The distinction between both types of medication used for allergies, that are Claritin and Claritin-D, is based on several characteristics.
Key Takeaways
- Claritin is an antihistamine used to relieve allergy symptoms, while Claritin-D contains an additional decongestant to relieve nasal congestion.
- Claritin-D is available behind the counter and requires a prescription in some states, while Claritin is available over-the-counter.
- Claritin-D may cause side effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, while Claritin has fewer side effects.
Claritin vs Claritin-D
Claritin is a second-generation antihistamine that is also known as loratadine, given to kids above two years and adults and administered as an oral drug. Claritin D is a decongestant and second-generation antihistamine that is given as extended-release with oral tablets to people above twelve years of age.
Claritin is an antihistamine that belongs to the second generation. Both the brand name and generic versions of Claritin are available. The medicine Claritin is known as “Loratadine” in its generic form.
There are both brand and generic versions of Claritin-D. Claritin-D has two generic names: Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine, respectively. Claritin-D is commonly administered as pills that are taken orally and have a prolonged release.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Claritin | Claritin-D |
|---|---|---|
| Class of Drug | Second generation Antihistamine | Decongestant and second-generation Antihistamine |
| Generic/Brand status | Generic and brand, both versions are available. | Both versions are available. |
| Drug Generic name | Loratadine | Pseudoephedrine or Loratadine. |
| Form of medication | Oral medication in the form of capsule, tablet, solution and syrup. | Extended-release, with oral tablets. |
| Standard dosage criteria | Daily 10mg, once a day. | Loratadine: 5mg, Pseudoephedrine: 120mg, once in every twelve hours. |
| Treatment duration | It can be used for the short term, or long term depends upon the doctor’s prescription. | The treatment completely depends upon the doctor’s direction. |
| Treatment Given to | Treatment is given to Kids above two years of age and adults. | Kids above twelve years of age and adults. |
What is Claritin?
Claritin is an antihistamine that belongs to the second generation of antihistamines. In the case of Claritin, both a brand name and a generic equivalent are accessible. “Loratadine” is the generic name for the Claritin medication.
Claritin is given as an oral drug in the form of syrup, capsules, tablets, or solutions. The standard dosage for everyone taking Claritin is set at 10mg per day.
The length of treatment for Claritin-treated individuals is determined by the patient’s condition and the doctor in charge. It can, however, be either short-term or long-term.
What is Claritin-D?
Claritin-D is a decongestant that also belongs to the second generation of antihistamines. Claritin-D is also available in both brand and generic forms.
Claritin-D is administered as pills that are taken orally and have a prolonged release time. Claritin-standard D’s dosage criteria are slightly different from Claritin’s.
The dosage of Pseudoephedrine is 120mg, which should be taken twice a day and only once every 12 hours, and the dosage of Loratadine is 5mg, which should be taken once every 12 hours or twice a day, just like Pseudoephedrine.
Those who have been prescribed Claritin-D must follow their doctor’s instructions to the letter. As a result, it could take a long or short time. All adults and children aged twelve and above are eligible for Claritin-D medication.
Main Differences Between Claritin and Claritin-D
- The duration of treatment for the patients diagnosed with Claritin depends upon the condition of the patient and the concerned doctor.
- Usually, the adults and the kids who are above two years of age, are given treatment with Claritin. On the other hand, All the adults and the kids who are of twelve years and above are eligible for the treatment given by Claritin-D.
- https://europepmc.org/article/med/10099066
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-263X.2006.00713.x
Last Updated : 25 August, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
I truly appreciate the comparison chart, thank you!
This was a very informative read, thank you for posting!
I didn’t know Claritin-D was only prescribed for those above 12. Thanks for the info!
I think it’s concerning how much of a difference there is between Claritin and Claritin-D, patients should be more informed about this.
The comparison is much appreciated, I’m amazed by the amount of differences.
It’s good to see someone finally talk about these differences in detail.
Thank you for detailing the differences between these medications, very helpful.
I thought both medications were pretty similar but I was wrong. Thanks for the clarification.
It’s always good to be informed about these matters, even if you don’t need these medications.
This was a very well written article, thank you for sharing!
There were so many differences I had no idea about, I wish more people knew this!
It’s not easy to find clear information about medications so this article is refreshing.