Many adults can take plain Claritin (loratadine) with Sudafed (pseudoephedrine), because they are 2 different drugs that do different jobs, and Claritin-D is an FDA-approved tablet that combines exactly these 2 ingredients. Do not add Sudafed to Claritin-D, because Claritin-D already has pseudoephedrine in it. Ask a doctor first if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, or prostate trouble, and do not take either Sudafed or Claritin-D with a prescription MAOI. Sudafed can keep you awake, so time your last dose well before bed.
What is in Claritin, Sudafed, and Claritin-D?
Each box does a different job. Claritin is an antihistamine: it eases sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes from allergies. Sudafed is a nasal decongestant: it eases a stuffy nose and sinus pressure. Claritin-D puts both into 1 extended-release tablet, according to its FDA Drug Facts label.
Read the front of your Sudafed box. The FDA notes that Sudafed PE contains phenylephrine, a different decongestant, not pseudoephedrine. It is still a decongestant, so the same rule applies: never take it with Claritin-D or any other decongestant. Sudafed and Sudafed PE also come in versions with extra ingredients, so check the active ingredients on the Drug Facts label.
- Claritin tablets: loratadine 10 mg. Adults and children 6 and over take 1 tablet daily, not more than 1 in 24 hours.
- Sudafed Sinus Congestion: pseudoephedrine 30 mg per tablet. Adults and children 12 and over take 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours, not more than 8 in 24 hours.
- Claritin-D 12 Hour: loratadine 5 mg + pseudoephedrine 120 mg. Adults and children 12 and over take 1 tablet every 12 hours, not more than 2 in 24 hours.
- Claritin-D 24 Hour: loratadine 10 mg + pseudoephedrine 240 mg. Adults and children 12 and over take 1 tablet daily with a full glass of water, not more than 1 in 24 hours.
- Sudafed PE Sinus Congestion: phenylephrine 10 mg. Adults and children 12 and over take 1 tablet every 4 hours, not more than 6 in 24 hours. A decongestant, but not the same drug as regular Sudafed.
Can I add Sudafed to Claritin-D?
No. Claritin-D already contains pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient in Sudafed. Adding Sudafed, Sudafed PE, or any other decongestant on top doubles up. MedlinePlus warns that cough and cold products can share active ingredients, and taking them together could cause an overdose, so check the label of every product you add.
The same goes for a second antihistamine. Claritin-D already has loratadine, so do not add plain Claritin. Do not add another antihistamine allergy pill, such as Benadryl or Zyrtec, to Claritin or Claritin-D unless a doctor or pharmacist tells you to. Some other allergy-and-congestion combos, like the ones with cetirizine, also contain pseudoephedrine, per MedlinePlus.
If plain Claritin is not clearing your stuffy nose, the choice is usually 1 of these, not both: add Sudafed to plain Claritin, or switch to Claritin-D. Either way, ask a pharmacist first if you have any of the conditions below.
Is it OK if I have high blood pressure?
Ask first. The Sudafed and Claritin-D labels both say to ask a doctor before use if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, or trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate. MedlinePlus lists the same conditions and adds glaucoma.
This warning comes from the pseudoephedrine, not the loratadine. The plain Claritin label does not list high blood pressure. Its warning is about liver or kidney disease, where your doctor may need to change the dose. Claritin-D carries both sets of warnings.
Bring your recent blood pressure readings and your medicine list to the pharmacist. Our page on Sudafed with high blood pressure covers the options if a decongestant is not right for you.
- MAOIs: do not use Sudafed or Claritin-D if you take a prescription MAOI (certain drugs for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions, or Parkinson's disease), or for 2 weeks after stopping one. If you are not sure, ask a pharmacist.
- Liver or kidney disease: ask a doctor before plain Claritin or Claritin-D. Your doctor should decide if you need a different dose.
Will Claritin and Sudafed keep me up at night?
Sudafed might. The Sudafed and Claritin-D labels say to stop and ask a doctor if nervousness, dizziness, or sleeplessness occur. MedlinePlus suggests taking your last dose of pseudoephedrine several hours before bedtime to help prevent trouble sleeping.
Claritin is sold as non-drowsy when taken as directed, but the label says taking more than directed may cause drowsiness.
Claritin-D tablets are extended release. The label says not to divide, crush, chew, or dissolve them.
Why is Sudafed behind the pharmacy counter?
The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 limits sales of cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine to behind the counter or a locked cabinet, according to the FDA. That includes regular Sudafed and Claritin-D. You do not need a prescription, but you need to show photo ID, most purchases are recorded in a logbook, and there is a limit on how much you can buy in a day and in a month. The FDA says to ask your pharmacist how much you are allowed to buy.
Sudafed PE has phenylephrine instead. The FDA page lists the ingredients these rules cover as pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine, and phenylephrine is not one of them. It still carries the same blood pressure and MAOI warnings as regular Sudafed.
When should you get care?
In an emergency, call 911Stop and call a doctor right away if you feel nervous or dizzy, have trouble sleeping, have stomach pain, or notice a fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat.
Get care the same day if a stuffy nose or sinus pressure comes with a fever, or has not improved after 7 days.
Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
If someone took too much, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 if they collapse, have a seizure, have trouble breathing, or cannot be woken up.
How our AI doctor decides when to send you to care ›How long can I take them?
Stop Sudafed or Claritin-D and ask a doctor if your symptoms do not improve within 7 days or come with a fever. Stop Claritin or Claritin-D and get medical help right away if you have an allergic reaction to it.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a health professional before using any of these. Do not give Sudafed tablets to children under 6. For Claritin-D, the label says to ask a doctor for children under 12.
Common questions
Can I take Claritin and Sudafed together?
Many adults can take plain Claritin with Sudafed, because they are different drugs and Claritin-D combines the same 2 ingredients. Ask a doctor first if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, or prostate trouble. Never add Sudafed to Claritin-D.
Is Claritin-D the same as Claritin plus Sudafed?
It has the same 2 active ingredients: loratadine (Claritin) and pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). The amounts and timing differ: Claritin-D 12 Hour has 5 mg loratadine and 120 mg pseudoephedrine per tablet, and Claritin-D 24 Hour has 10 mg and 240 mg. Both are extended-release tablets you swallow whole.
Can I take Sudafed PE with Claritin?
Sudafed PE Sinus Congestion has phenylephrine, a decongestant, and no antihistamine, so it does not double up with plain Claritin. Its label has the same ask-a-doctor warnings for high blood pressure and heart disease, plus the MAOI warning. Check the box, since some Sudafed PE versions add other ingredients, and do not take it with Claritin-D or any other decongestant.
Can I take Claritin-D with Tylenol or Advil?
Claritin-D contains no pain reliever, so plain Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) does not repeat an ingredient. Check that your pain reliever is not a cold and sinus version with its own decongestant. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before adding one if you take other medicines or have high blood pressure, heart, kidney, or liver problems.
Do I need ID to buy Sudafed or Claritin-D?
Yes for products with pseudoephedrine, like Sudafed and Claritin-D. The FDA says they are sold from behind the counter or a locked cabinet, and you must show photo ID. No prescription is needed, but there are daily and monthly purchase limits, so ask your pharmacist.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.