Rebecca asked
I have lots of trouble taking pills. Can you chew or crush loratadine? Whenever I take a pill it gets stuck and hurts very bad. I cannot ask for an liquid or chewable version.
At a glance
- Claritin tablets can be split or crushed, but may have a chalky and unpalatable taste.
- An alternative to splitting Claritin tablets is to use Claritin Redi-tabs, which are dissolvable.
- Extended-release Claritin tablets (e.g. Claritin-D 24 hour) cannot be split or crushed.
Answer
Claritin (loratadine) tablets can safely be cut, chewed, split or crushed without affecting the medication. Although the duration of action of Claritin is around 24 hours, the tablets do not utilize an extended-release mechanism and therefore may be altered.
It is important to note that Claritin tablets aren't intended to be altered (i.e. taken any other way than as a whole tablet). They contain no sweeteners and may have a chalky texture, making them difficult to swallow, especially if chewed. They also have an unpalatable taste.
If you do split or cut Claritin tablets, the two-halves should be used as soon as possible, as they are now more susceptible to moisture. If crushing the tablets, it may be beneficial to add the tablet powder to an easy to eat food, such as applesauce or pudding to ease administration.
Other Claritin Dosage Forms
If you are having issues taking Claritin tablets, you have a few other options that may be better tolerated. They include:
- Claritin Liqui-Gels
- Claritin RediTabs
The coating on Claritin Liqui-Gels can ease swallowing and actually have a faster onset of action when compared to Claritin tablets. They should not be cut, however.
Claritin RediTabs may be your best option if you want to avoid taking a solid dosage form (like tablets of Liqui-Gels) and also do not want to use Claritin Syrup. The RediTabs will dissolve quickly when placed on the tongue. To take Claritin RediTabs:
- Place one Claritin RediTab on the tongue.
- The RediTab will begin to dissolve immediately. Swallow once completely dissolved.
- Claritin RediTabs may be taken with or without water.
About Claritin
Claritin (loratadine) is a non-sedating, "second-generation" antihistamine (H1-blocker). Unlike "first-generation" antihistamines, like Benadryl, "second-generation" antihistamines are noted for their long duration of action and lack of sedative properties.
Claritin was first approved by the FDA in April 1993 as a prescription medication and was approved for over the counter sale in December 2002.
Claritin may be taken with or without food, with the onset of action occurring within 1 to 3 hours. Peak effects are generally seen in 8 to 12 hours. Claritin has a long duration of action and is therefore dosed once daily.
Claritin is available in a variety of dosage forms, including:
- Claritin Tablets
- Claritin LiquiGels
- Claritin RediTabs
- Claritin Syrup
Claritin is also available in combination with pseudoephedrine:
- Claritin-D 12 Hour
- Claritin-D 24 Hour
