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Introduction
Flonase nasal spray is the brand name for the formulation that includes fluticasone that prevents the secretion of mediators of inflammation in the body and can be used to treat and relieve the symptoms of allergies and more. Claritin is a brand name for the antihistamine drug which contains loratadine used for relieving the symptoms of hives, skin rashes, itching, allergies, cold symptoms and more. Through this article, we will discuss the uses, dosage, and precautions that one must take before using Flonase and Claritin together.
Flonase and its Use
Flonase is a nasal spray which includes fluticasone propionate, which is a corticosteroid that can prevent the secretion of mediators of inflammation in the body. This spray is mainly used for treating runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and itchy or watery eyes that are caused by due to seasonal allergies. It can be prescribed to adults as well children of four years of age or more and can be purchased without a prescription.
Before you start using Flonase, consult your doctor if you have glaucoma, cataracts, liver disease, herpes simplex virus of your eyes, diabetes, tuberculosis or any other infection, ulcers or sores inside your nose. Talk to your doctor even if you had an injury or surgery on your nose recently. The symptoms will start improving after at least a week of taking Flonase.
The medicine should not be used in children below four years of age without medical recommendation because corticosteroid medication can affect the growth of the children. It reduces the number of blood cells which help your body in fighting infections. Avoid coming in contact with people who are sick or have infections and see a doctor immediately if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles when you are using Flonase. These conditions can be fatal for people who are using Flonase.
Recommended Dosage of Flonase
Flonase should be used as exactly directed by the doctor or the instructions on the label. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller dosage or for a longer period than recommended. The medication must not be shared with another individual even if they have the same symptoms. The usual dosage is 1 to 2 sprays of Flonase in each nostril for once or two times in a day. Follow the dosage instructions very carefully. When a child uses this medication, he must be strictly supervised by an adult. Store the medication at room temperature in an upright position, away from heat and moisture. Throw away the bottle after using 120 sprays even if there is medicine left in the bottle.
The recommended dosages of Flonase are mentioned below:
Adult dosage: 1 to 2 sprays (50mcg/spray) of Flonase nasal spray can be given in each nostril once in a day and after using it for six months regularly, consult your doctor if you can keep using the medicine further or not.
Dosage for children above 4 years: 1 spray (50mcg/spray) in each nostril once in a day. The medication must be used in children for a short amount of time to achieve the relief from the symptoms. Consult your doctor if you think that your child needs to use the medication longer than recommended, especially if he needs to use it for more than two months a year.
Claritin and its Uses
The generic name for Claritin is Loratadine and is sold under several brand names like Alavert, Claritin Reditab, Dimetapp and more. Claritin is an antihistamine that is used to reduce the effects of natural chemical histamine of the body. Histamine is responsible for the production of symptoms like sneezing, itching, runny nose, and watery eyes. Claritin is used for treating symptoms like itching, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing from “hay fever” or other allergies. It can also be used to relieve itching from hives.
One should not take Claritin if he/she is allergic to desloratadine or loratadine. Inform your doctor about all your medical conditions and allergies before he prescribes this medication to you. Let the doctor know if you have any liver or kidney disease before you use Claritin. Tell your doctor if you have medical conditions like asthma, kidney disease or liver disease when he recommends Claritin to you.
Although Claritin is not known to harm the unborn baby but make sure you inform your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become so or if you are breastfeeding as Loratadine can pass into the breast milk and harm the baby feeding on it.
Recommended Dosage of Claritin
This medication must not be given to children below six years of age without the suggestion of a doctor. Use Claritin exactly as directed on the label or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take the medication in larger or smaller amounts or for a longer period than what is recommended. When the medication is prescribed to someone for treating cold or allergies, it should be taken for only a short period of time until the symptoms are prevented completely.
This medication must not be given to children below 2 years of age. Always make sure you confirm with your doctor before giving a cold or cough medicine to a child as misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children can lead to death even.
The recommended dosages for taking Claritin are mentioned below:
Usual dosage for Rhinitis in adults: 10mg orally once in a day which is the maximum dosage per day.
Usual dosage for Urticaria in adults: 10mg can be taken orally, one time each day and this is the maximum dosage for per day.
Usual dosage for Urticaria in children: For children of age between 2 to 5 years, a maximum dosage of 5mg can be given once in a day. For children of age 6 years and older, a maximum dosage of 10 mg can be given orally, once in a day.
Can Flonase and Claritin be Used Together?
Claritin and Flonase nasal spray have no significant interaction between them and patients can use both of them together for treating allergies but only if it is recommended by the doctor. These drugs are used together for treating symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis because to treat this condition an antihistamine drug and a topical nasal steroid is required.
Claritin belongs to the second generation of antihistamines and has lesser side effects than the first generation antihistamines, thus making it safer to be used. Even if these drugs are safe to be used together, the patient must see a doctor first to get more definitive treatment options. The common side effects of taking Claritin or Flonase even in the recommended dosage are mentioned below. These side effects can increase when Claritin and Flonase are overdosed or taken together.
Very common side effects include headache, upper respiratory infection.
Common side effects include nasal congestion, Dysphonia, bronchitis, nasal ulcer, malaise, conjunctivitis, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dry mouth, nervousness, drowsiness, asthma symptoms, somnolence, pharyngitis, cough, hyperkinesia, fatigue.
Other side effects that are rare include loss of taste, Myalgia, hypotension, syncope, tachycardia, Arthralgia, and palpitations.
Precautions that You Must take While Taking Flonase and Claritin Together
There are some precautions that patients who are taking Flonase and Claritin together must take which include:
- The individuals must tell their doctors or pharmacists if they are allergic to loratadine or fluticasone or any other ingredients that are present in Claritin or Flonase nasal spray if they see that the doctor or the pharmacist is suggesting any of these medications or both of them together.
- Patients should also tell their doctor about the prescription and non-prescription medications, nutritional supplements, vitamins or herbal products that they are planning to take. The patients should also tell their doctors if they use drugs like HIV protease inhibitor drugs such as ritonavir and antifungal drugs like ketoconazole. Patients must also tell their doctors if they are using steroid medications like dexamethasone, prednisone, and methylprednisolone because the doctor might need to change the dosage of the medicines or monitor the patient for the side effects then.
- Women must inform their doctor if they are pregnant or plan to get pregnant soon or are breastfeeding as these drugs must not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. It does not harm the unborn baby but the baby who has the breast milk can get affected.
- Patients must inform their doctor if they had any recent nose surgery, nose injury, nose sores, glaucoma, asthma or any other infections. They must also tell the doctor if they have tuberculosis, chicken pox or measles.
- Patients must inform the doctor if they ever had a liver or kidney disease before or have any of them at present.
Conclusion
Claritin and Flonase can be used to treat similar medical conditions like Rhinitis and allergies. They must be taken as per the doctor’s prescription or according to the instructions given in the labels. Claritin is safer than most other antihistamine medications but overdosing it can lead to side effects. Flonase must not be taken for a longer period of time than recommended as this could also lead to side effects. With proper precautions and knowledge about the uses and the side effects of the medications, they are safe to use.
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