Hair Loss And Claritin Allergy Medication
Doctors commonly use Claritin (loratadine) for sneezing, itching, a drippy nose, eyes that are watering, and other seasonal allergic symptoms. This medication can now be purchased at your local drugstore and you don't need a prescription. It will reduce the amount of histamines in the blood stream, thus treating effectively the hives and inflammation caused by the histamines that are present. This medication is not known to cause drowsiness; however, it can cause hair loss in some cases. In case of this occurrence, stop taking the Claritin (loratadine) medication and the hair loss will stop.
Typically, Claritin induced hair loss is not extensive, and provides little or no cause for alarm. When considering the advantages and disadvantages of taking Claritin or loratadine to treat allergies, most people find that the relief they receive from their seasonal allergies to be of far greater benefit than the less significant potential for hair loss.
You don't need to continue to suffer from seasonal allergies just because Claritin and loratadine may have side effects. Nearly every drug or medication has some kind of potential side effects, especially if the dosage directions are not followed exactly. To diminish the potential for harmful side effects, you should talk to your doctor before taking any medication, even if that medicine is available over the counter. Doctors don't just give prescriptions; they can offer advice about which non-prescription medications will work best for you. Be aware that side effects may not occur immediately; sometimes they come after long term use of the drug.
A thorough discussion about Claritin or loratadine should extend beyond just talking about the possibility of experiencing some hair loss while on the medication. If a talk with your doctor doesn't address all of your concerns, there are plenty of other resources available to you to find out more information. The package insert will include uses, warnings and dosing instructions, and researching online or speaking with your pharmacist will provide even more information.
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Published October 1st, 2007