Loratadine
 

Hi all,

Just had pretty big relapse back into some symptoms I thought I was mostly over (dizziness, headaches, processing difficulties). This was probably due to a jolt I got a few days ago, but it also coincided with me taking a hayfever tablet.

Is anyone aware of any adverse affects of Loratadine for PCS? The internet appears to think not, though headache is mentioned as a possible side-effect on one website. I'd like to be able to reduce the hayfever if possible, not least because my violent sneezing moves my head around more than I would ideally like! I've taken it twice now, and had particularly bad days PCS-wise both times.

All the best

Claritin IMO is useless as an antihistamine.

If you have to have one that is non-sedating, I'd try Allegra first.

Claritin can raise liver enzymes too... and it did that to me.

Many of the studies on Claritin show it equal to placebo! Not a very effective antihistamine. I am amazed that it still has a market share!

Claritin has to be activated in the liver before it can become effective (cough cough) and this creates a delay in onset of 1 or more hours from when you take it. Allegra is active from the get go, but you cannot take it with fruit juices.

I have used Chlor-Trimeton (Chlorpheniramine Maleate) for allergy symptoms. It does not cause any problems with me. I too am sensitive tot he sneeze attacks. Worse yet is I am a five at a time sneezer. One or two sneezes are never enough. My family will even count to 5 while they wait for me to stop sneezing.

This year has been my worst for hay fever allergies in the past decade.

I've taken loratadine for my seasonal allergies all my life with no side effects. Last fall, while still symptomatic and several months after my accident, I started my usual course of loratadine to get rid of my runny nose and noticed that it:

1. Eliminated all my dizziness after 2 days;
2. Induced gradual onset of tinnitus, which has persisted until today.

I was pretty happy about it being able to get rid of my dizziness, but stopped taking it immediately when I started having very occasional unilateral tinnitus. Unfortunately, the tinnitus became bilateral and persistent. Did the loratadine cause it? I don't know, but I've not taken it since.

But the loratadine was definitely responsible for alleviating my dizziness, because the dizziness returned after I stopped taking it.

Loratidine is not lipophilic like the other first generation antihistamines. It does not get into the brain much to do anything there. That is why it is non-sedating. Lipophilic antihistamines are Benadryl, ChlorTrimeton, Dramamine, Atarax.

Your dizziness may be from fluid in your ears accumulating from allergies.

claritin/loratidine works very well for me. Most people tell me it doesn't work for them. I have been allergy free since I've been taking it (for years.)