Antihistamine question

[SilverLining]

I found rapid dissolve Claritin.  Box says non-drowsy.

my hope is ds can take one of these instead of 2-6 of the chewable no-name benedryl pills he has been taking.

Is Claritin known to cause depression, anxiety, anything like that?  Last time I switched his meds the teacher came and asked if he could go back on the benedryl.  He was so angry....and I don't remember what we switched him too. 

[momma2boys]

I've never heard of it but everyone reacts differently to different meds. Give it to him at bedtime, it works best then and hopefully no side effects.

[SilverLining]

Is Claritin not available in US?  It's Loratadine 10 mg.

[rebekahc]

Yes, Claritin is available in the U.S.  It is one of the newer generation of antihistamines which are non-drowsy and supposed to last 24 hours.  Claritin is generally considered the least effective of the three available here (Claritin, Allergra and Zyrtec), but as long as I take it daily year-round (instead of waiting until I need it), it seems to work fine for me.

I think M2boys was meaning she had never heard of those being Claritin side effects.  Neither have I, FWIW.

[momma2boys]

Yes, never heard of those side effects.

[GoingNuts]

I haven't heard of it either. 

I take them 365 days a year, at bedtime.  And oddly enough although it is considered less effective than Allegra (which worsens my heart rhythm issues) or Zyrtec (which gives me bizarre neuro side effects), it controls my chronic hives way better than Allegra - which is better on my seasonal allergies. 

Makes no sense, but there you have it!

[SilverLining]

I think I'm going to wait until exams are done.  He can take benedryl if he needs.  The devil you know....

[YouKnowWho]

I noted issues years ago when DS2 was taking Zyrtec - they were not pretty.  He was violent, moody, etc.  I don't know if it was because he was extra sleepy (he struggles to sleep on a daily basis) or just in the midst of his other issues.  He took Claritin with no issues.

We have struggled for years with DS2 having a longer half life to meds than what they should technically be so I don't know if that was related or not.  For example - he was off antihistamines for the prescribed amount of time pre-testing and still the control wouldn't raise.

[lakeswimr]

Allegra is supposed to be the only antihistamine or one of the only that doesn't cross the brain/body barrier according to DS's doctor.  Claritin does cross it.  I haven't found Claritin affect my mood but you might want to try Allegra instead. 

Benadryl, on the other hand, wipes me out and makes me depressed. 

[Macabre]

That's apt of benadryl.

[PurpleCat]

DD is 14, second spring season on Allegra...was Allegra D earlier but now she only needs the plain Allegra.  No problems with either one.  She's upstairs studying away for her final that is in an hour.

[SilverLining]

The problem is he can barely swallow pills.  Occasionally he swallows, but usually he ends up spitting them out.  He also can't take liquid.  Well, he can swallow the liquid but chances are it's coming right back up. 

So, chewable or quick dissolve is our option.  And this is the first adult strength I've found.

[YouKnowWho]

Allegra makes children's chewables that would just be 2 tabs for adults.

[SilverLining]

With the children's that he has now, he takes two, then when they wear off, two more, and sometimes two more.

[PurpleCat]

I had to double check but I thought I saw melt-able 12 hour Allegra.  They have liquid too.  http://www.allegra.com/products.aspx#