Amoxicillin With Claritin Interaction Details
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not amoxicillin and Claritin can safely be taken together.
I take Claritin every day for allergies. Is it okay to take with amoxicillin I was just given for an infection?
Oct 17, 2022- Amoxicillin and Claritin are safe to take together with no known interaction between them.
- Taking them together may actually be helpful since Claritin can relieve allergy symptoms like runny nose and sneezing that sometimes accompany infections.
- Amoxicillin is also safe to combine with other over-the-counter antihistamines like Zyrtec, Allegra, and Xyzal.
Answer
There is no known interaction between amoxicillin and Claritin (loratadine). They are considered safe to take together.
In fact, it may be beneficial to take both together as Claritin can help relieve some of the symptoms an infection may cause (such as a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, etc.).
Other Antihistamines Are Safe With Amoxicillin Too
Amoxicillin has no known interactions with any of the second-generation antihistamines available over-the-counter, which include:
- Zyrtec (cetirizine)
- Allegra (fexofenadine)
- Xyzal (levocetirizine)
You can feel safe combining amoxicillin with any of these.
Amoxicillin Information
Amoxicillin is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, such as pneumonia; bronchitis (infection of the airway tubes leading to the lungs); and infections of the ears, nose, throat, urinary tract, and skin. It is also used in combination with other medications to eliminate H. pylori, a bacteria that causes ulcers.
Amoxicillin is in a class of medications called penicillin-like antibiotics and works by stopping the growth of bacteria. Specifically, it inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to specific penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) that are located inside the cell wall.
Claritin Information
Claritin (loratadine) is used to temporarily relieve the symptoms of hay fever (allergy to pollen, dust, or other substances in the air) and other allergies. These symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes, nose, or throat. Loratadine is also used to treat itching and redness caused by hives.
Claritin is in a class of medications called antihistamines and works by blocking the action of histamine, a substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms.
Final Words
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Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Amoxicillin
- An antibiotic medication used to treat bacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and ear infections.
- Antihistamines
- A class of medications that block histamine in the body to relieve allergy symptoms like sneezing and runny nose.
- Loratadine
- The active ingredient in Claritin, an antihistamine used to relieve allergy symptoms.
- Penicillin-like antibiotics
- A class of antibiotics similar to penicillin that work by stopping bacterial growth.
- Bacterial cell wall synthesis
- The process by which bacteria build and maintain their outer protective layer, which amoxicillin stops.
- Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)
- Specific targets inside bacterial cell walls that amoxicillin binds to in order to kill bacteria.
- Histamine
- A substance in the body that causes allergic symptoms like itching, swelling, and sneezing.
- H. pylori
- A bacterium that lives in the stomach and can cause ulcers.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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