Clarinex-D 12 Hour contains a combination of desloratadine and pseudoephedrine. Desloratadine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
Clarinex-D 12 Hour is used to treat sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, hives, skin rash, itching, and other symptoms of allergies and the common cold.
Clarinex-D 12 Hour is for use in adults and children who are at least 12 years old.
Clarinex-D 12 Hour may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information
Do not use Clarinex-D 12 Hour if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Clarinex-D 12 Hour if you are allergic to desloratadine, loratadine, or pseudoephedrine, or if you have:
Do not use Clarinex-D 12 Hour if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
To make sure Clarinex-D 12 Hour is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Clarinex-D 12 Hour will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)
Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take Clarinex-D 12 Hour?
Take Clarinex-D 12 Hour exactly as it has been prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Cough or cold medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.
Do not give Clarinex-D 12 Hour to a child younger than 12 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.
If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the surgeon or doctor ahead of time if you have taken a cold or allergy medicine within the past few days.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since cold or allergy medicine is taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid?
Clarinex-D 12 Hour may cause blurred vision or impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.
Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of this medication.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, or sleep medicine. Antihistamines and decongestants are contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug. Check the label to see if a medicine contains an antihistamine or decongestant.
Clarinex-D 12 Hour side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Clarinex-D 12 Hour: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using Clarinex-D 12 Hour and call your doctor at once if you have:
-
pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
-
a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
-
seizure (convulsions); or
-
severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, tremors, or nervousness.
Common Clarinex-D 12 Hour side effects may include:
-
weakness, mild dizziness;
-
sleep problems (insomnia); or
-
dry mouth, nose, or throat.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Clarinex-D 12 Hour?
Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor before taking Clarinex-D 12 Hour with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Clarinex-D 12 Hour, especially:
-
ketoconazole;
-
reserpine;
-
an antibiotic--azithromycin (Zithromax, Z-Pak), erythromycin; or
-
heart or blood pressure medication--digoxin, digitalis, methyldopa.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with desloratadine and pseudoephedrine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
