH order
PaniPharmacy
- Claritin tablets Claritin tablets 10 mg No. 10 Belgium, Schering-Plough Labo
97 UAH order
- Claritin liquid Claritin syrup 60ml Belgium, Schering-Plough Labo
95 UAH order
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Claritin during pregnancy - when to take and how much
Claritin during pregnancy is one of the few drugs that can be used by a pregnant woman, in extreme cases and under the supervision of a doctor. This is a period in a woman's life when medications taken for medical conditions can harm the fetus.
Due to hormonal shifts and stress on the body, complications arise that the woman did not know about, and she needs treatment. Often a decrease in immunity leads to allergic reactions.
What drug should be used to treat it so as not to harm the emerging life? Among these, we can note the second generation drug – Claritin.
Advantages and disadvantages
The second generation antihistamine does not have a negative effect on a pregnant woman and her fetus. It should be borne in mind that the body’s reaction can be unpredictable and depends on the individual characteristics of the body. The studies that are conducted do not always take this into account.
Before use, consult a doctor. This is especially important for women at risk of miscarriage. The active substance suppresses the nerve endings of histamine, it stops entering the blood. There is no negative effect on the fetus. In the early stages, this can affect the implantation of the embryo in the uterus and cause miscarriage.
Like any drug, an antiallergic drug should be prescribed to a woman who is carrying a child in extreme cases. The degree of allergy varies. When there are minor manifestations and you can do without the drug, it is better not to start drinking it.
In severe cases, when there is a great danger to the woman’s health, the drugs in this group do not help, then antihistamines are prescribed by injection - Dixamethasone, which are not advisable for pregnant women.
Treatment largely depends on the stage of pregnancy. The first trimester is especially dangerous, when the formation of protection for the fetus and its placenta takes place. Only when it is fully formed will the baby be protected from external influences. Doctors never prescribe the drug in the early stages. According to statistics, during this period there is rarely a need for allergy treatment.
The active substance passes into breast milk. Do not take the drug during feeding. It accumulates in milk and the dose may be dangerous to the infant. During treatment, the child should be switched to artificial feeding and milk should be expressed.
Self-administration is not permitted. Processes occurring in a woman’s body can provoke undesirable effects. It is believed that Claritin can be taken by pregnant women. It is non-toxic and cannot harm the fetus. Laboratory studies have not confirmed this fact. You cannot be completely sure that taking it will not harm the fetus.
When to take the drug and how to do it correctly
Taking the drug during pregnancy is possible only as prescribed by a doctor. Depends on the period in which the woman remains, the severity of the disease. The most dangerous use is in the first trimester, when the embryo is not protected by the placenta from harmful effects.
In addition, the drug can cause miscarriage. During this period, you cannot take an antiallergenic drug; the consequences can be unpredictable. Although in laboratory conditions it was found that the drug does not affect congenital anomalies of the fetus.
Second trimester
The instructions for use recommend taking the drug no earlier than the fourth month. You can drink one tablet or two spoons of baby syrup per day. Drink clean water regardless of meals.
The signs should disappear after three days. If this does not happen, stop taking it and consult a doctor, due to the ineffectiveness of the medicine.
If side effects occur in the first days, you should stop taking it. Carry out treatment under the supervision of a doctor so as not to harm the fetus and mother. Prescribed when the benefit to the mother exceeds the possible risks to the fetus.
Third trimester
No harmful effects on the child or labor were established. Can be used in the last months of pregnancy. The dose is prescribed at a dose of 10 mg (one tablet per day).
It is advisable to take the tablet at the same time with clean water. Most often, complex therapy is carried out, excluding contact with the allergen and wet cleaning.
Due to the fact that the drug passes into breast milk, it should be stopped shortly before birth. If there is a need for treatment, breastfeeding should not be done.
Use of antihistamines by pregnant women
If a pregnant woman practically does not react to flowering plants and components of certain products (that is, she may experience mild and fleeting symptoms in the form of tearfulness and sneezing), then there is no point in overloading the body with pills.
It’s another matter if the expectant mother reacts very acutely and painfully to allergens - up to Quincke’s edema - in this case, medication assistance and the use of antihistamines that are undesirable for pregnant women are necessary.
The action of most anti-allergenic drugs is based on blocking histamines in the body, which are extremely important during pregnancy and necessary for the implantation of the egg, but if the health or life of the mother is at risk, the doctor prescribes antihistamines, putting the woman's salvation as a priority.
Statistics say that the use of antihistamine medications in the early stages of pregnancy occurs quite rarely - 1-2 cases in 20 pregnancies.
Self-treatment of the most “harmless” manifestations of allergies with the safest drugs during pregnancy is prohibited - biochemical and physiological changes in the body can provoke the most unexpected reactions to the drug.
Indications for use
This drug has an antihistamine effect. Claritin is prescribed in the presence of the following allergy symptoms:
- itching in the eyes;
- burning of the organs of vision;
- rhinitis;
- sneezing;
- tearfulness.
If you look at the instructions for this medication, you will only find a standard note from pharmacists that the use of the drug is permissible in the case where the expected benefit from its active substance exceeds the possible risk of negative consequences for the fetus. As for the reviews, they are also contradictory.
To determine the advisability of using such a drug, you need to study its effect on the developing fetus.
Why is Claritin prescribed?
Indicated for use at the first manifestations of allergies:
- with itching and burning attacks in the eyes;
- with allergic rhinitis and sneezing;
- with profuse lacrimation provoked by the action of an allergen.
The instructions themselves prescribe it - it is indicated if the positive therapeutic effect exceeds the potential harm to health. And the reception is carried out under strict control and in agreement with a specialist.
Claritin during pregnancy: the effect of the drug
Claritin is an antihistamine. Medicines belonging to this group can be used against allergy symptoms while pregnant. These also include Tavegil, Suprastin, Diphenhydramine and others. They do not affect the development of the fetus, since there is no toxic effect or teratogenic effect when taking these drugs.
The drug does not cause a negative effect on the body of a pregnant woman and her fetus, but reactions of a similar nature to drugs are different. This depends on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body. It is not always possible to take these reasons into account when testing a new drug, so the data is not included in the instructions.
To recommend this remedy, you must consult a doctor. The doctor will examine the body and determine the rationality of using Claritin. The active substance of the drug blocks H1 - histamine receptors. Histamine stops entering the human blood, preventing the development of an allergic reaction.
During testing of the drug, its complete safety in relation to pregnant women was not established, but it does not cause toxic or teratogenic effects on the fetus.
Composition, effects and pharmacokinetics of the drug
The main substance is loratadine , as practice shows, well tolerated by pregnant women in the vast majority of cases.
Excipients for tablets:
- starch;
- magnesium stearate;
- lactose monohydrate.
- glycerol;
- propylene glycol;
- lemon acid;
- sodium benzoate;
- sucrose;
- artificial peach flavor (a substance that can cause or aggravate allergies);
- water.
The onset of action of the drug is half an hour after administration, the duration of action is from 12 to 24 hours.
The principle of action is that the active substance blocks histamine H1 receptors, as a result of which the substance does not enter the blood and the development of allergic reactions stops.
40% of the drug dose is excreted by the kidneys and another 42% in feces within 10 days.
Is it possible to use Claratin during pregnancy?
Self-prescribing medications during pregnancy is not recommended. Even if these are safe and harmless medications, before taking them, you should consult with the gynecologist leading your pregnancy. Claritin is non-toxic, but you cannot use it on your own. Moreover, the severity of allergic manifestations varies and there are cases where such remedies are ineffective. Then injectable antihistamines, namely Dexamethasone, can be prescribed.
The question arises whether it is possible to drink Claritin during pregnancy at all. Claritin will most likely not be prescribed during pregnancy in the 1st trimester. The placenta is just forming, and the fetus is not yet sufficiently protected from any effects of medications. It is possible to prescribe Claritin during pregnancy in the 2nd or 3rd trimester, when the placental barrier is fully formed and the fetus is protected from the negative effects of any substances.
If a pregnant woman is breastfeeding her first child, it is recommended to take this remedy only as a last resort. The fact is that the active substance of the drug easily penetrates into breast milk. When this happens, the concentration of substances in breast milk is high and at plasma levels. At this point, when using anti-allergy medication, breastfeeding is stopped.
Taking into account the data in the instructions for the drug, and its effect on the body of a pregnant woman and child, the drug can be prescribed when carrying a child. To avoid side effects and negative consequences, consult your doctor before taking this medication. Only based on the individual characteristics of your body, the doctor will determine the rationality of any treatment.
