Loratadine / pseudoephedrine and Insomnia: What Users Say

• jtb...
• May 23, 2013

For Nasal Congestion "Claritin-D did help my nasal congestion, but the side effects I experienced just weren't worth it. It made me nervous, jittery, and caused extreme insomnia. I did notice that my nasal congestion improved, but I can't tolerate the side effects."

• lab...
• November 8, 2009

For Nasal Congestion "I have used Claritin-D 24 for 5 years. I used to get sinusitis all the time. It was so bad, I usually missed 2-3 weeks of work per year. I was tested for allergies, but was allergic to nothing they tested for. I used to take it only seasonally, but as soon as I stopped, I would get sick again. Now I take it every day and am very nervous if the pharmacy runs out. I do experience a few side effects, but have learned to manage them. For instance, I do not take it if I can't take it before 10 a.m., otherwise, it causes insomnia. I also have dry mouth, but have increased my water intake to 8 glasses per day (good for me). I have experienced joint pain in the last few years, but determined it was due to plantar fasciitis. It's changed my life."

• J1p...
• November 28, 2015

For Nasal Congestion "Clears up allergies like a charm, but side effects are no joke. Jittery, trouble sleeping, massive anxiety, I couldn't sit still, went on a cleaning binge for hours on end, though lol. Woke up the next day drained, still feeling some side effects. Scary drug."

• Nhi...
• May 8, 2016

For Nasal Congestion "I took Claritin D this morning because of severe nasal congestion, it was relieved after a few hours, but the side effects are not good. I can't sleep. I am so tired and want to rest, but I am still wide awake until 1 a.m. How I wish I had read the reviews first before taking it... so no more Claritin D... I will go back to Allegra."

• EPa...
• April 24, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "I took the Claritin-D pill at 3 pm, and right now it’s 5:29 am. I cannot fall asleep! Feeling anxious, even trying to force my sleep, I can’t. Took a sleeping aid and nothing. I feel like my breathing cuts off. Also, I took the 24-hour one. BAD IDEA! I read people here took the 12-hour and can’t sleep. I guess I’ll be like this for 3 days. If you have allergies or congestion, just buy the regular ones, not the D! And use saline spray for the nose."

• tex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "Definitely clears up the congestion and allergy symptoms, which is why I'm giving it a 2. The side effects, however, are terrible. It makes me so jittery and unable to sleep, it's not worth taking. It took me a few times to make the connection, but now I know it's the Claritin-D."

• Adu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2014

For Nasal Congestion "This product worked well for my post-nasal drip. But I felt extreme pressure in my sinuses, especially in my ears. I had terrible dry mouth, which created a horrible sore throat. Not to mention I took it at night, and I got terrible insomnia. I felt jittery and just absolutely horrible. I wish I had read these reviews before taking it! No more Claritin-D for me. Stick with the regular Claritin."

• 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."

• Kat...
• April 26, 2016

For Nasal Congestion "Super effective! I have been using it as needed for about three years now; however, tonight is the first night that it has ever kept me awake. I mean literally wide awake, cleaning my house at 3 AM awake. Definitely worth it and clears up congestion instantly, but taking it in the late afternoon was a huge mistake!"

• Cou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "Awful. Immediately after I took it, I felt nauseous, an extreme sadness, dizzy, and anxious. A few hours later, my mood went back up, but then I became jittery and had insomnia. Didn’t get a single hour of sleep. I do not recommend."

• 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."

• 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."

• INS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2019

For Nasal Congestion "Claritin-D is very effective for getting rid of congestion. Also very effective at getting rid of any chance for a good night's sleep. I was taking it for about a week and got about 1 hour of sleep each night before I figured out what was causing my insomnia. Back to regular Claritin for me. I would much rather suffer worse symptoms than not sleep at all."

• And...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2020

For Nasal Congestion "I have really bad seasonal allergies and was desperate to get rid of my horrible nasal congestion. As advertised, this drug does wonders for your nose, but the side effects that come with it are almost unbearable. Constant dull headache makes you jittery and super anxious, random muscle spasms, and sometimes it feels like my heart is going to explode. The lack of sleep tops it off. Sure, it’s great to breathe, but the side effects it comes with don’t seem worth it. I only took the drug for five days before I had to stop."

• Cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2015

For Nasal Congestion "I started this medication 5 days ago due to post-nasal drip, phlegm coughs, runny nose... My doctor told me to take 24 hours. As far as side effects: I experienced slight insomnia... a little longer to fall asleep, my head is not quite clear, I feel a little foggy when I need to concentrate, and a little fatigue. No major side effects. The medication has helped but has not completely 'cured' me. So overall, it's worked, but it's not a miracle."

• Anonymous
• April 28, 2012

For Nasal Congestion "I have bad spring allergies which last me about 2 months. I was sick and tired of blowing my nose millions of times a day and couldn't breathe through my nose. My classmate suggested that I take Claritin-D 24 hours. This pill works great, but there is a huge side effect which I hate. Pros - cleared my nasal passage, stopped sneezing, stopped itchy eyes, stopped running nose. Cons - dry mouth, weakness, insomnia, dizziness, feeling high, and pain in my thigh and leg. But otherwise, this works great, such a lifesaver."

• sle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "Took Claritin D yesterday at 9:00 am and haven't slept since. It's 10:49 am the next day, and I'm miserable at work. Was wide awake all night. Thought I was going crazy until I found these reviews. Wish I checked this before buying it!"

• Tan...
• September 3, 2020

For Nasal Congestion "Well, Claritin-D didn't clear up my congestion, in fact, it only got worse, as did the stuffy feeling in my ears. I had no appetite, which was nice, and enough energy to play ball twice in the backyard, take my dog on an extra long walk, and do my first mini workout in 6 months, all after a long workday after 9 p.m. at night. I just thought I felt good or something-then came the no sleep, and I realized it was the pseudoephedrine in the Claritin-D, and I had to take 2 Valium just to sleep!"

• Res...
• August 31, 2017

For Nasal Congestion "Big mistake taking my first Claritin D 24 at 7 PM for sinus pressure from using a nasal decongestant the day before and getting a rebound effect of clogged breathing passages. Didn't sleep a wink all night! My nasal passages are wide open though, so it works. However, insomnia is a real pain. It's 6 AM and I feel like it should be 1 AM bedtime. I'll be struggling through the day today. Restless in Philly."

• Bmo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 26, 2018

For Nasal Congestion "Well, it definitely worked as far as my runny nose and nasal congestion went. It stopped all my allergy symptoms, but it kept me up close to 48 hours. I didn't bother Googling this until day two. I took the first pill around 6 pm, was up all night and into the afternoon of the next day. My symptoms started to reappear just as I began to get a little sleepy at work, so I took another one. Somehow, I still didn't quite connect my sleeplessness with the Claritin-D. Well, I was up the entire second night, and while I was literally pacing, I decided to Google this and found that insomnia is a side effect of the pseudoephedrine. Didn't take the pill again, and on the third day, around 2 pm, I was ready to pass out. Literally, I had to catch a ride from work because I couldn't stay up."

• Chr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 11, 2018

For Nasal Congestion "It’s good, but I can’t sleep. Awake the entire night! I keep taking it so I can breathe, but I never get any sleep. That’s one bad side effect! I’m so wide awake that I can clean the entire house!"

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2020

For Nasal Congestion "Took Claritin 12 hours for the first and last time, my side effects were that I could not pee or sleep. I had to go to the hospital and now have had a catheter for three days. I think this should be taken off the shelf - mine is in the garbage."

• DJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2016

For Nasal Congestion "After suffering with nasal congestion and trying a variety of allergy medicines, I tried using Claritin-D. Although it didn't clear up the nasal congestion, at first I did seem to feel better. THEN, the side effects started: extreme dry mouth, stomach pain, headaches, feeling nervous, faster heart rate, constipation, tingly feeling under my skin, insomnia, urinating less than usual. After quitting the medicine, I also had high blood pressure, fear and anxiety (I was afraid to be alone, so my grown children came to stay with me several days). I wouldn't take it again!!!"

• Ron...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 28, 2020

For Nasal Congestion "Two years ago in the spring, I had bad allergies with a stuffy nose, so I tried Claritin-D for a few weeks. I had lots of energy, heart palpitations, insomnia, and anxiety. Then I started breaking out in a rash, so I stopped taking the Claritin. It seems like the Claritin made me develop more allergies because I break out in hives almost daily since I took it. Wished I had never taken it."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2020

For Nasal Congestion "I get migraines before thunderstorms (also get them frequently anyway). I switched to Claritin-D 24 hours because Zyrtec-D 12 hours, while good for allergies, wasn’t relieving the pressure in my head during a thunderstorm or barometric change in the weather. I took the Claritin around 6 pm, and it’s thunderstorming at 11:38 pm, and for sure the Claritin prevented me from getting a headache. Also relieved sinus pressure. I can tell this med can interfere with sleep, but I have to take sleep medicine anyway, so insomnia isn’t a concern for me. I will try to take this medicine a few hours before thunderstorms are supposed to start. It’s great, I just wish it was cheaper."