Claritin-D and Increased Heart Rate: What Users Say

• Kic...
• May 23, 2014

For Nasal Congestion "I use Claritin-D for my seasonal allergies. I started again this May. After taking it for a week, I have noticed my heartbeats faster than normal (100s now from 60s) and my blood pressure went up from 110s systolic and 70s diastolic to 140s/90s with headaches. So, I was thinking what's going on with me. I started salad and no salt diet for a week now (lost 5 pounds and feel good), increased my cardio to 45-60 mins 4 times a week, cut sodium intake, but my blood pressure stays high. I started reading about Claritin-D, and BOOM. This is what is causing my blood pressure to rise up! Today, I stopped using it. Sticking to the plain Zyrtec."

• Bar...
• July 11, 2016

For Nasal Congestion "Definitely helps with nasal allergy symptoms, but the side effects are not worth it. Thankful to Googling & finding this site because I thought I'd have to take myself to the ER. Jittery, rapid heartbeat, anxiety either from Claritin or from worrying about the jittery, uneasy feelings. Thanks to everyone who has shared here. I think I'll just suffer my allergy symptoms naturally."

• Thi...
• February 28, 2015

For Nasal Congestion "Have had lifelong issues of allergies and sinus congestion/infections. This is the first thing that has worked. Only use the 12 hr formula taken early in the morning. 24 hr didn't allow me to sleep well. Noticed a higher heart rate/jittery feelings for about the first two weeks, then my body got used to it. This med has improved my health and allowed me to stop taking multiple meds that could not provide the relief that taking one Claritin-D has."

• nch...
• July 22, 2011

For Nasal Congestion "Doctors gave this medicine to me thinking I had an allergy. I thought it was a cold. I did not have any runny nose, itchy eyes, or anything as mentioned on the label of the box. I took Claritin-D 12 hrs when I felt I got congestion in the nasal passage and felt like mucus was passing through the passage between my nose and throat all the time and got different side effects all the time. This time I had severe side effects like starting to feel feverish, my heart was pounding faster, felt extremely weak; then I read about the side effects on this website."

• Mro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2016

For Nasal Congestion "Claritin D 24 hour works well for sinus issues. However, the side effects that I experienced supersede the effectiveness of the drug: decreased urinary stream, cloudy urine, straining to push out urine from the bladder, insomnia, headache, increased heart rate. All symptoms lasted approx 24 hours. Inconvenient to purchase; have to show driver's license, as I found out its main ingredient is used to make crystal meth."

• Vet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "I took Claritin-D about five PM. At 11 PM, I went to bed, but my heart was racing, I was jittery, and absolutely wide awake. My mouth was so dry it was uncomfortable. Watched the sunrise. Was still jittery, irritable, and anxious throughout the entire next day. It was about nine PM (so over 24 hours later) that I started feeling back to normal. Absolutely horrible. If I hadn’t read the other comments on this site, I would have probably gone to the ER. Will never take pseudoephedrine again."

• Raf...
• November 9, 2019

For Nasal Congestion "I have taken regular Claritin for years with no ill effects. My wife went to the pharmacy to pick up for me, and they gave her Claritin D 24 hour. I asked her what it was, as the package looked different, she explained that the pharmacy told her it’s a new formula. I took it for 6 days and had terrible insomnia, fast heartbeat, and anxiety all day. I did not realize that the medication contained an extra ingredient, it had loratadine plus pseudoephedrine. It was the pseudoephedrine that was the cause of this, and I had just thought it was regular Claritin. This medication should come with very clear warnings, as it is actually dangerous."

• Anonymous
• January 26, 2018

For Nasal Congestion "I have post-nasal drip and swelling from mucus in my throat. I’ve had surgery, which was only about 50% effective. I started taking Claritin-D about 3 years ago, and it helped open me up but made me too jittery and made my heart race. I needed the pseudoephedrine to open me up. I discovered if I cut it in half, it doesn’t affect me as badly, and it still works to open me up. I have to take it by 10 AM so it doesn’t affect my sleep later. No other effects from this medicine."

• Tan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "Like many have said, it definitely cleared up the horrible sinus pressure I was having, but the trade-off was spending the entire day feeling 10x more miserable because of the crazy side effects. It made me feel drowsy, woozy, and extremely nauseous, while also feeling anxious, unable to concentrate, and unable to sleep all at the same time. I also had a sensation of pressure on my chest and felt like my heart was racing. Never again."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "I tried this for my bad allergies. It did help with my nose itching. I had bad side effects that outweighed any benefits. I have been antsy, dizzy, my heart has been pounding, nauseated, and overall just not feeling well. I can’t wait for it to be out of my system. I won't take it again."

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2021

For Nasal Congestion "My doctor recommended Claritin-D since I have been having problems with my ears relating to allergies. I took one pill at night thinking it would make me drowsy when it did the exact opposite. I was wide awake the entire night, my heart was racing, and I was beyond jittery. I even felt paranoid at one point. I took one of my hydroxyzine pills in hopes it would help, it didn’t. I already have anxiety, and I felt like I was on the verge of having a panic attack on this medicine. The next day I feel dizzy still, and my mouth is dry. I would not recommend this medicine at night, especially if you already have anxiety."

• Anonymous
• September 20, 2011

For Nasal Congestion "This medication helped with my congestion, however, it makes me anxious, gives me a rapid heartbeat, and insomnia."