Claritin With Advil Interaction Details
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses the combined use of Claritin (loratadine) and Advil (ibuprofen)
Is it ok to take Claritin with Advil?
Dec 15, 2022- Claritin and Advil are safe to take together with no known interaction between them.
- Many over-the-counter products combine an antihistamine with an NSAID, showing this is a commonly used and accepted combination.
There is no known interaction between Claritin, which contains the antihistamine loratadine, and Advil, which contains the NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) ibuprofen. They are considered safe to take together.
Combining NSAIDs and Antihistamine
The combination of an antihistamine, like Claritin (loratadine), and an NSAID, like Advil (ibuprofen), is commonly used.
In fact, while there aren't any products on the market that contain both loratadine and ibuprofen in a single pill, there are plenty of other products that contain both an antihistamine and an NSAID. Examples of these products are:
- Advil PM (ibuprofen; diphenhydramine)
- Motrin PM (ibuprofen; diphenhydramine)
- Aleve PM (naproxen; diphenhydramine)
You don't see products containing a once-daily antihistamine, like Claritin and an NSAID together for the simple reason that antihistamines are often taken continuously to help treat and prevent both allergies. NSAIDs on the other hand, are generally only recommended to be taken intermittently, on an as needed basis.
Final Words
As talked about in the sections above, you can feel safe taking Claritin and Advil together.
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Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Antihistamine
- A medication that blocks histamine in the body to relieve allergy symptoms like itching and sneezing.
- Loratadine
- A long-acting antihistamine commonly sold under the brand name Claritin.
- NSAID
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; a type of pain reliever and fever reducer that also reduces inflammation.
- Ibuprofen
- A common NSAID pain reliever and fever reducer sold under brand names like Advil and Motrin.
- Diphenhydramine
- A first-generation antihistamine commonly used in over-the-counter cold and sleep aid products.
- Naproxen
- A long-lasting NSAID pain reliever sold under the brand name Aleve.
- Interaction
- A reaction that occurs when two medications are taken together and affect how each other works in the body.
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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