Claritin syrup for children

Claritin is known to be effective against allergies. Adults take it both with attacks and in order to prevent them, and especially for babies, the drug is released in the form of a syrup. From what age can it be used, when does it help, and in what dosage is it used in children?

Release form

Claritin syrup is a sweet thick liquid, which is 60 or 120 milliliters in one glass bottle. It is transparent, without additional inclusions, yellowish or colorless and smells like a peach. Packaging includes a plastic spoon or graduated syringe.

In addition to syrup, the drug is also available in tablets.

Composition

The main component of Claritin is called loratadine. This substance is contained in 1 ml of syrup at a dose of 1 mg. Glycerol, sodium benzoate, purified water, citric acid and propylene glycol are added to it during production. The sweetness of the medicine is given by sucrose, and the smell is from the peach flavor.

Operating principle

Loratadine acts on peripheral histamine receptors and blocks them, which prevents them from binding to the main mediator of an allergic reaction, histamine. That is why this action is called antihistamine. In Claritin syrup, it is very long and fast - it begins to appear within half an hour after ingestion and lasts more than a day.

The use of the drug reduces allergic inflammation and effectively eliminates itching, watery eyes, runny nose and other signs of allergies.

Indications

Claritin is prescribed to a child:

With allergic rhinitis, which is manifested by itching of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, sneezing and profuse nasal discharge.
For allergic conjunctivitis, the symptoms of which are usually itching or burning in the eyes and severe watery eyes.
With urticaria.
For eczema and other allergic skin diseases.
With chickenpox, to relieve severe itching of the blisters.
With angioedema.
In case of an allergic reaction to insect bites.

From what age is it allowed to take?

Claritin syrup is prescribed from the age of two. Tablet medicine is prescribed for children over 3 years old. In rare cases, the medication can be used in children under 2 years of age, but only for good reasons and under the supervision of a pediatrician, who selects the dose of the drug individually.

Contraindications

The syrup should not be taken in these situations:

If the child has an intolerance to loratadine or another ingredient in the medicine.
With malabsorption of glucose and galactose or lack of isomaltase and sucrase, since the composition of the medication includes sucrose.

For children with liver pathologies, the medicine is prescribed with caution, changing the mode of application.

Side effects

Since loratadine has no effect on the central nervous system, taking the syrup does not provoke drowsiness. In addition, treatment with Claritin does not impair heart function. However, the medication sometimes causes negative symptoms such as headaches, increased fatigue and nervousness. In rare cases, the drug impairs sleep, causes allergies, or affects the functioning of the digestive system.

Instructions for use and dosage

The drug is given once a day at any time, regardless of meals, dosing it with a plastic teaspoon present in the package (1 spoon contains 5 ml of syrup) or a graduated plastic syringe (it is also designed for 5 ml of the drug). The product can be taken with clean water.
For a child aged 2 to 12 years, the dose of syrup is determined by body weight. If the weight of a small patient is less than 30 kg, then the medication is given in 5 ml. If you weigh more than 30 kg, a single dosage will be 10 ml of syrup.
For a child over 12 years old, Claritin is given 10 ml per dose.
With liver diseases, the dosage is not reduced, but the drug is not given daily, but every other day.
The duration of admission is influenced by the speed of elimination of allergy symptoms. The drug can be administered for several days or in a course of 1-2 weeks.

Overdose

If a child accidentally drinks more medication than the doctor has prescribed, it will lead to increased heart rate, drowsiness and headaches. In such a situation, it is necessary to immediately show the patient to the doctor, rinse the stomach, give a drug from the sorbent group and prescribe other necessary treatment.

Terms of sale and storage

You do not need a doctor's prescription to buy Claritin at a pharmacy. The average price of a bottle with 60 ml of the medicine is 250 rubles. Storing the syrup at home is recommended at room temperature in a place where the remedy will be inaccessible to a small child. The shelf life of this form of medicine is 3 years. If it has expired, it is unacceptable to give the remedy to babies.

Reviews

Most parents are satisfied with the use of Claritin in children with allergies and note that such a remedy quickly eliminates both the consequences of an immediate allergic reaction (for example, to an insect bite) and manifestations of chronic pathology. At the same time, it does not dry out the mucous membrane and does not provoke drowsiness, which distinguishes it favorably from antihistamines of the first generations.

The syrup is also praised for its pleasant taste and is considered the most convenient form for treating children 2-3 years old. In addition, it is often prescribed to young patients weighing up to 30 kg, even if they are already 3 years old, since a single dosage for them is 5 mg. Since this is half a tablet and you can get the wrong dose when breaking, it is better to prefer syrup.

In negative reviews of the drug, its high cost is most often mentioned. In addition, sometimes taking Claritin is ineffective and the syrup does not eliminate unpleasant symptoms, which is why you have to buy another antihistamine.

Analogs

Claritin can replace other loratadine-based drugs such as "Lomilan", "Clarisens", "LoraGEXAL", "Loratadin STADA", "Claridol" and others. Many of them come in suspension or syrup, so they can be a complete replacement. In addition, the doctor may prescribe an antihistamine with a different composition for the child.